I’ve made it a real point to go greener this year. After one of my kids wrote a research paper on the dangers of single-use plastics, I have been on a mission to eliminate as many of them as possible from my home. And doing so has only paved the way for more eco-friendly swaps in my own home! Keep reading below for some eco-friendly swaps that you can use in your own home.
Eco-Friendly Bathroom
If you take a look around your bathroom, you’ll probably notice that just about all of your products are probably in some kind of plastic container or another. Some of the easiest eco-friendly swaps can be found by switching your shampoo and conditioner with bar soaps instead. Lush has a great variety of shampoos and conditioners that don’t come in any packaging. I’ve even used their lotion bars, they’re awesome!
Makeup usually comes in plastic pallettes and bottles too, so I made it my mission to find ones that came in glass (glass is always recyclable and biodegradable, too!) and offered a refill. If you are looking for makeup similar, I recommend checking out Elate Cosmetics. All of their other eyeshadows and blushes are packaged in bamboo pallettes and tins. It’s definitely more expensive, but I think that it is worth it.
Stop using disposable razors! Not only are they kind of expensive when bought every so often, but they’re pretty terrible for the Earth, too. Of course, I’m not about to stop shaving! I swapped my disposable razors with a stainless steel safety razor (found here). It comes with a year’s supply of blades and has an exchange program where you can send yours back. It definitely took some getting used to, but I would never go back!
Eco-Friendly Kitchen
Ditch the plastic sandwich bags and used eco-friendly beeswax wraps instead! These sheets of cotton are covered in a layer of beeswax to keep food fresher for longer without plastic. I store my cheese and veggies in these babies and I absolutely love them. They are great for anything except for meat. I bought mine at Trader Joe’s.
Did you know that the paper cartons that soy milk, orange juice, and buttermilk come in are actually worse for the environment than their plastic carton counterparts? It’s true. These paper cartons are covered in a layer of plastic that is completely waterproof and NEVER breaks down. Opt for things in plastic (or better yet, glass) cartons instead because they can be fully recycled.
Eco-Friendly Home and Life
It can be hard to go plastic-free when you are out and about in the world. It seems like every restaurant or take out place uses plastic utensils or plates. For an easy swap, carry around your own utensils make out of bamboo. They are easily washable and you won’t feel guilty for eating out. I love mine. Find some for yourself on Amazon.
When picking out your produce from the grocery store, ditch the plastic bags and use these mesh produce bags instead. They are easily washable and reusable and can actually keep your produce fresher for a longer period of time.
