It’s time to take action and help save Mother Earth.
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Since the 90s we’ve been told reduce reuse recycle, carpool, conserve water, use less energy in your home, shower with a friend (hahaha). It really hasn’t been enough, because even with us doing all of those things they don’t make enough of a dent in the rest of the wastefulness.
Everyday online or on the news we learn about new environmental tragedies happening around the world. These aren’t new situations we are coming across, they have been happening for a while. As the decades since the industrial revolution have come and gone, we have been contributing to the impending doom of our natural environment. It is hard to watch the oceans, and forests, and animals, and the air going to “crud”.
So what to do about it now? Scientiests say that some things are irreversible, and others we can make a big difference in, today! We’ve got a short list of ideas to help reduce your footprint, and hopefully inspire the world to make better decisions.
Photo by Toni Cuenca from Pexels
Put on your up-cycled thinking caps, and GO green!
1. Glass Straws
Seemingly easy enough to do, but does require not being a total lazy bum. Buy your family a set of glass straws, and toss a few in the car. When you are out and about eating at restaurants who maybe haven’t figured it out yet, you’ll have your own handy and adorable glass straw ready to go. Yes you will have to do a two second wash in the restroom or when you get home, but it will make a difference.
Try GlassSipper Straws
2. Reusable Produce Bags
In our small household of only 3 people and a dog, we are at the grocery store at least twice a week buying bananas, tomatoes, apples, you name it. We were using so many of those thin plastic bags, it was nuts! Yes, we were putting them in the recycling as soon as we got home, but wouldn’t it be better if they weren’t out in the world at all, adding to the on going plastic bag problems. Our family decided to invest a small amount of money into reusable produce bags. We don’t have enough for every trip all the time, but slowly we are making a difference, and eventually we will have more of them where we won’t have to worry about forgetting a few at home etc.
Try Reusable Bags from Upcycled Creations
3. Beeswax Food Wrap
All families, no matter how hard we try usually end up needing some plastic wrap to put away left-overs, or just smaller bits of food, produce, cheese etc. The world is embracing reusable and environmentally friendly beeswax food wrap. The exciting thing is, you can make this yourself with a small investment in a brick of natural beeswax and some cotton, check out this video.
Try Natural Beeswax Food Wrap from B Factory (CAD) or Etee (USD).
4. Mason Jars for ev-er-y-thing
There are a trillion pinterest posts, online videos and stories about the amazing things to do with mason jars. We will just keep in simple in saying, use them for regular storage in your kitchen and pantry. Leftovers, smoothies, home made juice, salad dressing, any bulk item. Most of the bulk food stores are allowing you to bring your own jars, so you don’t have to use disposable plastic bags from the shop. BuzzFeed Nifty has one of the best videos with 18 amazing ways to use them around the home to help you go green, check it out here.
5. Shampoo bars
A simple decision to make is the switch over to a zero waste / package free Shampoo Bar also known as Solid Shampoo. The great thing about them is that they are usually made with the most natural of ingredients, they are not only going to be great for the environment, but likely even better for your hair than the plastic bottled options from your store shelf. If you are washing your hair typically every other day they should last you just as long, if not longer than their liquid counterparts.
Try Knot Anymore Solid Shampoo from Sudsatorium (CAD) or the Zero Waste Shampoo Bar from Emerson Soaps (USD)
6. Goats Milk Bar Soap
Another great zero waste option when it comes to getting clean. Also typically made with all natural and locally sourced ingredients, the goats milk soap is great for people with various skin conditions, as well as people who just like a good lather in the shower.
We love Honey Almond Soap from Crosswinds or try the Charcoal Soap from Quai des Bulles
7. No-Mo Lawns
Of course a no-mo lawn is very attractive for obvious reasons, but they also typically take less watering. Fresh water is all around us in North America, and sometimes (very often) we take that for granted. Water consumption is a major concern all around the world, and it hits close to home too, just ask California and some of the southern states. A great suggestion which is becoming more and more popular is to switch out the grass for “ground cover”. Clover, creeping juniper, artificial turf, there are so many options out there, and the White Clover is great for the bees too! We suggest you Google it, or just go chat up your local grower.
8. Shower less
Just an FYI you don’t need to shower daily, and if you do, you don’t need to be doing a full 20 minute hair treatment, leg shaving, singing in the shower experience every day. If you are in real need of a soak in hot water to relax and relieve your muscles, try a luxurious relaxing bath with a quick rinse off after. Alternate long and short showers, again this goes back to water conservation, but also your own monthly utility bills. So shower less, or shower with a friend and save money (insert cheeky winky face here).
9. Recycle your old fabric / clothes
This may seem like an obvious thing to do, but I know of people who just toss their old clothes in the bin with the rest of their garbage, headed for the dump. While there are some items that really shouldn’t be donated, you can make sure that those in decent condition find a good second home. Between the various thrift, second hand, consignment, charity shops and the Etsy Makers of the world if you put it out there someone will make good use of it. Places like Value Village do clothing recycling, meaning if the clothes can’t hit their shelves for whatever reason or don’t sell, they go to a proper fabric recycling facility. Just something to keep in mind when you are done with your old cotton T’s and worn out jeans (which are probably super in style right now). Try a post on kijiji in the FREE section.
10. Support brands and businesses making an effort to do things right!
Finally our fav tip of all is to try your best to support companies who are doing it right. It isn’t always easy, and sometimes may not be in your budget to choose these options, but even an instagram post of a product you love and wish you could take home with you, or telling your friends about that product, is a helpful way to spread the word on the amazing brands out there keeping it green and eco-conscious! And tell your bigger stores what you are looking for from them, what you want to see them carry, and how you’d like to be spending your money.
We hope you’re all jacked up on green ideas from head to toe, home and garden to the grocery store. If you’ve got more ideas or know of even more amazing green brands send us an email! Stay green and Stay Genuine!
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