Introduction
There are many things you can do to be more eco-friendly, and one of them is to switch from regular products to greener alternatives. To help you get started with your new eco-friendly lifestyle, here's a list of everyday items that will help lower your carbon footprint:
Eco-friendly cleaners
- Vinegar and baking soda. This is hands-down one of the best cleaning hacks for your home, kitchen and bathroom. It's easy to use and doesn't require any fancy equipment or expensive products. Just mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle, then add a few tablespoons of baking soda (which acts as an abrasive). You can use this mixture to clean everything from countertops to sinks and floors—just be sure to rinse well afterwards!
- Natural cleaners. There are several eco-friendly brands that make natural cleaning products with essential oils, including Method's Happy Home line (which uses citrus peels) or Seventh Generation's Plant-Powered line (which uses lavender oil). These are great options if you're looking for non-toxic alternatives that still work well; however they tend cost more than traditional brands like Clorox so it might not be worth switching if you don't have time/energy/money for experimentation right now!
- Make your own cleaners! In addition to buying natural cleaning products at the store there are also lots of DIY recipes online which use baking soda instead of bleach so if price isn't an issue then give these a try too 🙂 The nice thing about making your own cleaners though is that if something goes wrong then no worries because it wasn't expensive anyway! Once again this is personal preference but generally speaking most people find vinegar smells better than bleach anyway so if we could get rid of both at once then even better."
Eco-friendly detergents
If you want to be good to the environment, look for a detergent that is phosphate-free and biodegradable. It's also important to choose a product that is non-toxic and hypoallergenic. In addition, if you have sensitive skin or allergies it's best to find a detergent that's fragrance-free as well.
Eco-friendly grocery bags
Reusable grocery bags are the most eco-friendly option.
If you need a quick stop at the store, paper bags are your best bet. They’re easier to dispose of than plastic or compostable bags, and they’re more durable than reusable grocery bags.
Compostable bags provide an environmentally friendly alternative that breaks down into organic matter when disposed of in a compost heap or worm bin. However, they tend not to be as sturdy as traditional plastic or paper grocery bags, which can make them harder to carry heavy loads of groceries without ripping open along the seams.
Materials like nylon and polyester also have their drawbacks: reusing them often requires washing before reuse (which takes time), and these types of materials are petroleum-based—so don’t expect them to break down easily in landfills!
Eco-friendly plastic wrap alternatives
There are a few alternatives to plastic wrap that you can use daily.
- Beeswax wraps: These are made of beeswax and cotton, so they're reusable and biodegradable. You can buy them online or make your own by melting beeswax in a double boiler and pouring it into molds or tupperware with narrow openings.
- Cloth napkins: If you want something to contain messes without adding waste, cloth napkins are an easy-to-use option that requires very little maintenance (you just throw them in the laundry). If you have kids, they'll be able to relate with their disposable counterparts — but unlike those, these will hold up much better over time!
- Beeswax food wraps: Just like regular plastic wrap, these come in multiple sizes (including sheets) and will help keep things fresh while reducing your carbon footprint at the same time. This brand also sells compostable cutlery made from corn starch if you're interested in making small changes toward reducing waste at home!
Eco-friendly paper towels and napkins
You might be surprised to learn that paper towels and napkins aren’t the eco-friendly option you might think they are. They are made from trees, which cannot be regrown in a few years—like plastic straws, they take years to decompose.
Recycling used paper products is the best way to reduce your impact on the environment with this product category. However, if you have no other choice but to use virgin wood pulp when buying new ones (because of allergies or other considerations), there are ways you can make it more environmentally friendly by choosing an eco-friendly brand like Brawny or Seventh Generation.For example:
- Look for paper towels that contain unbleached packaging instead of bleached white cardboard boxes; this will help prevent chemicals from polluting our landfills and ultimately getting into our waterways as runoff during rainstorms.*Choose recycled content over virgin wood pulp whenever possible because it takes less energy than making something from scratch.*Look for paper products made without chlorine bleach (which is made using fossil fuels).
Eco-friendly dish soap
To help you out, here are the best eco-friendly dish soaps.
- Biodegradable dish soap: Dish soap is one of those products that can be hard to find in an eco-friendly version, but it's important to look for biodegradable versions of this common household item.
- Free of phosphates and chlorine: Look at the ingredients list on your current dish soap—if you see either "phosphate" or "chlorine," then you'll want something that doesn't contain these ingredients. Phosphates and chlorine are not biodegradable, which means they will remain in our oceans and waterways long after they've been used in your household. They also contribute to algae blooms and other forms of water pollution!
- No high pH: To be considered truly natural (and thus safe for both humans and the environment), a product should have a pH between 4-5 on the spectrum from zero (highly acidic) to 14 (highly basic). A higher pH indicates that there may be harmful chemicals present in the product; avoid it if possible by reading labels carefully before purchasing anything new!
There are many products you can use on a day to day basis that won't hurt the environment.
There are many products you can use on a day to day basis that won't hurt the environment. They're also better for your health and will benefit the economy, so it's win-win.
Here's a list of some eco-friendly options to help you get started:
- Eco-friendly toothbrush: Instead of using a plastic brush, which takes hundreds of years to decompose and releases toxic chemicals into our waterways during production, choose an eco-friendly alternative like bamboo or wood. These materials are biodegradable and thus more environmentally friendly than traditional plastic brushes (which can take anywhere from 500 years up to 10 million years before they finally break down). The best part is that there are no adverse effects on your oral health—and since these types of products tend not to have plastic bristles anyway, it won't be as uncomfortable when you brush!
- Eco-friendly laundry detergent: Traditional washing machines use energy both during their operation as well as during manufacturing processes; therefore switching over from conventional detergents makes sense both financially and environmentally speaking because it reduces greenhouse gases emitted by power plants at every stage along this supply chain (including making soap). Organic/natural brands offer great value for money as well as long shelf lives—meaning less waste overall!
Conclusion
With all of these options, you can find a way to make your daily life more eco-friendly without sacrificing convenience or quality. The best part? You don't have to spend tons of money on expensive items that claim they're green but aren't really doing anything for the environment. All it takes is some research and consideration before making a purchase decision.
