Easy, Earth Friendly Swaps

Simple Changes to Help Make Your Day to Day More Sustainable

There’s been some back and forth recently, regarding the impact of individual choices, habits, and practices––in regards to reducing the impacts of climate change. Many say it’s the big fossil fuel corporations that need to change their ways. And they absolutely do, without question. But that doesn’t mean that we, as individuals, should throw our hands up and do nothing. There are tons of small ways we can change our daily habits, and collectively, these changes will make a big difference. We also have power in our pockets. We can use that power to tell everything from small businesses to large corporations what we want in a product or service. So let’s chat about how to start small, or level up, on your personal journey to become more sustainable.

Below are some ways you can implement small and easy changes to your daily routine and lifestyle.

REUSABLES

Ok, I’m gonna say the thing I’m not suppose to say. They can be an annoying––one more thing to remember, to clean, to stash in your bag. Trust me, I’m a New Yorker…I have to carry EVERYTHING on my shoulders once I leave my apartment for the day. But once you get into the habit, it’s just another new normal. My water bottle holds both hot and cold liquids, so it starts off as my matcha latte in the mornings, and after a quick rinse (and some caffeine), hydrates me the rest of the day. My reusable shopping bags are lightweight and fold up––as to not take up a ton of space in my bag. They’re great for a grocery or drugstore trip, restaurant leftovers, or even sweaty post workout clothes. In these pandemic times, when grocery shopping, just be sure to bag your own groceries––for the health and safety of both you and the cashier. Once home, my bag gets a quick wipe down or bubble bath before going back into rotation. Pro tip: have several reusable bags in your arsenal.

We should all be familiar with reusable straws by now! My favorite is an expandable travel one, that my boyfriend bought me as part of last year’s birthday present. Hey, what can I say? Sustainability is sexy!! I love this straw as it comes in a little case and folds up super tiny. Other great reusables are now coming in all forms. Beeswax wrap is my jam. It works just like saran wrap––and yes it’s more expensive than saran wrap, but it lasts about a year––and is biodegradable at end of life. I’m still working to find a favorite reusable “ziplock,” they can be a bit frustrating to clean, but I have hope.

Retro is clearly in, so get out your Tupperware, pack a lunch (for school or work), and throw it in your reusable bag for the ride home. We’ve gotten use to the convenience of disposables, but if we want a healthy planet for the generations to come, a few new/adjusted habits are easy enough. If I can carry these little extras with me every day (on my shoulder!!), you can totally do it!

There are plenty of other ways to incorporate reusables into your daily life. Figure out what works for you, and don’t beat yourself up when you digress. It happens. Just pick back up and keep moving forward.

*Over 125 health experts from 19 countries signed onto a statement assuring retailers and consumers that reusables are safe during COVID-19. Statement here.

LESS PLASTICS

I’m on a mission to de-plastic my life. Beyond the regular plastics that end up in landfills, or worse, our oceans, plastic never really disappears––it just breaks down into bitsy pieces of plastics called microplastics. These microplastics end up in our water, our food (and possibly even in our own bodies*). Gross! I’ve found some easy ways to lessen my plastic consumption. I don’t use those plastic bags at the grocery store for fruits and veggies. I just put them in my cart––they’re getting washed anyways as soon as I get home. If that’s a little too far for you, there are some great reusable veggies bags you can bring with you to the grocery store. When getting takeout or delivery, I always ask the restaurant not to put my food in a plastic bag. The paper bag, or no bag when possible, is enough. Some people are even going as far as to bring their own containers to the restaurant when doing take out. You don’t need to jump to that level of commitment if that feels like too much for you. Think of it as #goals.

*More on microplastics here.

Other plastic free swaps I’m loving are shampoo and conditioner bars. There are few brands doing this, but a friend turned me onto Ethique, which I love. Also, gotta love those good old fashioned bars of hand soap. Way less packaging. I now buy biodegradable floss that comes in a glass jar, and really is the same price point as regular floss. I’ve switched to natural sponges, that also biodegrade, and clean my dishes just as good as a Scotch-Brite. There are a lot of great options coming out for things like body wash, dish soap, and more where you can buy the original container in glass, and then purchase refill liquids in bulk, or even small tubes of concentrate. Point is, there’s a lot out there. A simple Google search will pull up a plethora of options. And yes, sometimes these items are a bit more than their unsustainable counterparts, but as we all start to make better choices, a lot of these items will become more accessible. Also just to point out, my shampoo bar, (at sixteen dollars) will last me about six months––so at cost per use, that’s pretty great. More money upfront, but longer use and less waste!

THE TAKEAWAY

Start small. Pick one or two things that are manageable and make the swap. Over time, add another swap into the mix. See what works for you, and don’t beat yourself up when you have a set back. Just keep moving forward. More sustainably!