Even though we are mere specks on this great planet Earth, everyone’s respective carbon footprint contributes to a lasting effect on our environment. One small way we can work to improve our environment’s sustainability is to practice using less plastic. This is not only a win for the environment, but it’s also good for your pockets! Here are five ways to get started:
1. Use reusable produce bags for your grocery trips.
As practical as it can be to have an ample supply of plastic bags available at home, it’s also becoming increasingly more dangerous in terms of waste. It’s also important to note that many states have grocery stores that are actually charging customers anywhere between five and ten cents per plastic bag; that doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but you’d be surprised how quickly that change (and plastic) adds up. Next time you take a trip to your grocery store or local farmer’s market, you should consider bringing along a reusable bag instead.
When you’re searching for reusable produce bags, the first place for you to visit is Sol + Spirit. Sol + Spirit is a small business with one big passion: protecting the planet by providing eco-friendly products to help support sustainability efforts. This divine mother-daughter duo offers organic cotton produce bags and totes, mesh bags, and reusable food bags, all available in different sizes. Ditch those plastic produce bags and pick up some a cotton bag from Sol + Spirit that will have a positive environmental impact.
2. Pick up plastic-free laundry detergent.
Yes, even your several loads of laundry can have a huge impact on the environment! Detergents have been shown to have harmful toxins (such as phosphate) and ingredients that contaminate waterways (and the livelihood of living things in the water).
However, there is an eco-friendly solution to cleaning your laundry: Tru.Earth. Tru.Earth is an eco-friendly laundry detergent that is also great for sensitive skin. Instead of having traditional powder or liquid detergent, Tru.Earth has created detergent strips. It’s never been easier to do laundry: all you have to do is place the strip into the washer, add in clothes, and viola! You can choose between a fragrance-free scent or a fresh-linen scent. Visit Tru.Earth to learn more about starting your plastic free laundry detergent journey.
3. Send in your synthetic hair to be recycled.
If you’re familiar with wearing box braids, faux locs, or Marley twists, you know how essential synthetic hair can be. Unfortunately, nearly all of synthetic extensions purchased from beauty supply stores are full of plastics. Think about all of the plastic waste a hair shop sees daily just by installing protective styles that require this kind of hair. This is a landfill that continues to grow daily, but fortunately, there’s now a solution to help slow the waste.
Rebundle is the first hair brand that will provide synthetic hair products that will eliminate skin rashes and single-use waste. Before they officially open their market, they’ve been recycling old synthetic hair (so far, 63 pounds of hair have been recycled!). If you wear synthetic hair and you’re ready to take them down, help save the planet by recycling with Rebundle. Plus, they’re currently covering the cost of shipping. There’s nothing like saving the environment for free.
4. Light candles instead of plugging in air fresheners.
We all love a nice-smelling space. As amazing as air fresheners can be, there are a couple of downsides to them: one, they’re often wrapped in plastic packaging when purchased; and two, a few of them are electric, which can hurt your electricity bill.
Candles are a great alternative to air fresheners, and they smell just as good (if not better!). A great shop to purchase delightful candles from is LightByLo. Based in Chicago, LightByLo provides luxury, hand-poured candles in several lovely scents. They’re so incredible that they’ve sold out, but they’ll be back in stock on August 31st!
5. Stop buying bottled water.
When you’re consistently buying bottled water, you’re not only adding to plastic waste, but you’re spending more money than you have to. Instead, pick up one handy water bottle to carry around with you. You’ll be able to refill it at water fountains and stations; this way, you’re able to efficiently save your money and the environment. You can check water bottle sites like Water Bottle Nerd that offer reviews, tips, and recommendations for finding the best water bottles on the market. Check out this impressive list to find your next water bottle.
