I’ve been working on moving towards a more sustainable low-waste lifestyle for years, and I wanted to share some simple, sustainable swaps I’ve learned, that are super easy to implement. These little habit shifts will make a positive impact on our planet, and they’ll also save you money in the long run. File that under #winwin.
Invest in a Reusable Cup
Saying “no” to single use plastics such as water bottles and disposable coffee cups is easy when you have a reusable beverage cup you love. I bring this insulated water bottle with me literally everywhere I go – from hikes, to yoga classes, to road trips. Bonus: It’s keeps my beverages super cold and it fits in any cup holder. If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, I love this stylish and reusable portable ceramic mug. Investing in a reusable stainless steel straw can also help eliminate plastic-use and unnecessary waste.
Swap Your Sponge
Most kitchen sponges contain micro-plastics that never break down and end up in our water systems, endangering marine life. Ditch the sponge, and opt for a stylish and sustainable wooden dish brush. Bonus: You can remove the head and swap out as needed without replacing the handle. For those stubborn messes, you can supplement with a copper pot scrubber, which can be recycled at the end of its life.
Try Plastic-Free Portables
Whether packing lunches for yourself, your little ones, or for a family picnic or potluck, it’s easy to go plastic-free. Our girls use stainless steel lunch boxes that are dishwasher safe, and for larger gatherings we use glass food storage containers or a larger stainless steel container. You can also pack up your own washable cloth napkins and utensils instead of single-use plastic alternatives to reduce waste.
Say Sayonara to Saran Wrap
I used to think I couldn’t survive without plastic wrap for packing up food and leftovers, but I haven’t used it for the past year and it turns out I’m alive and well! We now use silicone Stasher bags for snacks and cut up fruits, veggies, and herbs in the fridge, and we invested in stackable glass food storage containers for storing larger leftovers. This set is freezer, microwave and dishwasher safe. We’ve also used up all of our press and seal plastic bags and now buy these compostable freezer bags.
Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB)
One of the easiest habit shifts to implement is simply to bring your own reusable cloth bags to the shops. I keep a few cloth bags in my trunk, and I always carry a compact version and these mesh produce bags in my purse so I can opt out of the disposable bags that are offered at the grocery stores, and even department stores and boutiques.
Being more environmentally friendly doesn’t mean you have to make huge overhauls to how you live, and it doesn’t have to take a lot of effort or money. If you’re looking to invest in some stylish and sustainable goods for your home, my favorite sources are Àplat, Seed and Sprout, The Package Free Shop, Bliss Haus, and June Home Supply.
I’d love to know: What simple, sustainable swaps do you want to embrace this year?
Image Credit: June Home Supply
