I’ll be honest, while I consider myself a person who truly appreciates this planet, I’d never really thought much about a lot about my personal impact until I began teaching Environmental Science a few years ago. While I certainly am no expert on recycling or sustainability, I’ve learned that a few small swaps in our daily life can make a huge difference! I’ve actually found some of these swaps to be money saving as well and so easy to incorporate into our everyday life!
Single Use Products
When you’re thinking about making easy swaps, the first thing you want to do is look at things you use once and then throw away, things like single use plastic and paper goods.
Find a waterbottle that you love and you’ll never want to drink a “normal” bottled water again. As cliche as they are, Hydroflask water bottles are amazing! I first discovered them when they were being sold by individuals at craft fares in Hawaii and quickly fell in love. They keep your drink hot for 12 hours, or cold for 24 hours (at least) and I literally take them everywhere with me! They’re great for travel, and not only do they save you so much money in reusable bottles, but they also help to greatly reduce you’re use of plastic!
Instead of using paper towels, switch to a reusable item instead! By changing what we’ve cleaned with, not only are we helping to reduce single use items, but we’re honestly cleaning more efficiently! Microfiber towel‘s are AMAZING at cleaning mirrors! Simply spritz with water and wipe clean with the towel! We use them for everything from cleaning mirrors, to dusting, to wiping countertops. By switching these out for windex we have saved on plastic, chemicals and paper towel waste!
One of the biggest changes to my beauty routine has been using reusable makeup wipe. These things have been a game changer! They clean better than my cotton wipes and I don’t even have to use product with them! I throw it in the wash once a week and it’s as good as new each time!
Instead of storing your food items in Ziplock bags, that you will literally use once, consider switching to Stasher bags. While they’re more expensive upfront, you’ll save so much money by not having to purchase single use plastic bags. These bags are DISHWASHER safe (as well as freezer and microwave). Unlike normal plastic, they have no petroleum, PVC, or latex! We love these and use these for all sorts of food prep and storage!
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| Photo courtesy of Amazon |
Ditch the single use Suran Wrap and switch to a reusable bee’s wax instead! These wraps are easy to clean and can be used over and over again by just heating them up! You can also get a kit and DIY them yourself!
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| Photo courtesy of Amazon |
Straws
I’m sure you’re tired of hearing about “banning the straw,” but really, this small change adds up! Did you know using straws actually makes you bloated? I tried going without, but it just wasn’t the same; so I’ve switched to using reusable metal straw‘s for my everyday at home, and going without when we eat out. If you feel like you really can’t go without the straw, try bringing your own biodegradable one! If you’re hangup about reusable straws is having to wash them, then checkout these that are made for a dishwasher!
Recycled Goods
“Actions speak louder than words.” When you’re making buying decisions, think about how your buying trend’s show what you care about. If a product wear’s out, we should search for way’s to reuse those products. Some companies have done a great of doing this in a unique way that really show cases how we can care about a products whole life cycle.
I’ve recently become obsessed with these shoes. Not only are they made from recycled plastic waste, they are comfortable, come in amazing colors and are machine WASHABLE! You can literally throw them into the wash and have a fresh pair of shoes after each wash. Use this link to get $20 off your first pair!
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| Photo courtesy of Rothy’s |
The Growing Candle has the prettiest containers and is designed to become a planter after it’s use! The candle comes with seed’s containing wildflowers for you to plant after the candle finishes burning! What a great sustainable gift these would make!
Waterlust makes THE cutest leggings that are all ocean minded! Not only do they give back a part of their profits to ocean minded organizations like whale shark research and coral conservation, but they also make their leggings out of post consumer plastic! They literally have recycled plastic bottles woven into the fabric of their leggings. You can use this code to get $10 off your purchase!
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| Photo courtesy of Waterlust |
RebornClothingComakes bags and other tote’s out of reused fabric that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Their Sunbrella line is THE cutest and I love the fact that each piece is one of a kind!
Have you ever thought about how much waste we create from changing technology? What about from purchasing new phone cases for each new phone we get? That waste adds up and Pela Case has found a solution by creating biodegradable phone cases and phone protectants. I have one of these case’s and it’s held up just as well as my typical case and it also makes me feel good by knowing that it’s environmental impact is less. Not to mention these cases also have some super cute designs! Pela Casehas offered my followers a 15% discount on your entire purchase by using code: WMPGKW0P at checkout!
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| Photo Courtesy of Pela Case |
What easy swaps are you willing to make?
More Sustainable Swaps/Goods:
- Tee’s for Bee’s a company that donates back to programs that promote pollinators with each purchase. (Get free shipping on every order by using the code: ITSAAALLGOODQWAA)
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| Mana posing with his biodegradable poop bags |
