10 Changes I have Made In My Life To Become More Sustainable
Like many of you, there are things in my life that I have been doing for years that are eco friendly. In the beginning, I didn’t even realize that it was environmentally friendly . A ton of these are things that I watched my mother do, so I assumed everyone else did them too. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that these small changes helped the planet. For example, recycling. I remember being really young and my mother always recycling cans/bottles. I remember her reusing Tupperware and things like the butter tub. It would get reused over and over again. As I got older and learned more, I wanted to do more. As I learn, I continually make changes and improvements. Today I want to dive deeper into the changes that I have recently made. Here are 10 changes I have recently made to become more sustainable:
1.The classic toothbrush switch… As you may or may not know, most toothbrushes are made of some kind of plastics. Due to the type of plastics, and the way they are made, most are not recyclable. They often end up in the ocean or in landfills. And if you are like I was, you would throw your old toothbrush into the trash and get a new one when you needed it. Think about how many toothbrushes you have used in your lifetime, and then multiply that by the number of people on the planet. So what can you do? Use a toothbrush that does not have plastic. I made the switch to a bamboo toothbrush. At the end of its lifecycle, I will be able to recycle it. This was an easy switch to make, and it was relatively the same cost as my old plastic toothbrush. I did the same for my kitchen supplies when it comes to washing dishes.
2. Speaking of the bathroom, I have also made a change in my toothpaste and razor. My toothpaste used to come in a tube that contains plastic and is often not recycled. Instead I use toothpaste that comes in a tablet form, and arrives in a glass jar. Once I am done with my toothpaste (tablets) I simply refill the tablets and will reuse the same jar therefore completely eliminating plastic. And for my razor, I invested in a sexy razor that contains no plastic. Instead I replace the blade when I need to. This razor is not only beautiful but it is also a very high quality razor, and so I will be able to reuse it for years instead of buying a new razor every few months.
Interested in Bite toothpaste? Check them out at: https://bitetoothpastebits.com/
3. Another change we have made is with toilet paper. We use toilet paper from the brand, WhoGivesACrap. We order it online and buy bulk amounts at a time. The company is really great and they give back a ton which is another reason we love to support them. I was initially weary of this change because I thought the toilet paper would feel weird compared to other toilet paper, but I can honestly say it feels the same. However, it has the added bonus of supporting a wonderful company and helping save the planet one wipe at a time. I would love to take this a step further by having a bidet, but I am slowly saving up for that change.
Check out WhoGivesACrap Toliet Paper: https://us.whogivesacrap.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiAi_D_BRApEiwASslbJ7pdIWrDI3o4Nzl1C2Zdl08J0f4y9rUNAgW-BE7molvX64xiqP5ShRoCHbMQAvD_BwE
4. Recycling things I buy or am given. This is something I previously did, however I am definitely doing it more often and with more things. For example, this past Christmas I kept as much wrapping paper, gift bags and bows as I could, because I plan to reuse them for next year for gifts that I will give to others. So for the upcoming year, I don’t plan on buying any new wrapping paper. I also reuse jars. For example, I bought some salsa that came in a huge jar. Once the salsa had been used, I cleaned out the jar and removed the label. The empty jar is now where I store my rice. I even reuse boxes when I get packages in the mail. So if you sent me something, I kept the box, and when I needed to send something out, I reused your old box that you originally sent me.
3. Regift… Yes, My name is Esther and I am a regifter. So if you got me something and I know I won’t use it, I can promise you that I will probably regift it to someone that I think will love it and will use it. I really don’t want the item to go to waste or collect dust in my home, and so I will find a new home for it. Just be careful that you keep track of who the gift is coming from so that you don’t accidently regift it to the person who gave it to you. I have done it, and it is not a fun experience. But If I don’t know anyone personally who can use the gift, I will try to sell it online or will give it away to the shelter or donation center. You can try to return it to the shop, but often, returned items just end up in the trash. Instead I try to find a new home for the item if I can.
4. Less spending. If you want something, don’t buy it right away. Spend at least 24 hours asking yourself if you really want it. If 24 hours later, you still feel like you need it and that you will use it, then go ahead and buy it. Waiting 24 hours has saved me a ton of money. I typically will end up coming up with a solution or an alternative . Delete your amazon apps, and things that encourage you to buy new things. Instead download apps that remind you of your financial goals and encourage you on your financial journey. The fewer things that I buy, the better for the environment, because it takes a ton of energy and resources to get something sent to your home.
5. Invest in higher quality items. There are certain things I tend to spend more money on so that I can save in the long term. For example, instead of investing in a high quality watch, I was trying to save money by buying cheap ones online. They would usually only last a few months before breaking, and then I would buy another. I probably bought about 3-4 cheap watches over a period over about 3 years before I finally got a really high quality piece for Christmas. I would have been better off getting a high quality piece that will last several years instead of spending/time/recourses on the cheap ones. So although it may hurt initially, try to spend on higher quality items.
6. My phone case… Yes phone cases are usually made out of plastic and often are not recycled. I opted out and invested in a Pela phone case. It has protected my phone and at the end of its life, it will get composted or sent back to the company who will reuse it.
Check out pela phone case: https://pelacase.com/. They have cases as low as $34!
7. Detergent. Most detergents come in large plastic bins that often do not get recycled. And if you are using liquid detergent, most detergents are 80-90% water. So why pay for the water and large plastic bin? I say no thank you, and instead I buy my detergent from Tru Earth. It comes in compostable packaging and in strips. It is ultra light in size and takes up less space in my laundry room. Plus its relatively cheap and I am helping the planet.
Want to check out Tru Earth: https://www.tru.earth/Store/Tru-Earth-Eco-strips-Laundry-Detergent-FL-32?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GS_fresh_linen&gclid=CjwKCAiAi_D_BRApEiwASslbJwkn0n-xwluNt_xICNAcixMMe3lb_MTWaX7kg5T2XhW7QO-8UrN9OBoCjrkQAvD_BwE
8. Support businesses that are taking steps to being more environmentally friendly. Be careful though, because some companies will have verbiage about being environmentally friendly, but will not have any factual information on their website as to how they are doing that, so always look for specifics. If you are unsure, ask. If there is a company that you love and you support that has not taken any steps to being greener, write them a letter with feedback on steps they can take. Please keep in mind that it takes time to make these changes but companies need to know that we are wanting them to do so. So write to them, leave a comment, and think of creative ways to support those that are helpful for the environment.
9. General cleaning product- I would eventually love to make my own cleaning products. I would love to be the person who mixes my baking soda and vinegar with freshly picked lemons and can spend time curating the perfect cleaning recipe. However, I do not have time at this point and so for now, I am trying a new cleaning product with the company Blueland. The idea is they send you bottles with tablets. You fill the bottle with warm water, and insert your tablet. You then have a cleaning product. Please note they have no claims that their products are antimicrobial or kill germs. Just something to note since we are in the middle of a pandemic. But the beauty of this product is that the next time I need a refill, I just order additional tablets and can reuse the same bottles. I have ordered their clean essential kit which includes foaming hand soap, Bathroom cleaner, Multi surface cleaner, and Glass/Mirror cleaner.
10. Share the knowledge. Often, people don’t realize how much plastic they are using, and how it shows up in their every day lives, so start a conversation. Tell someone. Because although all these small changes are impactful and overall reduce the amount of plastic I put into the world, we would be able to make a larger impact with more people making small changes as well. So share this on your social media, because if even one person can make this change, then we are one step closer to saving the planet.
XO,
Esther Kabwe Photography
