You may have heard about the current effort to eliminate plastic straws, with companies like Starbucks, Royal Caribbean and Hilton pledging to find an alternative, and cities like Portland and New York City considering a ban on the plastic utensil.
This got us thinking... Are there things we can do to reduce our waste - to really make a difference about the junk we throw away - without drastically changing the way we live our lives?
Check out the ideas we learned about, and enter to win a package (valued at approx. $75) of cutting-edge, environmentally-safe items you'll actually love to use!
You can easily find recipes for homemade deodorant or soap online. While we are impressed with the women who do this, we know that realistically, we barely have time to make dinner, let alone body wash. But we are intrigued by the package-free shampoo and conditioners that are trending right now. They come in bar form so there's no single-use plastic packaging and by all accounts, they work great - some say they are even better than the old stuff. Read on to see how you can win one below!
Another easy eco-friendly switch: items like bamboo toothbrushes, cloth make-up removers and metal razors. They're just as effective as the disposables. Plus, the toothbrushes can be composted, the makeup removers can be machine-washed and the razor blades can be recycled. Try if for yourself: Win a 4-pack of bamboo toothbrushes at the bottom of this post!
Making coffee at home? Don't forget to use a refillable K-Cup coffee filter. According to The Atlantic, 9 billion K-cups were sold in 2014, and most of them ended up in landfills. Reusable coffee filters are much less expensive than K-cups. Plus, you can use whatever coffee you want in them and they are quick to clean.
Getting coffee on-the-go? Instead of a disposable paper cup, bring your own reusable tumbler. Most coffee shops, including Starbucks, will put your drink in your own tumbler and some may even give you a discount. These cups keep drinks colder and hotter much longer than a paper cup. Right now, we're loving the BEAST cup because when we get home at the end of the day, we can just toss it in the dishwasher. Easy peasy. Even better? You can enter to win one below!
We would never tell you not to order take-out (we'd never get through the week without it!) but last time we ordered, we realized how much single-use items we threw away. So we've decided to try ordering one less time per week. Making dinner just one extra time saves us money, helps us eat healthier, and reduces waste, especially if we are mindful about the items we are purchasing.
One way to reduce plastic at the grocery store is to stop buying individually-packaged items. For example, next time you go to buy snack-sized nuts, chips, yogurt or squeezable applesauce, look at how much more expensive those are than bigger containers. Plus, look at how much more plastic is used to wrap those portioned servings. Why not reserve travel-sized foods for only when you are out and about, and not when you are home? For snacks and lunch at work or school, it's quick to package snacks in smaller sizes, such as reusable silicone storage bags, or reusable storage containers like the Rubbermaid Brilliance. They are healthy to use, eliminate plastic baggies that can't be recycled and are dishwasher-safe. Plus, they are part of the package you can win below!
There are also lots of ways to save food waste. Throw veggie scraps into a bag in the freezer and turn them into stock for soup. Or turn food waste into rich dirt and fertilizer by composting. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S dumps about 133 billion pounds of food per year into landfills, which is about one third of the amount of food produced annually. Find out how easy it is to compost here.
The eco-friendly solutions available today are endless. From reusable wrapping paper and shopping bags to rechargeable batteries and solar-powered appliances, it really is easy to eliminate waste. And when shopping, think about what you order online and try to bundle it so less delivery boxes are used.
The key is not to overwhelm yourself. It's not all or nothing. Start off with a few small changes, and then incorporate better living strategies over time. You'll most likely save money, and you'll also feel better about the choices you are making.
*One lucky commenter, Tweeter or Instagrammer will be chosen at random to receive the four items listed above. Giveaway is open through August 26th, 2018 to U.S. residents at least 18 years of age. Entrants must be a member of SheSpeaks. If you are not a member, click here to join. Winner will be notified by email.
Update: Thanks to all who entered. Congrats to our winner, SheSpeaks member VickiCoffey!
I quit using plastic water bottles & have only been using a tumbler or reusable water bottle for a few years now. Other small things we do around the house include unplugging devices we aren't using, and making sure our shades are drawn during the day to keep the sub out & hopefully help the AC unit run less.
I am very intrigued by the bar form shampoos and conditioners! Genius!
I'd like to try some eco-friendly reusable paper towels that don't collect lint when washed in the machine.
I love my refillable coffee mugs and water bottles. And my reusable straws go everywhere with me!
I love to recycle any way I can. I use take out containers I get as Tupperware, I use containers and boxes, as well as other recyclable materials for crafting with the kids, and I collect rainwater to water my garden. Id love to try out some new smart home products to cut back on energy usage, and maybe try some clothes that are sustainably made and give back to the communiyy!
apparently some K-cup makers are now making them in recyclable cups. look for that if you continue to buy k_cups. I have 3 of the k-cup reusable filters. Some brands are better then others for using. I prefer the actual k_cup brand.
Love to try body wash!
I use a bamboo toothbrush and also charcoal tooth powder. A small container lasts 6 months. My family also put filters on our refrigerator so we don't have to buy bottled water each week.
I definitely want to try the shampoo bars! And I use a reusable tumbler for water daily instead of throw away plastic bottled water. And I'm trying to use less and less plastic bags in favor of reusable totes
we use dish towels rather than paper towels
I use my own bags when I go shopping. No plastic bags that tear and end up all over the place.
No food at my home is ever wasted. I have personally taken this initiative to distribute every morsel of uneaten food to the poor, needy and homeless twice a day. I hope to do the same for my entire community (where I live)
I've made big strides in my home to reduce waste including: reusable k-cups, bringing my own tumbler, stainless steel reusable straws, shopping totes, biodegradable trash bags and I use no plastic storage bags or containers. I also make my own shampoo, deodorant, laundry soap and cleaning products. I share with and encourage friends and family to do their part as well.
I use a water thermos instead of water bottles to reduce my usage of plastics.
I use metal straws, reusable shopping bags, ziptuck bags, reusable coffee sleeve, a reusable water bottle, reusable snack bags..