Since I was a little kid, I’ve always cared about the environment and tried to encourage others to do the same. So in honor of Earth Day, I’m sharing some easy ways to go green in your everyday life.
Admittedly, I’m not perfect at being green, and I have yet to adopt all of these steps in my life (re: cloth diapers), but this is a good reminder to myself and others that there are always ways we can improve.
Also, I recognize that a lot of these tips aren’t totally applicable during the current pandemic we’re in (for example, many grocery stores are not accepting recycled plastic bags right now). So that being said, this is a guide for when things go back to normal (if they ever do – fingers crossed!)
AT HOME
COCONUT BOWLS & UTENSILS
I’ve had my eye on the coconut bowls and utensils from CoconutBowls.com. They are stylish, eco-friendly, and are a great way to serve and eat smoothie bowls, salads and more.
BAMBOO STRAWS
It seems like nowadays most people recognize plastic straws are not the way to go. While I don’t mind them, paper straws are often not the ideal alternative for some since they often get mushy after use. Enter bamboo straws, which allow you to sip sustainably use after use. You can find a four pack at CoconutBowls.com.
CLOTH NAPKINS
Eliminate waste by opting to use cloth napkins instead of disposable ones. Pottery Barn has a stylish selection. I really like the Wheaton striped ones, which happen to be on sale right now!
CLOTH “PAPER” TOWELS
I’ve been eyeing Marley Monster’s Unpaper Towels for a while now, but have yet to pull the trigger. You can actually roll them up just like traditional paper towel.
REUSABLE COFFEE PODS
Instead of using a new plastic pod with every cup of coffee you make, get a refillable pod like this one from Amazon. Look for one made of stainless steel, so you’re not heating up plastic parts. Better yet, buy a French press and make your coffee the old fashioned way.
DITCH THE SPONGE
Instead a a sponge, use a dish cloth that you can wash in the washing machine. Marley’s Monsters also sells washable sponges that are made of cute, colorful patterns.
EAT PLANT BASED
…Or at least cut back on the amount of meat you eat. Raising animals for livestock has been linked to higher levels of pollution, more water use, and other detriments to the environment. I’ve been a pescatarian since 1996, and try to make the majority of the food I eat plant based. If you’re looking for some food inspo, I share a lot of what I make on my instagram stories, or check out some of my recipes here.
BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH
One billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away in the U.S. every year, so instead of using a traditional toothbrush, opt for one made of bamboo. I’ve been using Brush with Bamboo toothbrushes and they work great.
REPLACE SHAMPOO BOTTLES WITH BARS
While they take a bit of getting used to, ditch your traditional bottle of shampoo with a bar. Lush has a huge variety.
MAKE RECYCLING PLASTIC A PRIORITY
Keep a bag in your house for recycling plastic bags, films, packaging, etc. When you fill the bag, bring it with you on your next trip to the grocery store. Here in the northeast, I know Stop & Shop and Whole Foods both accept plastic recycling. Just check to be sure the plastic you are recycling is in fact recyclable.
CLOTH DIAPERS
Okay, okay, I’m not going to lie. I have a box of cloth diapers currently sitting in my daughter’s closet. I used them for a few days and that was it (she is now one). But I truly believe cloth diapers are a huge way we can protect the environment when compared to using disposable diapers (I just need to use them, of course).
AT WORK
WALK TO THE SHARED TRASH CAN
Instead of using the individual trash can at your desk, walk to a larger shared one. I did this religiously when I worked at a news station. If I didn’t do this, my trash (including the plastic bag that lined it) would get emptied every night by the cleaning crew. Plus, this helped me get in a few extra steps throughout the day.
BRING YOUR OWN REUSABLE COFFEE POD
This is one of those tips that was written pre-pandemic, but will hopefully be okay to do some day. A lot of offices have single cup coffee makers now. Instead of using the plastic pods, bring your own reusable coffee pod and store it at work. It goes without saying, but make sure it is washed and super clean before using it in a shared machine. And if you do use a disposable plastic pod, recycle it properly by taking it apart, emptying them of coffee grinds, separating the recyclable pieces from non-recyclable ones, etc.
OUT AND ABOUT
CANVAS PRODUCE BAGS
At the grocery store, instead of putting your produce in plastic bags, use cotton washable produce bags.
STORE YOUR REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS IN YOUR CAR
That way, you’ll never forget them. And if you do get plastic, don’t just reuse them for trash bags (which will still end up in a landfill) but bring them back to the store to be recycled.
BRING YOUR CONTACT CASE TO THE EYE DOCTOR
If you wear contacts, you know you have to remove them for your eye exam. So instead of taking a new case from the office (that often don’t work too well), just bring yours.
BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLE ON PLANE TRIPS
You can’t bring a filled water bottle through airport security, but you can pack a collapsible one and fill it at a water fountain inside the terminal. This way you can skip the plastic cup on the plane that you’ll probably use for less than one minute before it getting thrown out.
