Now, more than ever, it’s important to be more sustainable and do our part in battling the environmental crisis we are facing. Making small changes to our daily lives can have a large impact on our ecological footprint. So here are some daily items you can swap out with more sustainable alternatives. Please comment down below if you know others that I didn’t mention!
Bathroom
Sustainable toilet paper
There are plenty of sustainable toilet paper alternatives, I’ve personally been using Who Gives a Crap. Their premium toilet paper is made from bamboo and is just like real toilet paper. And you can get a subscription so you won’t need to worry about running out of toilet paper ever again!
Reusable makeup pads
Reusable face pads are a great way to reduce single-use cotton pads or makeup wipes. I have also found them to be much gentler, especially if you have sensitive skin. You can find a selection here.
Bamboo toothbrushes
Most toothbrushes are made out of plastic, so why not swap them out for a more sustainable alternative made out of bamboo? You can now find these in most large shops where you would normally buy your toothbrushes.
Period products
On average, a woman will use 11,000 single-use sanitary products in her lifetime. Switching to reusable alternatives will help reduce the impact your period has on the environment. You can use reusable pads, menstrual cups or period underwear. I’ve been using the latter for months and they’re brilliant!
Biodegradable one-use items
There are many products we use in the bathroom that are single-use. Try to find biodegradable alternatives where you can. For example, make sure you buy cotton buds that are made out of 100% paper.
Soap bars and cubes
Most shampoos, conditioners and shower gels come in plastic containers. Swapping these out for shampoo and soap bars is a great way to cut out plastic. I’ve recently tried Beauty Kubes and quite enjoyed them - I did find that they block my drain slightly, so do keep that in mind.
Kitchen
Eco-friendly dish soap
Many cleaning products contain ingredients that are harmful for the environment, so try brands that are more sustainable - such as Ecover or Method.
Biodegradable sponges
Sponges for washing dishes are often made from plastic and aren’t biodegradable. You can instead use sponges made out of natural fibres or a washable, reusable one. You can find different options here.
Reusable plastic baggies
Swapping out single-use plastic in the kitchen is not too difficult - try using reusable and washable plastic baggies or tupperware. Avoid using cling film and use aluminium foil instead.
Sustainable kitchen roll
You can swap out your regular kitchen roll for some made of recycled paper or made from more sustainable materials such as bamboo.
Cleaning
Eco-friendly products
Similarly to the point I made about dish soap, try using more sustainable brands for your cleaning products. Or make some yourself using household items such as baking soda, lemon or white vinegar,
Recycling
You can reduce your impact on the planet by recycling whatever you can. If you can’t reuse or donate it, dispose of it as best you can.
Sustainable laundry products
They are different ways in which you can be more sustainable with your laundry. Avoid using a drier, for example. But you can also find soaps that are more eco-friendly and plastic-free. Smol offer plastic-free tabs that are delivered to your door, or you can buy sheets that dissolve when you wash them.
Clothes
Avoid fast-fashion
It goes without saying that fast fashion is bad for the environment. Shopping second-hand clothes in charity or on sites like Vinted is a great way to lower the clothing’s impact. You can also support local makers and small businesses that make clothing on a smaller and slower scale. When you can, try to stick to natural fibres; man-made fibres let out microplastics into the water system when they are washed.
Take proper care of your items
Taking proper care of your clothes is important in order to keep them in good condition for longer, for example by washing things the proper way and drying them correctly. Always read your garments’ care labels where you will find all the care information.
Mend your clothes
Clothes don’t last forever and wear-and-tear is only natural. Rather than discarding items that have holes in them, try mending them instead. This book written by my incredibly talented friend will give you all the skills you require to repair your clothes in a creative and pretty way. I may have been a model for the book (hehe).
Miscellaneous
Fabric handkerchiefs
Rather than using single-use tissues, you can look into buying washable handkerchiefs made out of fabric. Or you can try making them yourself!
Biodegradable tea lights
I recently found compostable tealights. Just take out the metal wick holder and throw the casing in your food waste bin. You can recycle the metal wick holder.
Reusable travel mug
Avoid single-use coffee cups and save some money by bringing your reusable travel mug to your favourite coffee shop!
I hope you found this post helpful. You can check out my article about being more sustainable and find out even more tips. This is it for Day 2 of ‘7 Days of Relatable Sunday’. Speak to you tomorrow and good luck in your journey to being more sustainable.
Yours truly,