Straight Razor Shaving as a means to Going Green

Over the past year or so four different people have asked me about taking up straight shaving as a means to going green. This is part of an effort on their part to give up plastic, to reuse more and to source local goods.

I have to admit that I was a bit caught off guard on each occasion, although the last time I got into a pretty detailed discussion because the guy had already started researching it.

It got me thinking. Can you help me be more prepared for the next time someone asks me about this and share your thoughts. I realise this might not be a current concern - but if it's a way of encouraging new straight shavers then surely it's a worthwhile topic.

Here are the general "rules" based on what people seemed to be concerned about.

1) Absolutely no plastic. Even if it's from a vintage razor, should the scales break, you are still putting plastic back into the ecosystem. Besides - there is a principle being stuck to here. That means no synthetic brushes, no lapping film, no plastic packaging.
2) No pollutants. I'm not sure where oil falls into this (opinions welcome) are there other substances we should be wary of? Is silicon carbine ok? inhalation can be dodgy, and depending on manufacture I understand there can be pollutant bi-products.
3) Domestically sourced where possible. The aim here is to cut down on aeroplane shipping. Same country or state is best - - ground transport. Preference would be same continent at worst. That means all these trans-global shipments should avoided - e.g. a Gold Dollar being shipped from China.

Razors:
Horn or wood scales. Avoid hard and exotic woods? E.g. stick to Olive, or locally sourced woods.
Continental Europe - Solingen, TI etc.
UK - There are a couple of bricks and mortar shops in the south east stocking Dovos. Otherwise UK custom makers?
US / Canada - custom razors only?

Locally found and restored vintage wooden handled razors.

I guess, when buying from a bricks and mortar shop or a local mail order, the stock has been supplied to them in bulk, which reduces individual air flights.

Honing:
A local honer.
UK - modern Welsh stones / possibly Coticules, depending on how they are shipped.
US - Arkansas stones
Continental Europe - Coticules
Medditeranean - Cretan / Vermio
Asia - Jnat / Cnat
Africa - Zulu grey

Brushes:
Badger / Boar / Horse only
Europe - Semogue or Omega? - is the boar hair locally sourced?

Soaps
Which soaps have no plastic packaging?
Which soaps are available locally?

Strops
Natural flax or linen rather than any synthetic fibre.

Wish I could help but I am pretty jaded in regards to shaving with a straight razor as a means of going green. Almost everything associated with shaving comes from some sort of industrial process and as such has an environmental foot print that is unavoidable. Aren't plastics recyclable in any event?

Bob

There was a documentary here in the UK where they showed all the plastics in the ocean. It seems to have spurred people to try to adopt a no plastics lifestyle - or at least reduce it. Certainly, locally, it is hit and miss which plastics are recyclable. Larger containers seem to be but not all.

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Originally Posted by Seveneighth

Over the past year or so four different people have asked me about taking up straight shaving as a means to going green. This is part of an effort on their part to give up plastic, to reuse more and to source local goods.

I have to admit that I was a bit caught off guard on each occasion, although the last time I got into a pretty detailed discussion because the guy had already started researching it.

It got me thinking. Can you help me be more prepared for the next time someone asks me about this and share your thoughts. I realise this might not be a current concern - but if it's a way of encouraging new straight shavers then surely it's a worthwhile topic.

Here are the general "rules" based on what people seemed to be concerned about.

1) Absolutely no plastic. Even if it's from a vintage razor, should the scales break, you are still putting plastic back into the ecosystem. Besides - there is a principle being stuck to here. That means no synthetic brushes, no lapping film, no plastic packaging.
2) No pollutants. I'm not sure where oil falls into this (opinions welcome) are there other substances we should be wary of? Is silicon carbine ok? inhalation can be dodgy, and depending on manufacture I understand there can be pollutant bi-products.
3) Domestically sourced where possible. The aim here is to cut down on aeroplane shipping. Same country or state is best - - ground transport. Preference would be same continent at worst. That means all these trans-global shipments should avoided - e.g. a Gold Dollar being shipped from China.

Razors:
Horn or wood scales. Avoid hard and exotic woods? E.g. stick to Olive, or locally sourced woods.
Continental Europe - Solingen, TI etc.
UK - There are a couple of bricks and mortar shops in the south east stocking Dovos. Otherwise UK custom makers?
US / Canada - custom razors only?

Locally found and restored vintage wooden handled razors.

