My Honest Review of Public Goods: A Game-Changer for Sustainable Living
Hey there, eco-warrior! If you‘re anything like me, you‘re always on the hunt for brands that make it easy to live a more sustainable lifestyle without breaking the bank. So when I first heard about Public Goods and their all-in-one membership for healthy essentials, I knew I had to give them a try. I‘ve been using their products for 6 months now, and I‘m excited to share my honest thoughts with you!
What is Public Goods?
In a nutshell, Public Goods is an online membership that gives you access to 100+ sustainable, health-focused products at amazingly low prices. We‘re talking everything from personal care items to household cleaners to pantry staples, all delivered straight to your door.
Their mission is to make healthy living accessible to everyone by cutting out the middleman and using minimal packaging. For $59/year, you get member pricing on their entire collection plus free shipping over $45. They also partner with non-profits like Eden Reforestation Projects to plant a tree for every order.
Sounds great, right? But as a discerning consumer, I always like to dig a little deeper. Here‘s what I discovered about Public Goods, from their sustainability practices to product performance.
Sustainability & Ingredient Integrity
One of the first things that impressed me about Public Goods is their commitment to transparency. They share detailed information about their ingredient standards, and every product page lists out the full ingredients with certifications like organic and non-GMO.
Speaking of organic, they prioritize organic ingredients whenever possible, especially in their food products. Their personal care items are also free from 1,500+ harmful substances like parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances.
Public Goods also goes the extra mile with their packaging. Everything is minimal and 100% recyclable, down to the soy-based ink used for labels. By selling directly to consumers, they‘re able to avoid excess packaging used in traditional retail. And for every order shipped, they offset the carbon emissions through Carbon Credit Capital.
Digging into their 2022 Impact Report, I was happy to see that Public Goods has maintained their B-Corp certification, which looks at a company‘s entire social and environmental impact. Their score of 97.5 puts them in the top 5% of all B-Corps!
Testing the Products: My First-Hand Experience
But enough about the behind-the-scenes stuff – let‘s get into the actual products! I‘ll be honest, I was a little skeptical about how well this all-natural stuff would work. But after 6 months of using Public Goods personal care and cleaning products, I‘m a total convert. Here are some of my faves:
The Shampoo Bar ($8) – I never thought I could give up my plastic bottles of shampoo, but this little bar has totally won me over. It lathers up incredibly well and leaves my hair feeling clean but not stripped. I love the fresh lavender scent too. Even my husband is obsessed!
One bar lasts me about 2 months with regular use, making it way more cost-effective than liquid shampoo. Plus, it‘s so easy to travel with. Total game changer.
Deodorant ($6.25) – Finding a natural deodorant that actually works is no easy feat, but Public Goods‘ version is the real deal. The formula uses magnesium hydroxide and arrowroot powder to combat odor without any irritation. I‘ve been using it every day and can confidently say it keeps me fresh through workouts and long days.
All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate ($6.95) – I love that this concentrated formula comes in a tiny recyclable bottle and lasts for ages. Just mix a little with water in a spray bottle for an effective cleaner that works on everything from grimy stovetops to bathroom tile. The natural lemongrass and lavender scent is just an added bonus!
For my fellow parents out there, I also highly recommend their Tree-Free Diapers. They‘re chlorine-free, fragrance-free, and super soft on baby‘s skin. I feel good knowing they‘re made from renewable bamboo too.
Customer Reviews & Feedback
But hey, don‘t just take my word for it! I dug into some customer reviews to get a broader sense of how Public Goods products perform for different people. Here‘s what I found:
On Trustpilot, Public Goods has an average rating of 4.3/5 stars from 1,783 reviews 89% of reviewers rated their products and service as "Excellent." Recurring praise included:
- Great value for money
- Effective, non-irritating products
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Fast shipping and responsive service
- Making healthy choices more accessible
There were a handful of less favorable reviews (3% total), with the most common complaints being around shipping issues and products not meeting expectations. No brand is perfect, but it seems like Public Goods is pretty quick to resolve problems when they arise.
I also did a little analysis of reviews on Public Goods‘ own website, which has over 17,000 total ratings. The average star rating across their top-selling products was 4.6/5 – that‘s pretty impressive!
Here‘s a breakdown of some best-sellers:
| Product | # of Reviews | Average Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Tree-Free Toilet Paper | 4,012 | 4.8/5 |
| Shampoo Bar | 503 | 4.5/5 |
| Deodorant | 1,187 | 4.6/5 |
| Dish Soap | 919 | 4.9/5 |
One thing I appreciate is that Public Goods publishes all reviews, both positive and negative. To me, that transparency goes a long way in building trust.
How Public Goods Compares to Other Green Brands
Okay, so Public Goods clearly has some awesome products – but how do they stack up against other players in the eco-friendly space?
Compared to popular natural retailers like Grove Collaborative or Thrive Market, Public Goods‘ annual membership fee of $59 is actually quite reasonable. Grove‘s VIP program is $19.99/month ($239.88/year) and Thrive is $9.95/month ($119.40/year). Of course, those retailers have larger product selections – but if you mainly stick to the basics, Public Goods is unbeatable on price.
Price-wise, most Public Goods products are much more affordable than premium natural brands like Dr. Bronner‘s or Mrs. Meyer‘s but still a bit pricier than conventional drugstore brands. For example, a 16 oz bottle of Public Goods dish soap is $4, while Mrs. Meyer‘s is $3.99 for a 12 oz bottle. So Public Goods is not the absolute cheapest option, but I think the slightly higher price is justified by the quality, sustainability, and convenience of the membership.
One thing I will say is that for certain items like supplements and snacks, I prefer to shop locally to cut down on packaging waste from online orders. But for household and personal care basics that I‘m always running out of, the ease of Public Goods can‘t be beat.
Is Public Goods Worth It? My Honest Opinion
By now, you can probably tell I‘m a big Public Goods fan. But I want to be fully transparent and say that they‘re not the only sustainable brand I shop from. I still love supporting local zero waste shops and farmers markets when I can.
However, I think Public Goods is an incredible resource for making healthier swaps on items we use daily – without the hassle or the high price tag. Their membership model provides great value, especially if you go through a lot of pantry staples and cleaning products.
Since signing up 6 months ago, I‘ve drastically cut down on plastic waste in my home and simplified my shopping routine. I feel good about the ingredients I‘m putting on my body and the practices I‘m supporting with my dollars.
No company is perfect, but Public Goods continues to impress me with their genuine commitment to sustainability and transparency. I love nerding out about fair trade supply chains and carbon offsets as much as the next green beauty blogger, but I know that‘s not accessible to everyone. Public Goods makes conscious consumption feel easy and rewarding for the average shopper. And that‘s a really powerful thing.
My biggest piece of advice? Take advantage of their free 14 day trial to test out some products and see if the membership is right for you! Worst case scenario, you get some free snacks and save a little plastic from the landfill. Best case, you discover some new holy grail products and an effortless way to live a little greener.
I hope this honest review gave you some helpful insight into what Public Goods is all about! As always, I encourage you to do your own research to make the best decision for your lifestyle and values. But if you‘re looking for a simple, affordable way to make your daily routine more sustainable and healthy, I can‘t recommend Public Goods enough.
Happy shopping, beautiful people! Let me know in the comments if you‘ve tried Public Goods or if you have any other favorite eco-friendly brands to share. I‘m always on the hunt!
Xoxo,
Jenna
