Happy Earth Day! Many people know I have become really serious about living a more eco-conscious life over the past few years. I’m trying to limit the amount of plastic we use and cutting back on disposable items. I’m also making small changes to reduce our waste overall.
However, the last thing I want to do is make anyone feel guilty or make you feel like you need to tack one more thing onto your to-do list. It is HARD to change habits. It is hard to get your family on board if you do want to make changes. And it is hard to find better solutions for your home when plastic is so inexpensive and convenient. I absolutely get it. Use the tips that might work for your family, and ignore what doesn’t. If you take just one thing away, it’s that YOU are in control of your life and your home. You get to decide what you bring in and take out of it. Here are a few suggestions for living a more simple and eco-friendly life.
Politely refuse things you know you don’t need or won’t use
We’ve probably all gone to a health fair or some booth at a convention and ended up with pens and water bottles and those little foam soda insulators that no one ever uses. Of course, vendors WANT you to take this stuff because they a) want to get their name out there and b) don’t want to pack it all up and take it back home. It doesn’t matter. You should not feel obligated to take something just because it’s free.
Consider whether you really need something or will actually use it. Think about where you’ll store it (or if you have room to store it). If you have kids who bring home cheap Slinkies or erasers as rewards from school, talk to them about how toys like that are made and why they break so easily. I want my kids to pick out their own prizes. I also want it to be clear why I don’t buy them or give them the money to win them at the school carnival. Whatever your situation is, start politely refusing swag or samples or anything someone tries to give you. If you can’t refuse it, donate it immediately to someone who can actually use it.
Keep your packaging simple
This may stem from that fact that I have never learned to gift-wrap properly. My husband laughs at me whenever Christmas rolls around (he usually ends up wrapping everything except books). Still, even if you’re the world’s best wrapper, you don’t need to spend a ton on making something look pretty. A clear cellophane bag around a candle will just get thrown away. A three-year-old can’t read the expensive glittery card attached to her gift. A plate of cookies doesn’t need colored wrap and a bow.
I admire people who can wrap beautifully and make simple gifts look stunning, and I think design and aesthetics is important — but I also think it’s important to cut yourself some slack and stop complicating events. It’s OK to bring a gift that isn’t wrapped or that’s wrapped only in paper. You don’t need to ship the hair bows you sell in a clear plastic bag or insert several different business cards in the package and seal it with washi tape. I occasionally sell leather bows and earrings and try to use only paper bags and cardstock to package them. The plastic is unnecessary and just goes in the trash.
Use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets
About six years ago when my kids were born, I discovered that the dryer sheets were giving my kids a rash and making me sneeze. Not only are these disposable, they have artificial scents and chemicals that aren’t great if you have sensitive skin or allergies. I bought some inexpensive wool dryer balls from Amazon and have used them for years. Want to scent your laundry? Add a few drops of essential oil to the balls before tossing them in with the clothes.
Stop buying disposable soap dispensers
I am a recovering Bath & Body Works shopper. I have bought their foaming hand soap for years, and I love the scents and the formula. My kids tend to use a lot of soap, and I think foaming soap lasts longer because you use less. My problem is the plastic bottle it comes in. You can recycle it a few times, but you can’t recycle the pump or the metal spring that’s part of it.
I found this Puracy foaming hand soap refill on Amazon and have been really happy with it. I kept a few of my Bath & Body Works dispensers since I haven’t found a sturdier foaming soap dispenser yet, and we refill those with this soap. It’s even cheaper if you sign up for subscribe and save. I also like that the package uses as little plastic as possible.
We use bar soap in the shower, but I think it’s too hard for little hands to grab onto and also harbors germs when used for hand soap. This isn’t a perfect solution, but it definitely reduces our plastic.
Buy refillable shampoo and conditioner
I was tired of recycling shampoo and conditioner bottles and throwing out the pumps, so I started to look for another option. I’ve been using Plaine Products for about a year and love their business model. They send you aluminum bottles of shampoo and conditioner (they also offer hand soap, lotion, and facial cleansers) and sturdy pumps. Then when you finish a bottle, you mail it back to them using the same box the original bottles shipped in.
Full disclosure: I signed up to be a Plaine Products affiliate, which means if you end up buying a product, I earn a small percentage. I love this company and their goal of reducing single-use plastic, regardless of whether you end up buying from them.
Check out my favorite book about earth-friendly, minimalist options and other ideas for reducing waste! Share your best tips below.
