Plenty of people want to live an eco-friendlier lifestyle but don’t always know where to start. One of the simplest methods when it comes to starting a greener routine is to substitute the regular products you purchase with more sustainable versions. Over time, minor adjustments, such as replacing reuseable for single-use items, can substantially reduce your personal brand of environmental footprint.
Use Reusable Versions of Disposables
Single-use plastics like straws, bags, bottles, and razors pile up tons of waste. A simple first step is to trade disposable products for reusable versions made to last. Carry a reusable shopping tote, water bottle, coffee tumbler, and utensil set with you instead of having to grab disposables when you’re out. And search out those durable items designed for multiple uses rather than throwing out after just one use. Invest in a safety or straight blade razor instead of plastic disposables. Making reusable versions of products part of your regular routine is an effortless way to go green.
Go Paperless
Paper production takes its toll on forests. So relying less on paper makes sense for the planet. Instead of paper bills and statements, go paperless by switching to digital billing and online banking. And while at it, why not sign up for e-newsletters instead of print magazines and catalogs? Use online storage for files rather than printing hard copies. Read books and newspapers on an e-reader or tablet more often. Avoid paper when a digital option exists. Each bit of paper you replace with electronics leads to incremental progress towards greener living.
Shop Secondhand First
Before buying new clothes and household goods, check out local secondhand stores first. Buying quality used goods diverts them from landfills and skips the environmental costs of manufacturing new items from scratch. See what you can salvage secondhand before purchasing items brand new. Give gently used furniture, clothing, appliances, games, and electronics a second life while saving money. Next time you need something, mark secondhand shops on your shopping list right alongside regular retailers.
Switch from Liquid to Bar Formulas
Many self-care and cleaning products come in single-use plastic containers that generate lots of waste. An effortless way to green your shopping cart is by swapping liquid soaps, cleaners, and cosmetics for bar versions without disposable packaging. Bar soaps and shampoos eliminate plastic bottles from showers. Laundry soap bars cut down on detergent jugs in favor of paper wrapping. Even oral care products like Ecofam’s mouthwash tablets avoid the plastic waste of liquid mouthwash. Look for bar and tablet formulas as a simple way to ditch empty containers.
Offset Travel Emissions
Air travel and commuting by car produce greenhouse gases that can affect the climate. If giving up driving or flying altogether seems difficult, consider offsetting your miles instead. Many organizations will calculate emissions from your car, bus, train, or plane trips. Then they give you an option to directly fund projects that cancel out your footprint, like planting trees or supporting solar farms.
Shop Local Food and Goods
You can shrink your food’s energy consumption by eating more dishes sourced locally. Look for farmers’ markets, butchers, bakeries and produce stands that sell seasonal ingredients from your region. Choosing local minimizes transport miles to green your diet. And when buying anything else, from household supplies to gifts, start by exploring options from businesses in your own community.
Conclusion
Replacing just one daily disposable with a reusable alternative avoids hundreds or even thousands of items from hitting landfills annually. Existing green options allow easy upgrades to more eco-friendly versions of products we use constantly in our routines. Over time, small sustainable swaps combine to make a remarkably positive benefit for the only planet we have.