I guess, when buying from a bricks and mortar shop or a local mail order, the stock has been supplied to them in bulk, which reduces individual air flights.

Honing:
A local honer.
UK - modern Welsh stones / possibly Coticules, depending on how they are shipped.
US - Arkansas stones
Continental Europe - Coticules
Medditeranean - Cretan / Vermio
Asia - Jnat / Cnat
Africa - Zulu grey

Brushes:
Badger / Boar / Horse only
Europe - Semogue or Omega? - is the boar hair locally sourced?

Soaps
Which soaps have no plastic packaging?
Which soaps are available locally?

Strops
Natural flax or linen rather than any synthetic fibre.

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interesting topic. SR's inherent lack of "things to discard every month" can certainly make for a greener option. As BobH said, any industrial process or anything made by large companies in factories IS going have a carbon footprint (over 70% of greenhouse gasses and pollutants are produced by just around 100 companies, not individuals). So the trick is to avoid those:

1. Razor - buy vintage. While the vintage razor ITSELF may have been produced in a factory (e.g a Boker from 1920) it's at least re-using something that would otherwise end up in the dumpster. It may not even be recycled tbh, while all the materials may be recyclable, I"m not sure how much that matters. And this way, you'd be keeping non recyclable parts out of the dumpster - like older plastic handles, and the "recyclability and eco friendliness of the materials" stop mattering. Even if you buy NEW razors, you can buy one made as a cottage industry (e.g buy someone on this forum rather than in factory), which will have a much lower carbon footprint - and the materials will NOT matter, if it NEVER ends up in the garbage (there's no point in talking about recyclability, if you never plan to throw it away, especially given SR"s can last hundreds of years).

2. software: Made from naturally sourced oils and materials, especially made locally is the best option here. There are plenty of people on here that make and sell soaps, and again, since this isn't a big factory just someone making stuff from their homes the carbon footprint is a lot lower. While natural ingredients can be more expensive, there are plenty of reasons (BESIDES going green) to use as many of those as possible anyways.

3. Strop: linen can be recycled linen, I've seen some videos around youtube of people using old firehoses for the linen strops. I'm not sure if leather strops can be made by recycling leather, but again these can be locally sourced, made by an individual rather than in a factory.

Things don't have to be sourced locally, if they're sourced from a place that's environmentally friendly in their process. E.g: I buy olive oil that's made in greece (can't make olive oil in Canada), but it's made sans-factories in a very environmentally friendly manner, which basically cuts down on the danger to the environment almost fully. The key here, to me, is that a majority of pollutants and environmental damage is not being done by individuals but by large companies and factories and similar processes.

The ultimate technique as far as facial hair and going green is concerned would IMO be to grow a beard.


Considering the tools needed, straight shaving requires quite a few, and cartridge razors even more, so that would leave safety razors as a sensible compromise, says this straight shaver.

B.

If you really want to be as “green” a shaver as possible, then the suggestion to buy vintage makes a lot of sense. That applies to razors, brushes, strops and hones.

Modern shaving equipment manufacture uses a lot of energy (smelting, heat treating, grinding of blades and manufacturing of synthetic stones) and chemicals (tanning leather, making brush handles and scales, not to mention synthetic bristles and synthetic hones).

I don’t know if it is possible to recycle DE or SE or cartridge blades, but we certainly do not seem to do that. What SR users generally do not do that safety razor and cartridge users do is throw away the blades so the metal and other materials do not return to the environment as waste. Even when an SR is toast, we have members who repurpose them into wind chimes :)

As far as soaps/creams/croaps go, companies and individuals/artisans making them at the very least have to put them in containers. These containers are sourced from larger industries and made of plastic or metal. The empty containers may or may not be recyclable but can be repurposed. OTH who needs all these empty containers. Best bet there would be to buy only the soap sans container and use you own reusable container like a Pyrex one with lid. That works well especially if you only buy one puck at a time. It also works no matter what you use for shaving with.

Bob

Don't know how you are going to totally avoid plastic. Many brushes have plastic bases. Newer razors are plastic but the celluloid vintage scales can rot and decompose. Most soaps come in plastic wrappings or containers. If you really look at it every ingredient in razors, soaps, brushes, strops ,hones is produced chemicals, gas for engines , electricity.

The only way to avoid polluting land fills is don't shave. Let the beard grow and drag on the ground.

