Having an eco-friendly lifestyle can be daunting as it not only means giving up on some of the daily habits that you have grown up with, which is never an easy task. But it also means swapping some of the products from your favourite brands that are an integral part of your day-to-day routine with green products from a brand you have never used before. However, what if I tell you that the entire process is not as overwhelming as it might seem at the start? The key is to bring the change one day at a time.
To help you on this incredible journey of conscious living, I would like to share a list of five changes that I started out with and you could incorporate in your daily routine with ease in order to start living a life that is kind to the environment and in return, kind to your own self.
1) Swap plastic straws with the ones made with paper or steel.
As per an article published on aza.org (Association of zoos & aquariums) – “Plastic straws are one of the most widely used, and therefore disposed of, plastic products. Many types of straws cannot be reused or recycled due to the chemicals they are made from. Most plastic straws are also not biodegradable and cannot be broken down naturally by bacteria and other decomposers into non-toxic materials.
Straws are particularly prone to ending up in our waterways, and ultimately the oceans, due to beach littering, wind that transports the lightweight objects from trash cans and trash collection facilities, and barges, boats, and aquatic transport vehicles. Most plastic straws simply break into ever-smaller particles, releasing chemicals into the soil, air, and water that are harmful to animals, plants, people, and the environment.”
Steel Straw Set - Badger and Bobbins
The best alternatives to plastic straws are – paper straws and the ones made with steel. Two of my personal favourites are the stainless-steel straw set available at The Clean Market and also the steel straw set available at Badger and Bobbins.
2) Swap single use plastic bottles with ones that can be re-used.
Single use plastic is a major culprit for environmental pollution. As per statistics mentioned on the Mayor of London’s website, The average London adult buys more than three plastic water bottles every week - a startling 175 bottles every year per person. In total, some 7.7 billion plastic bottles are bought across the UK each year, resulting in substantial amounts of single-use plastic waste.
The one inexpensive step that you can take to reduce 175 bottles worth of single use plastic waste is by saying NO to buying water from the supermarket and carrying a reusable water bottle with you at all times.
Stainless Steel Bottle - Sistema
The one that I use is a stainless-steel bottle that I had bought from Amazon.
3) Swap plastic shopping bags with tote bags made with salvaged fabric.
Another form of plastic that adds to the pollution level is the shopping bag. Instead of getting your weekly groceries in them, why not carry your own reusable tote bag made with salvaged fabric to the supermarket and contribute towards reducing the plastic pollution and also, save fabric from going into the landfill.
Trees Way Cooler Than Humans - Tote Bag
The one that I am using at the moment is the Trees Way Cooler Than Humans tote bag available at Unnaaty’s online store. This bag is designed by Ellie Good from Ellie Good Illustrations, a small and independent business from the U.K.
4) Swap paper kitchen towels with the ones that can be re-used and recycled.
As per an article on Norwex Movement – “Globally, discarded paper towels result in 254 million tons of trash every year. Discarded paper is a major component of many landfill sites, accounting for about 35% by weight of municipal solid waste.”
In order to make your contribution towards reducing this waste, simply swap these paper towels with the ones that are made with organic fabric, which can be biodegraded at the end of its life.
100% Organic Cotton Tea Towel - Dog
My personal favourite is the 100% Organic Cotton Tea-Towel – Dog by Ellie Good from Ellie Good Illustrations. Though a tea towel, I also use one of these in place of the paper kitchen towels.
Hope these tips and product suggestions, help you and make the transition from a normal to an eco-friendly lifestyle a fun and an easy process.
- Nishtha
Featured Image - Freepik.com