Being eco-friendly doesn’t mean you have to overhaul your life completely. Small, daily choices can make a big difference, and they’re pretty fun to incorporate! Here are a few sustainable swaps and habits I use every day to help make our planet greener.
Make the Swap
Let’s talk about four easy, effective eco-swaps anyone can make right at home. These little changes add up!
- Beeswax Wraps: Instead of using single-use plastic bags to store everything from sandwiches to fruit, use beeswax wraps! These wraps are great for the environment and last around a year. They’re reusable, biodegradable, compostable, cost-effective, easy to clean, use natural materials, and keep food fresh while cutting back on food waste.
- Soap Bars: Put down those bottles and pick up those bars! I use bars for hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. These bars last longer and have little to no packaging!
- Swedish Dishcloths: Don’t use rolls and rolls of paper towels, instead try a Swedish dishcloth. When I’m done, I rinse them off or toss them in the dishwasher—they’re good as new!
- LED Bulbs: LED Bulbs are in eco style! Swap incandescent light bulbs for LED bulbs which are energy efficient– use significantly less electricity, have a longer lifespan, are cost-effective, and are versatile! It’s a simple swap that makes a big impact over time!
These small swaps are easy ways to reduce plastic, energy use, and waste—and they save money, too!
DIY Time
DIY projects are a great way to reuse and repurpose different items in your household. I love repurposing my old clothes, like turning an outgrown dress into a cute skirt! If sewing isn’t your thing, you can also shop secondhand at local thrift stores. For home projects, I upcycle jars and empty candle holders into planters for succulents or mini herb gardens. If I’ve got candle wax left but no wick, I melt it down to make new candles.
These DIY projects let you creatively repurpose items into useful (and stylish!).., helping reduce the amount of landfill waste.
Let’s Get Cooking
Weekly meal planning is my secret weapon against food waste. This method helps me only buy what I need, eliminating impulse buys and reducing the risk of forgotten produce going bad. I ensure that everything is used by using recipes with overlapping ingredients.
In the kitchen I go zero waste, buying fresh produce with minimal packaging from my local farmers market! Any food scraps I don’t use go into my homemade composter, turning potential waste into nutrient-rich soil. Reducing food waste in the kitchen is not only good for the planet, but for the wallet, too!
Skip the Car
To reduce my carbon footprint, I skip the car and walk or bike to nearby places. These walks give me time to exercise and listen to a good audiobook or playlist. Walking or biking is a simple yet powerful choice, cutting down on emissions and adding a bit of adventure to everyday errands.
Take the First Step Towards a Greener World
Remember that these small changes in your lifestyle can always make a meaningful impact. One sustainable choice at a time, let’s band together to bring about true, impactful environmental change!
