As a marketer, I tend to get more excited than most about good social media ads. I’m intrigued when the targeting is spot on, and the content is authentic. I recently purchased some overpriced Swedish dish towels. Without doing much research on the product itself and solely pulled by the marketing, I was hooked. But I don’t regret it because I gave three out of five away as gifts.
Stepping into a new year or a new season always makes me return to a reflective mode. What can I do to improve myself in (insert upcoming year)? Making more environmentally friendly choices has been on that list for the past three years. I don’t feel pressured to achieve this goal in one year, but I aspire to improve each year. Here are three ways I’ve incorporated more eco-friendly habits into my lifestyle.
I don’t purchase plastic intentionally.
I started slowly by bringing my water bottle with me to work or when I drove somewhere. One bottle turned into about eight water bottles. (You’ll be amazed at how often water bottles are gifted to you.) Although I still drink my bougie sparkling water, it’s typically in an aluminum can or glass bottle so that it can be recycled.
Next, I tossed the majority of my plastic containers. It wasn’t hard to do because they looked like they had seen better days. I repurchased glass containers and some reusable zipper bags. This included sandwich-style bags and freezer bags. I keep and repurpose small jars from food items for other quick storage items.
I also carry a reusable straw in my purse, so I pull that out at the restaurant. I almost lost it at the restaurant in Hawaii, but some sweet server rushed it to me. For lunches, while at work, my job does a nice job of having real silverware, so I’ll hop between using work-provided utensils and my kit. With more groceries requiring you to pay for bags, I typically carry reusable bags with me, but if I forget, I ask for paper.
I shop second-hand first.
Thrift shopping seemed to get a bad rep back when I was a child. It was deemed something “poor folks” did to purchase clothing. But when you think about it, it’s pretty clever. Now thrifting is a whole vibe, and it’s a verb bay-bee. It’s a hobby for some folks. Because I like unique clothing, I like to check out the thrift stores first, especially in affluent neighborhoods. Usually, I can score name-brand items, sometimes with tags on them.
One of my friends is an expert at thrift shopping. I shopped with her at a by-the-pound shop. (Here’s a tip, bring gloves) I’ve learned to shop for what I need and seek daily deals before committing to my items. If I see a rare find that I can’t figure out how to coordinate the piece with my wardrobe, I hop on Pinterest for clear inspiration.
But I don’t just head to the thrift store for clothes. I have also purchased household items such as furniture, cups, baskets, decorations, and more. Recently, I scored two bikes, generally priced at $100 for $25. This hack is good for my wallet and the landfills.
I eased up on single-use products.
The keyword is “eased”! This one is tough for me because we are so single-use-focused as a society, from berries to anything prepackaged. What can you do?
Let’s start with household items. I have purchased reusable towels, and I’m leaning into reusable cloth napkins, but I haven’t made the switch yet. I’m researching what I think will work. In my kitchen, my introduction was through Full Circle Tidy dish clothes. I roll those up and place them in a basket by my sink. I also have a small bin; after I’ve used these towels enough, I’ll place them in the small “dirty bin.” I leveled up to some Marley UnPaper Towels and used the holder for the gently used towels as a rester. (say you dry your hands with one of them.)
I found a wonderful local, woman-owned business in my town called SOAP Refill Station, where I stock up on household supplies, such as laundry detergent, deodorant, dish soap, and more. Finding this place is exciting because I love supporting local businesses, but it also matches my vibe.
In the kitchen, I decant as much as I can by removing the berries and tomatoes and placing those into containers to preserve the produce. To my knowledge, in my area, only the farmers’ market will allow you to purchase loose produce. But even with that, I feel they are quickly trying to hand you a plastic bag (again, it’s just our society).
Honestly, I don’t go out of my way just yet to purchase plastic-free items. Even when you order things online, think of all those plastic bags you received from Shein. I try to repurpose those for travel baggies, at least. I do if I see something like a cardboard box, can, or pop tin can be recycled, so much so that I have some family doing the same, at least at my house.
Which brings me to my next point…
How to encourage your loved ones to be involved in a more sustainable life
You may have noticed (if you’ve read this far) I’ve yet to mention any facts or figures related to greenhouse gas, water consumption, the amount of landfills, or the dreaded climate change. (but those words are all hyperlinks, so knock yourself out) That was intentional. Because I don’t think people care so much about facts and figures unless it’s made personal to them. Think of how people are more informed about inflation because that impacts them.
That’s why I find it much easier to converse with someone about my why when I share what I do. In my bathroom at home, my guests will see a basket of washcloths rolled up next to a mason jar with foaming hand soap. The idea is more for hygiene but is also a straightforward task towards avoiding a paper towel. Another basket is below to dispose of the gently used cloth. People ask me for a towel after walking out of the bathroom, so I walk them back into the bathroom and demonstrate. Usually, I hear them say, “Oh nice!” “You’re so fancy!” I tend to let them know I got the wash towels from the thrifty or Dollar Tree along with the basics, and I like the hygienic and less single-use waste impact. And just like that, we are talking.
I also believe gifting people, like those Swedish dish clothes, more sustainable items is another way to introduce friends and family to more sustainable choices. I should gift family and friends reusable straws or bags as these are easy to incorporate into daily life and could be the starting point for more sustainable choices.
Frankly, we all have to start somewhere, from a reusable bag to a straw to bulk soaps. Each step we take makes our world a better place.
What sustainability choices do you want to make more or already? Drop a comment below.