I'm all for avoiding plastic as much as possible, and make my best efforts to live up to that goal. The extent of the damage caused by our over-use and improper disposal of the stuff is only just coming to light. But that's often easier said than done...

+1 to the vintage razor suggestion, particularly with scales made from natural materials. Not all plastics are recyclable, and a depressing amount of plastic "sent" for recycling just gets chucked for one reason or another, so just not consuming it is the best option. And with the razor itself, that can be done. But as has been noted, other items will be harder to eliminate plastic altogether.

Buying local will be the best option in terms of avoiding packaging, etc., but depending on one's location that might not be possible. Location of manufacture isn't really an issue IMHO for vintage items. Any carbon footprint due to getting a razor from, say, Sheffield to Canada in the distant past will not be affected by my decision to carry it home from an antique store. On the other hand, if I order a razor (new or old) from Sheffield today, that carbon footprint is on me. However, when compared to a lifetime of disposable cartridges, I'm certain buying and using a straight is a MUCH better option.

For soaps, the "greenest" I currently have is likely Mitchell's Wool Fat. It came packaged mostly in paper with a very light plastic wrapping, and it lives in a reusable ceramic bowl. Again, "green" in terms of avoiding plastic, and the best thing is that it's bloody great soap! When that runs out, I can replace it with a locally-sourced, packaging-free soap.

For brushes, you can get/make them with mostly natural materials, but you will likely have at least something like epoxy holding the thing together. I suppose natural adhesives could be used, but I don't know how they stand up to getting wet.

I have no idea what to say about strops! Most are obviously leather, and depending on the process used for tanning the leather, that could involve a potentially pretty nasty chemical soup. But there are more environmentally friendly tanning processes out there. You'd just have to research the leather and its source. There are vegan options too, but I don't know a damn thing about them. :) They may be "greener" but that's not always the case with things like alternatives to natural materials.

Long story short, IMHO straight shaving is the 'greenest' approach out there, followed closely by DE. And as for the rest of the associated stuff, I try to take the same approach as with other aspects of my purchasing decisions: think about what you're buying, avoid cheap crap, buy things that will last, and shop locally when possible.

OK, time to get off my :soapbox:

:)

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Originally Posted by bouschie

Many brushes have plastic bases. Newer razors are plastic but the celluloid vintage scales can rot and decompose. Most soaps come in plastic wrappings or containers. If you really look at it every ingredient in razors, soaps, brushes, strops ,hones is produced chemicals, gas for engines , electricity.

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First off, OH Yea, celluloid, not good all around.

And yea, definitely agreed to that last point. As much as possible we can aim to buy local, buy natural, reuse stuff make sure things don't end up in a landfill (again, let's be honest NO ONE is recycling razors for their metal)...ultimately in todays world it is close to impossible to completely avoid hurting the environment somewhere along the way, we all depend on large companies and processes: where is that plastic for the base made? where did you get the ingredients for that soap you made?

I wonder though, if it's really possible to make brushes and soap that are 100% sourced from small providers using environmentally friendly processes along the way (One guy driving his car 100miles is NOTHING compared to that giant USPS truck driving 50 miles).

Being "green" to me means to do the best you can to help the environment. To cut all plastics and have no waste is going a bit far. Id think not shaving and using scissors to trim would be the ultimate but its not for me. Next would be to use a vintage straight. With all the componants that go with this shaving you will have some waste and plastics but very little.

It would be hard to eliminate all things. Just cut down the foot print you make is where its at. Id suggest to people looking to go green with shaving to go with a straight. Its the greenest way but some waste will happen. Just not as much as other ways of shaving. At that point it would be up to them to find how far they want to go with the green thing. Some get carried away IMO.

There's no point in beating yourself up about Being Green. You do what you can,
but you gotta do something. Anyway, that's how I rationalize it to myself.
Anything is better than nothing. It's just really hard to do when the consumer
markets are going the other way.

Decreased consumerism will lead to lower tax revenues to clean up the messes left over from 50 years ago. Not saying we should be slobs about the environment now.

Some great points guys. I hadn't thought about the importance of the artisan producers. I guess a local, sympathetic craftsperson might make allowances with packing etc. Smaller scale manufacturers might have a smaller carbon footprint.

