30 Easy Sustainable Swaps
Here are some of our favorite ways to keep an eco-friendly and sustainable home!
Hello, Explorers!
Our path of becoming Eco-friendly & Sustainable has been a real joy to grow into. It makes us feel like we are advocates for the earth, its oceans, and inhabitants. We have been inspired to play a bigger part in our role as Eco-friendly conservationists within our own home and community. Travel has made us extremely appreciative of the incredible, natural beauty that is on our planet. However, the diminishing number of resources that have affected our planet have become a major need for concern.
While many people are moving forward with this movement graciously, there are many others that may see this as a major inconvenience and disruption to the comfortable flow of their lives. Little do people know that there are many ways to reduce a carbon footprint and help the environment improve as a whole. We have compiled a list of a few of our favorite ways to become eco-friendly. Here are 30 of the easiest swaps to incorporate into your lifestyle routine:
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In The Kitchen
Compost perishable food scraps - If your county has a great composting system with the department of sanitation then go ahead and toss all your biodegradable scraps such as egg shells, coffee grinds, lawn mowings, and food items. If not, try creating rich compost for your plants.
Forgo straws - Straws are not a necessary item for most of us. If you are able to, we encourage you to forgo this option when purchasing food, but if you do like them then purchase an alternative to plastic so that you may reuse it many times. Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Use Eco-bags for shopping - It is quite an easy thing to do! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Save veggie and meat scraps to make your own broth - Start collecting those scraps and make yourself a delicious soup or stew at the end of the week!
Recycle properly (find out what plastics are allowed in your recycling bin) - It is such a good feeling to know that your efforts are making a small impact towards a greater good!
Buy paper towels made from recycled paper or bamboo - The prices are comparable and the quality is very similar. You will get used to it in no time! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Buy glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic - Not only do they last longer but you avoid any lingering odors or food stains from ruining your containers. Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Reuse glass jars - From yoghurts to kombucha bottles, try your best not to buy glass jars and get creative with what you already have or purchase! Just remember to take off the label!
Grow your own veggies - If you don't have garden space in your backyard then try growing some on your kitchen counter! Growing green onions on our kitchen counter is the easiest thing to do! Place veggies, root down, into some water. Watch how fast they grow!
Use plant-based sponges - Now available in many stores, spongers or scrubbers made out of natural fibers are such a great way to switch out your old sponges for! They are even compostable! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Bring your own containers to buy in bulk - Buying in bulk has been extremely cost-effective and a great way to discover new grains and beans that you haven't before! Bring your empty containers to a grocery store that has a bulk section and have fun filling up as much as you need! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Purchase seasonal goods from Farmers Markets - Going to your local farmers market is a fun activity to do with others when grocery shopping. Feel good by knowing that you are helping local shops, farmers, and artisans flourish by supporting what they do best!
Use reusable produce bags - We recently switched to mesh produce bags when bagging our leafy greens and fruits! They are inexpensive, easily washable and dry quickly, and best part of all, they cashier can scan barcodes right through the mesh bag! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Purchase or replace kitchen utensils with metal, bamboo, or wood - Over time plastic utensils break down and end up in your food. Metal, bamboo, wood, or natural utensils last longer, they are also recyclable and compostable. Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
In The Home
Use laundry pacs or dishwasher pacs - Reduce your carbon footprint by reducing the weight of liquid products that you purchase. Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Switch to bamboo & charcoal toothbrushes - The packaging and the toothbrush are both compostable! Did I mention that bamboo is anti-bacterial? Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Use wool dryer balls - With a few drops of our favorite essential oils, it is the perfect way to prevent static in your laundry and have natural scents instead of synthetic ones found in dryer sheets, plus, they last forever! Over 300+ washes! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Refill the hand soap container - Instead of buying a new container each time, try purchasing refills instead. Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Wash clothes in cold water - Save extra cash for your own wallet by reducing the amount of energy it requires to heat up water for your laundry duties.
Buy bamboo toilet paper - A tree takes 22+ years to be harvested. Bamboo can be harvested in as little as 3 months! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Reuse bath towels - Instead of washing your towels after every shower, try using them till the end of the week.
Repurpose old linens - If you have old shirts, socks, or sheets, try cutting them up to be used as rags. Repurposing an item saves the world from having to manufacture something you would otherwise purchase.
Use rechargeable batteries - From your remotes to small electronics, try switching to rechargeable batteries and reduce the use of lithium. Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Keep a portable and travel-friendly set of cutlery - I love taking my reusable cutlery to travel with me. There have been so many instances where we needed a fork, but luckily, we always had our cutlery on hand! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Use a reusable water bottle - Companies have made water bottles so attractive and full of many features! Try picking one you like and take it on-the-go whenever you need! This has caused such an incredible impact on our environment! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product! Click to see Pear Life's favorite recommendation for this product!
Purchase clothes with natural materials - In the past year, I have finally decided to mindfully look at clothing labels before I purchase anything. Clothing with a higher percentage of natural fibers like cotton, silk, linen, wool, flax, hemp, and jute are durable and last longer than man-made materials. They are cheaper to produce and help with skin irritations.
Donate clothes - Whether your donation goes to goodwill, a shelter, or a displaced person, donating clothes and supplies are such a positive impact on whoever is the recipient.
Thrifting - Shopping is made a lot cheaper when purchasing second-hand items. I always think of it like a treasure hunt! Try going to some estate sales, you never know what you may find!
Propagate plants - Ask friends or neighbors if you could have some plant clippings so that you may start growing a plant of your own! Watching the process of growth is such a beautiful thing! It is so rewarding when growing your own plants vs. buying them.
Exchange parties & garage sales - Bring your friends together to do a clothing swap of your own! It is such a fun activity to host a lunch gathering, while "shopping" your friends closet items for free!
We hope this encourages you to pursue a sustainable life while feeling good about your positive contribution to the environment.
Goodbye, Explorers!
Resources:
For other Eco-friendly products click on, The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide, for more inspiration.
Our favorite tools for relaxation! Click to take a look!
Our favorite tools for recording videos! Click to take a look!
Pear Life Content:
-Enjoy our “7 Day Self-Care Challenge” freebie!
-Check out our “21 Days To Self-Care” course. A carefully curated digital course with motivational videos, guided meditation sessions, journal prompts, and lessons to help you on your Self-Care journey towards your dream life!
-Click here to watch our other Guided Relaxation Sessions!
-Click on this link https://apearlife.com/how-to-be-happier/ to read more about how to increase your happiness through gratitude.
-Click on this link https://apearlife.com/the-secret-to-h… to learn about the secrets to a life full of happiness!
-Click on the link below to have access to a free printable template for daily/weekly organization https://apearlife.com/bullet-journali…
-Read my post, Finding Joy In Simplicity, a day in the simple life. https://apearlife.com/finding-joy-in-…