It’s safe to say that most people are trying to be friendlier with the environment, but since almost everything today is designed with easy, disposable convenience in mind, finding and adopting green habits might be a little harder than it seems. But don’t be discouraged! There are so many ways to go about it that everyone can do it, and you’ll be surprised how going green saves money down the line.
One of these ways is, of course, getting rid of plastic in our daily lives. It doesn’t have to be a cold turkey situation since you can gradually reduce your household’s dependence on this material and you’ll eventually free yourself completely from it. It’s a road that takes many steps, but the sooner we walk it, the better for the future of our planet. Follow these tips and go green today!
Get rid of plastic bottles
A single person that uses a refillable, reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one can prevent 170 of the latter from being made each year. Imagine a family of 5 renouncing plastic water bottles, and now you have 850 bottles not being wasted each year, and that’s just one household! You can find reusable bottles in every shape and size, so you’ll have the easiest time finding one that’s perfect for each member of your family.
Switch to cloth diapers
Yes, disposable diapers are convenient, but they also account for 7.6 billion pounds of waste every year, and that’s just in the U.S. That’s not taking into account the 80,000 pounds of plastic that’s used to create them in the first place. On the other hand, cloth diapers are reusable, and you’ll only need about 20 for the entirety of your child’s diaper wearing years, making them one of the most eco-friendly products out there.
Eat fresh foods, pick unpackaged products
Whole foods that are not plastic laden are better for the environment, but also for your health, so that’s a double whammy right there. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, go for the unpackaged option whenever you can, like getting whole apples instead of the ascorbic acid-treated packaged alternative. In case you have to buy packaged foods, get the ones in TetraPak, paper or glass containers since they’re less likely to have them laden with chemicals.
Change your plastic Tupperware for glass
Regardless of the shape, glass Tupperware is leagues above plastic when it comes to food storage since you can put hot food right into them without worrying about the container bending or releasing chemicals into the contents, so you’ll feel better bringing your lunch to work on them and store your leftovers for later. Mason jars are also a good option for leftover storage since their shape makes them perfect for storing stock, grains and other such foods.
The power of metal (razors)
If you look at it, a regular disposable razor is a lot of plastic servicing a very, very small functional metal part. Don’t add more to the 2 billion plastic razors that will be thrown out non-recycled this year, and get aa reusable metal razor. Yes, it’s a little heavier and takes a little longer to get used to, but shaving pros still swear by their results, and you’ll look so much cooler (and environmentally friendly) using one.
No plastic in your takeout
Takeout is a big, big part many people’s weekly food schedule, and there’s really no harm in the takeout itself. But the next time you’re dining out, make sure to bring a glass or cardboard container to avoid getting a styrofoam one. Also, to help out further with your help and the environment, but your health as well, try ordering delivery food less often, or none at all; meal planning is better!
Going green with these easy-to-follow tips is good for the planet, your wallet, and your health too. One of the best ways of reducing waste is to simply not consume very wasteful products, but you might wonder how to do the same while keeping the house clean. Fortunately, there are several cleaning services that use environmentally friendly methods and keep every room sparkling.