Straight razors are definitely a wonderful way to go green, at least in principle. This was actually one of the key things for me when I got into it. I looks like you've got a solid take on a lot of it already. One thing that I think is really important to emphasize is that no matter what approach you take there is always going to be some impact -- even not shaving and just growing a beard has an environmental cost once you factor in any kind of beard care. Instead, think about things not as good or bad, but as better or worse. You'll find that some things that are good in one area are bad in another. For instance, a synthetic strop vs a leather one: the cost of synthetic is that is doesn't degrade and ultimately is derived from oil, but leather comes out of animal production which itself has a huge environmental impact. Regardless of how things are approach, re-using is a clear environmental win, especially if it can be salvaged and prevented from going into a landfill.

1) No plastic: so that is going to mean a leather strop; you mentioned flax or linen, which are great, but they are also slightly abrasive and not a real alternative to leather, though maybe a soft cotton could be. Brush-wise, horse hair is the most sustainable, probably followed by Chinese badger (cruel but generally from culls anyhow). Used will help you avoid further plastics, though it really only deferred the issue (e.g., you buy my used razor and now I go out and buy a new one with plastics anyhow). Buying from custom producers can help you further eliminate plastics, but even a relatively major producer like Ralf Aust wouldn't be a bad choice as you could certainly directly request limited or specialized packaging. Locally produced soaps are probably the easiest of these items to find.

2) Pollutants: so you're mainly avoiding petroleum-based products. Again, you can't have a zero footprint and in the scheme of things hones and the like are very minor, though natural hones are of course going to (by definition) have less pollutants in them.

3) Since you mentioned local--and I would agree that this is the most green option--you probably want your own hones. You'll have to use the mail system to get them, but unless you're lucky and have someone local, you'll also have to use the mail to get the razor sharpened; hones is the long term solution here. As with leather, horn and animal production has a significant cost. Olive wood is great because typically it's only from culled or trimmed trees only, though again you have the issue of shipping. Locally sourced oak might be another alternative. Not all exotic hardwoods are an environmental drain but they would be easiest to avoid.

The steel industry as a whole isn't exactly known from great environmental practices. Again, it's not all or nothing: getting a straight will produce the least waste overall.

Note that we said "in theory"; not only is SR shaving environmental but it is also the cheapest in the long run, but this is assuming you manage to avoid the hone, razor, brush acquisition disorders. Once you start to amass any kind of collection that math is going to go out the window.

Good luck in your search. The impact we have on our world is a great topic for us all to consider so I hope this discussion goes on for a bit.

I believe doing just about everything in balance. It isn't about being "green" for me. I believe we are care takers of the earth but we don't need to worship it either. People need to pick up their trash rather than toss it on the side of the road, recycle where they can, use recycled material,etc., but not get too caught up in the little things.

I originally got into wet shaving for two reasons: the environmental impact, and the cost. Well, I definitely spend more on shaving now than when I was using disposable razors, but that's another story. I still believe that wet shaving is much better for the environment, for all the above reasons and more.

Shaving with a safety razor seems to be the almost ideal. Even though there's surely an environmental impact from the industry making the razors, at least the blades are disposable and there are no plastic parts.

For me, since plastic is everywhere is our world, it's impossible to avoid. So to be realistic, one just needs to try to be conscientious. I believe that buying a used object made of plastic is fine, because it's reusing the material, so buying vintage is a great option.

When buying brushes, I usually opt for the models with wooden handles. I don't use synthetics. Even my toothbrush is bamboo with boar hair bristles (I don't want to buy used toothbrushes).

I try and buy locally as much as possible, but it's often not an option in Canada, and especially now since I'm no longer in a big city. Things will need to get delivered. These things will have plastic and styrofoam packaging. I just try to reuse or recycle them.

As for soaps, this is the big disappointment. I've tried several local soaps, but they're all TERRIBLE, especially the ones with zero waste packaging. The kind of lather that doesn't even make it onto your face because it's so obviously bad. This thread makes me think I should contact the companies and give them some constructive criticism. There's only one somewhat local shaving soap that gives decent lather, Henri & Victoria, but I get terrible irritation from it and it's not eco-friendly (at least not last time I checked). So I order soaps online, like everyone else, since the only other option would be to always use Proraso. My consolation is that the soaps I order last a really long time - now that I have a decent collection that I rotate through, I doubt I'll need to buy anything else for several years.

Hate to say it, but as far as I can tell, the quarrying of natural sharpening stones, to say nothing of the fused abrasives used in making synthetic sharpening stones, makes a big mess of the local environment.

If you look at the total environmental footprint of materials. I believe that plastic can actually be the most sensible choice for many non disposable items. It makes a lot of sense for things that are exposed to water. It needs no finish in most cases.

