Jul 7

Jul 7 5 Sustainable Swaps You Can Try THIS WEEK!

When it comes to being “eco-friendly” I think some people feel like they don’t know where to start or they don’t even know if small changes they make will make a difference at all. To this is say:

We don’t need a few people making huge changes, we need many people making small ones.

So with that in mind, let’s dive into a few small changes that you can make THIS WEEK to reduce your personal negative impact on the environment. And if this is not important to you, I get it, it can be hard to give our attention to every cause out there. But this is our WORLD we are talking about. This is about how we live affecting the Earth God so preciously gave us and left us as stewards of. Am I perfect at protecting it? I’ll be the first to admit I have a long way to go. And I will also admit there are a lot of campaigns our there that get a lot of attention that actually have a tiny impact on the environment (plastic straws killing the seas turtles anyone?) BUT- like with most things, let’s start making small changes becuase not only do they add up over time, but they can open the door for learning and growth and hopefully even bigger changes!

1. Reusable water bottles- this to me is the EASIEST (and a prettiest!) way to reduce your waste! Get yourself a Hydroflask or Stanley cup or Swell and refill that puppy! How does this help the Earth? Uses less resources, emits less harmful gases (by keeping plastic out of landfills), less pollution (plastic is one of most common everyday items that pollute our oceans etc.

It’s also better for your health! Plastic water bottles (both disposable and reusable) leach chemicals into the water you are drinking, especially when exposed to heat. By using a stainless steel or glass bottle you are eliminating this health risk for yourself!

You will also save money! It is significantly cheaper to refill your one water bottle than to continue to buy new disposable ones over and over again.

To learn more about why plastic is terrible for the environment click here.

2. Reusable grocery bags- put them in your car and try to make the habit of bringing them in with you! Almost every store will let you use them (even places like Target, Wal Mart etc) Bonus: they each hold a lot more than an average grocery bag (which can make unloading the car a lot easier when your hands are full with kids and diaper bags) and they stand up well (keeping those apples from rolling off your counter where you inevitably dump them while you make your kids lunch.) When we lived in Germany we were so surprised that you had to pay for a disposable bag at every store: whether it was a grocery store or clothing store, it didn’t matter. They wanted you to bring your own and cut down on this wasteful practice. So until our government enacts the same kinds of regulations, be a part of this change yourself!

3. Use Marketplace or Buy Nothing groups to reduce what you buy new. My friend Brittany introduced me to the wonders of Facebook Marketplace and Buy Nothing Pages. I have to admit this is where I struggle a bit because I just love buying something and knowing it’s brand new and I am it’s first owner. And for some things, this will always be the case! (Aint nobody buying used underwear online) But think of FB Marketplace as one large garage sale where you can search for exactly what you need! And unlike a typical garage sale, people sell some high end items and are usually in fantastic condition. I’ve purchased a BOB Stroller, barstools, kids shoes, a brand new kitchenaid mixer, toys for my kids, and so much more! Buy nothing is another great tool- look for a page for your area. On this page you give away and claim FREE items from one another to help fill needs or get things you would regularly donate right into the hands of people who need them. Why is buying second hand better for the environment? It’s so simple: when you buy something already in circulation it eliminates the need for that thing to be manufactured again. This cuts down on raw resources and even better, it’s keeping these items from landfills at least for a bit longer!

4. Shop with brands that are working hard on their sustainability efforts! (It’s worth noting, sustainability does cover more than just environmental protection, but it’s a more thorough designation that will also cover protecting the environment, so it’s what I look for) While this might feel like more work, just start with your next purchase and see if you can make a change there. If you spend a few minutes looking for a company that is working to better their impact on the earth, purchase from them instead of wherever you normally purchase from. Then if you find a brand you love, stick with it and share with others! Not sure where to start? A quick Google search can give you a LOT of information but here is also what I have learned: if a brand is working hard on something like environmental preservation, they want to SHOUT it from the rooftops! So a quick browse on their website can tell you whether or not they are working on sustainability or not. Look for these on the label or website:

Leaping Bunny. Often found on cosmetic or personal care products to indicate they’re cruelty-free, this certification is a good marker of a company that may be taking steps to lessen its impact on the environment.

How2Recycle. This label shares specific information on whether or not a product is recyclable.
FSC. The Forest Stewardship Council certification “indicates that best practices around forest conservancy are being employed and that additional trees were not destroyed to make the box a product might come in,” according to Dubitsky.
B Corp. This certification indicates that a company agrees to be fully transparent and is known to have high social and environmental performance. That might mean the company doesn’t waste energy or use fossil fuels in the production process, and that it tries not to increase greenhouse gas.
1% for the Planet. Companies with this certification give 1% of annual sales to environmental causes.
Climate Neutral. Brands with this certification must meet certain standards when it comes to measuring greenhouse gas emissions, offsetting carbon emissions and taking steps to reduce emissions. (source)

A few of my personal favorites: Allbirds, Seventh Generation, H&M, Green Toys, Beautycounter, Thinx, & Native Shoes

More info: https://growensemble.com/environmentally-friendly-companies/

5. For all you ladies out there: consider period undies or cups! I will be writing a blog post all about this soon, but I wanted to include it here because just like bringing your reusable grocery bags to the store, this is a small change with a HUGE impact! An estimated 28,114 tonnes of waste is generated annually from menstrual products. This waste breaks down into microplastics, which further pollutes our oceans and waterways. As for period undies: don’t knock it till you try it! I was a huge skeptic and now I am a devout convert to them and cannot wait to share more! My favorite brand are Knix ($20 off code), but there are so many out there so just do your research, give a pair a go and see what you think!

I hope some of this has been helpful to you and will encourage you to make a small change today that can have a lasting impact! Let’s all work together to take care of this Earth that we love so much! I want to hear from you, leave a comment and share one small eco-friendly change you have made recently that you are proud of!