10+ Sustainable Swaps
“I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.”
It’s honestly pretty sickening to think about how much plastic and waste a single person goes through/uses a day. For simple math purposes, let’s say you use 1 plastic bag a day, that’s 365 plastic bags from you alone… and that’s not including all the other billions of people out there nor how much plastic and other waste you actually use a day.
The last few years I’ve been trying to be more mindful of the impact I am having on the planet and seeing what I can do on my part; cutting down on unnecessary waste, recycling, slowing my fast fashion consumption, inquiring companies of using PSPO palm oil, and so much more.
Here are a few relatively low-cost changes that you can make to minimize waste, plastic, and single-use items, but have a long-term impact and can make a big difference for our planet.
Reuse your plastic zip locks.
A great way to use what you already have in your house while being resourceful. Just wash with soap and water and dry. I usually reuse it until it gets a hole. Fun fact, growing up we did this and I hated it. I would always mutter to myself that when I was on my own I would use and toss. Now I am thankful for my mother being resourceful.Sponge Cloths
Sponge cloths replace the use of up to 17 rolls of paper towels. Super absorbent and cleans without streaking. You can also use it as a napkin or for washing dishes. Can be machine washed (air dry!) and is anti-bacterial because of how quickly it dries. The lifespan is typically 2-3 months with average wear and tear, but these cloths can be used up to 6-12 months or 200 wash cycles if taken care of properly. When it’s lived its good life, it is 100% biodegradable.
You can find them here (Amazon $14.12), here (Zero Waste Store $6.99), and here (Etsy $6.50).Bees Wax Wraps.
It is made out of organic cotton, beeswax or candelilla wax, jojoba oil, or soy wax, or coconut oil, and tree resin. You simply wrap it around a bowl, dish, or food item (cheese, vegetables, bread, fruit, fresh herbs, and baked goods… no meat!).
They can last up to a year.
To clean you wash in cool water with mild soap and drape over something to dry.
You can find them here (Nordstrom $30), here (Bee’s Wrap $18+), and here (Amazon $18).Reusable produce bags
Time to ditch the plastic produce bags at grocery stories… we struggle to open them anyways! Haha. Now to get in the habit of bringing them to the store with us.
You can find them here (Amazon $13), here (Amazon $11), here (Eco Roots $25), and here (Frusack $20).Reusable grocery bags
I know there are SO many options out there now and you can get them pretty much anywhere. But here are a few ideas in case you are in the market.
Collapsable ones with bottom reinforcement here (Amazon $25), canvas tote here (Amazon $15.10), machine washable here (Amazon $18), another washable version here (Amazon $29), insulated with a reinforced bottom here (Amazon $18)
I know a lot of stores stopped allowing you to use your own reusable grocery bags due to COVID, however a way around that is to have them place the items back in the cart and once you wheel it outside you can load the groceries up yourself into your bags.Silicone storage bags
Reusable storage bag dishwasher safe, leakproof & multiple size options here (Amazon $9.60), sandwich and snack size with fun prints for kids here (Amazon $8), standup gallon size here (Amazon $24), snack-size in so many fun prints here (Amazon $9), and sandwich size in so many fun prints here (Amazon $7-$13)Replace One-Time Plastic
Reusable straws, metal, silicone, or glass straws:
Glass dishwasher safe straws here (Amazon $6), silicone here (Amazon $9), metal here (Amazon $9)
Reusable “travel” cutlery:
Knife, spoon & fork set that attaches to one another here (Anthropology $14), fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks & straw with cleaning brush here (Urban Outfitters $15), stainless steel set that turns from pocket size to full size here (Amazon $40), slightly smaller fork, knife, spoon, chopstick, straw set here (Amazon $9)Glass Tupperware and Glass storage jars
Glass Tupperware here (Amazon $30), glass Tupperware with wooden lid here (Amazon $34), freezer, oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe glass Tupperware here (Amazon $30), glass storage jars with wooden lid here (Amazon $40)
9. Magic Makeup Erasers
Ditch the makeup wipes and give these washable makeup removers a try.
7-Day mini set here (Ulta), full size here (Sephora), full size here (Amazon), round pads here (Amazon), an assortment of sizes here (Ulta)
10. Reusable Cotton Rounds
Great for using with makeup remover, toners, and whatever else.
Here (Amazon $8), with laundry bag here (Amazon $12), cotton rounds with a beautiful pink croc case here (Credo Beauty $38)
11. Dryer Balls
Ditch the dryer sheets and give these a shot!
here (Amazon $10), and here (Amazon $28)
12. Menstrual Cups
If this is something that peeks your interest in switching to, I have a blog post sharing my experience as well as tips and what has worked for me. You can read it here.
There is a ton of options out there but this is the brand that I personally have been using, here (Target, Whole Foods, Anthropology, Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Free People and they also have a website)
Together let’s lessen our carbon footprint and make a difference, even if its little-by-little. :)
xo,
Alison