I agree with both Brontosaurus and bluesman7: obtaining and refining natural stones, let alone synthetics, definitely can have a huge impact on the environment and, likewise, there are times with non-disposable plastic items actually have a smaller ecological footprint. Synthetic brushes, for instance, are by and large a very green choice despite the fact that they are synthetic. All in all, one really has to look at the overall balance and I think with this in mind there is little doubt that SRs are, relatively speaking (e.g., compared with cartridge razors and even safety razors), the greenest option.

I would agree that SRs are possibly the greenest option. BUT, here's a radical thought... when the plastic handles are beyond repair, do they have to be replaced? A Kamisori has no 'handle' to close into. Do SRs really have to have them? Would you use your SRs without handles? A bare blade SR can be a beautiful thing on its own, but the scales make a complete razor package, but they don't actually make any difference to the shave. We all like our razors to look as good as possible don't we?

Am I being green by posting this response? Those already on the thread may log back on to read the updates. Am I responsible for the power that takes?

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Originally Posted by wayne394

I would agree that SRs are possibly the greenest option. BUT, here's a radical thought... when the plastic handles are beyond repair, do they have to be replaced? A Kamisori has no 'handle' to close into. Do SRs really have to have them? Would you use your SRs without handles? A bare blade SR can be a beautiful thing on its own, but the scales make a complete razor package, but they don't actually make any difference to the shave. We all like our razors to look as good as possible don't we?

Am I being green by posting this response? Those already on the thread may log back on to read the updates. Am I responsible for the power that takes?

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Glen posted a video on the FB group about SR balance...basically like any other cutting instrument (swords etc) Straights are balanced in a very specific way. Merely removing the scales would ruin the balance and potentially be really weird to shave with. The way around this ofc, is to just turn it into a "kamisori" at least in shape.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wayne394

I would agree that SRs are possibly the greenest option. BUT, here's a radical thought... when the plastic handles are beyond repair, do they have to be replaced? A Kamisori has no 'handle' to close into. Do SRs really have to have them? Would you use your SRs without handles? A bare blade SR can be a beautiful thing on its own, but the scales make a complete razor package, but they don't actually make any difference to the shave. We all like our razors to look as good as possible don't we?

Am I being green by posting this response? Those already on the thread may log back on to read the updates. Am I responsible for the power that takes?

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Even if they could be used without the scales, I would absolutely replace them. To me, the attraction of an SR is not only the way it shaves, but also the aesthetics of the tool.

If you want a razor without the scales just buy a Kamisori.

Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wayne394

I would agree that SRs are possibly the greenest option. BUT, here's a radical thought... when the plastic handles are beyond repair, do they have to be replaced? A Kamisori has no 'handle' to close into. Do SRs really have to have them? Would you use your SRs without handles? A bare blade SR can be a beautiful thing on its own, but the scales make a complete razor package, but they don't actually make any difference to the shave. We all like our razors to look as good as possible don't we?

Am I being green by posting this response? Those already on the thread may log back on to read the updates. Am I responsible for the power that takes?

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I take your point, but I think you've conflated two separate issues here: using a computer and accessing a forum certainly does have an environmental impact, but that's something quite different from using straight razors. It's going back to an earlier point that there is a cost to everything and every way of doing it; saying that everything impacts the environment threatens to take us down this nihilistic path (e.g., accessing a forum has an impact = accessing a forum is bad = everything is bad = why bother even concerning ourselves at all?). I'm simplifying things here, of course, but this is precisely why it's so important to understand things in terms of better or worse. Yes, shaving with straights comes with it's own cost, but less so than disposables. And within straight razors, we can again find avenues that are more sustainable than others (e.g., local over imported, durable over breakable, sustainable over endangered) -- and even these are guidelines as there are numerous exceptions. Ultimately, it's on us to find the most appropriate means given our unique situations and that's a whole lot more difficult than just giving up and saying either that we shouldn't think about the environment or that it's all bad so we shouldn't bother.

Dont confuse "green" with "vegan"

Leather is most assuredly "green" it is natural, renewable, and long lasting. And when its reached end of life, completely biodegradable. The same can be said for many other parts of the shave kit.

You think ANYTHING is completely fossil fuel free? Unless that small artisan is using wood fire from wood they harvested with an ax, the soap was boiled on a stove top using either a gas, or electricity generated by... fossil fuels.
Every one can do SOMETHING to be more earth friendly, but it would be silly to think we could just stop using any one thing as a prerequisite to achieving that goal.

Even those who want to install windmills, solar, and water power on their property, forget that it takes fossil fuels to manufacture the very wires themselves that carry that current.
Dont look for the Ultimate solution, look for the best solution for YOU, that being the one you can best employ without making your life difficult enough that you stop doing it!

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Originally Posted by Magpie

Dont confuse "green" with "vegan"

Leather is most assuredly "green" it is natural, renewable, and long lasting. And when its reached end of life, completely biodegradable. The same can be said for many other parts of the shave kit.

You think ANYTHING is completely fossil fuel free? Unless that small artisan is using wood fire from wood they harvested with an ax, the soap was boiled on a stove top using either a gas, or electricity generated by... fossil fuels.
Every one can do SOMETHING to be more earth friendly, but it would be silly to think we could just stop using any one thing as a prerequisite to achieving that goal.

Even those who want to install windmills, solar, and water power on their property, forget that it takes fossil fuels to manufacture the very wires themselves that carry that current.
Dont look for the Ultimate solution, look for the best solution for YOU, that being the one you can best employ without making your life difficult enough that you stop doing it!

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sounds like a fun challenge: assemble the ultimate "fossil fuel free" shave, taking everything into consideration. Now, ofc that means:

1. Pretty much everything needs to be from either artisans nearby (walk or bike only), make yourself or buy vintage from pre-industrial era (or possibly late 1700s/early 1800s stuff that was likely manufactured without fossil fuels)...again walk or bike only
- this will potentially be interesting for all software. You could skip pre-shave, you COULD possibly even skip post-shave. Though again, both of those can be artisan/home made with natural oils...it may be easier to just skip it.

2. You'd need to really go old school on the shave, get a pail of water and and old style basin. No running water or electricity. OFC you also need a source of natural water nearby to use.

Honestly this is ENTIRELY impossible, and could be a fun challenge/project. The only thing is getting the water, as someone who lives in the middle of a city in an apartment...it's hard. ALTHOUGH i COULD potentially collect water from the lake nearby, but I'd have to find some way of cleaning it because it is FILTHY.

I love an impossible challenge. For me personally, to take it to extremes would be interesting.

There is a well in the field at the top of my road. I could get water in theory...

The nearest bricks and mortar shop selling straight razors is a train ride away. There are a number of flee markets locally - I might get lucky. There is blacksmith around the corner - but he is only making wrought iron work. I doubt he could make a blade - who knows...

The soaps are more challenging. There are some local craft soap makers but none make shaving supplies.

But seriously, all the thinking on this thread is helpful. People that have asked me about straight shaving in this context haven't been giving up on modern life completely but have been trying to make an effort to cut right back on consumption. All recommendations are helpful when discussing this topic with them.

Still, I like the idea of testing out shaving and living more simply for a short period. Emphasis on short. I remember straight shaving in a Welsh stream on a camping expedition as a teenager. Worst shave of my life, but I felt like a hardcore mountain man.

For about two years before I started wet shaving I was experimenting with ways to keep disposables sharp longer, both for money saving and with the thought that "hey, I resharpen all of my other edge tools, why can't I do it with razors too." Just stropping the accessible side of the disposable on a towel seemed to extend the life.

All that was to say that I had been in the mind set of maintained shaving edges for a while before I got into straights.

For me, my shaving environmental footprint increased exponentially when I got into straights. Not only did I obtain all of the tools for making and maintaining them, but I also attend many out of state meets per year. I suppose that some of that footprint displaces the footprint of whatever else I might be doing with my time, but.....

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Originally Posted by bluesman7

For about two years before I started wet shaving I was experimenting with ways to keep disposables sharp longer, both for money saving and with the thought that "hey, I resharpen all of my other edge tools, why can't I do it with razors too." Just stropping the accessible side of the disposable on a towel seemed to extend the life.

All that was to say that I had been in the mind set of maintained shaving edges for a while before I got into straights.

For me, my shaving environmental footprint increased exponentially when I got into straights. Not only did I obtain all of the tools for making and maintaining them, but I also attend many out of state meets per year. I suppose that some of that footprint displaces the footprint of whatever else I might be doing with my time, but.....

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Very true, but you're actually accounting for two environmental costs here: one, the impact of straight shaving, as compared to other methods; and, two, the cost of a hobby you're extremely passionate about.