It has been SO long since I sat down to write a non-recipe blog post. But I’ve been meaning to do this round up for a long time and the inspiration finally stuck so here we are! It’s pretty easy to get overwhelmed in the wellness space, whether it’s around food or sustainable living. One thing leads to another and all of a sudden you feel like it’s all or nothing– like if you aren’t buying organic q-tips or sustainably sourced toothpicks, you’re a terrible human being.
Listen, it’s easy to feel like you’re not doing enough. And there are plenty of people in the wellness world who might unintentionally (or intentionally) make you feel like your small changes don’t matter. But the truth is: they DO. Whether you haven’t boughten a plastic water bottle since 2008 or you just started carrying reusable bags last week.. both are important and commendable steps. Our planet is covered in plastic, specifically single-use plastic- which means it’s used once and thrown away. Something that takes just minutes to produce, but up to 1,000 years to decompose. Yes, that’s one THOUSAND. Without going into a rabbit hole here, it’s so imperative that we become a part of the solution and not just turn a blind eye.
Below you’ll find a list of simple, eco-friendly items that have helped me to use less plastic and/or live a little greener over the years. Please don’t feel like you have to go purchase everything and swap out your entire kitchen at once. But sometimes we make things out to be much bigger/harder/more expensive in our heads than they need to be, you know? Start by making one small change, wherever you can, and let things build from there. Over time, it’ll have such an impact on not only your personal life, but the entire planet as a whole.
*Note: I may make a small commission if you purchase a product using one of the below affiliate links. The cost is no different to you, but it helps to support my blog + business. Thank you!
1. Reusable Water Bottle
This one might be super obvious to some of you, but I’m always blown away by the number of people at the grocery store still buying huge cases of plastic water bottles. Buying your own reusable bottle is such an inexpensive, yet impactful way to not only reduce plastic in your environment, but also in your body. Yes, plastic leeches chemicals into the water and is especially dangerous when in heat (think plastic bottle sitting in your car). Even this one simple change will make such a difference! PS: look for stainless steel or glass. Two of my favorites: BKR + HydroFlask.
2. Silicone Storage Bags
One of the hardest things for me to steer away from in the kitchen was ziplock bags. Growing up, I used to make fun of my mom for washing/reusing hers, yet there I was.. wasting so many bags myself. I’ve tried to wash and reuse (not my favorite), but ultimately the solution was/is: silicone bags. Yes, I still have ziplock when absolutely needed (or if I run out), but I usage has been drastically cut down. Silicone bags are incredible durable- they freeze well, are dishwasher safe, and last forever. They’re not created equal though; I’ve tried different brands and it always comes back to Stasher. The seal and overall quality is tough to beat.
Yes, they’re pricy, but you can slowly accumulate a collection and I promise.. it’s so worth it!
3. Composting
Ah! This was one of the best things I started doing in 2019. When I was little, we had a bowl by the sink to accumulate scrap veggies/fruits/etc and we’d toss it out back in the woods to ‘compost’. Living in the city, I don’t exactly have that luxury, but was feeling bad about tossing so much leftover food. Enter: Community Composting. The most wonderful company that makes it basically foolproof to compost + help reduce waste. You decide on weekly or bi-weekly pick up and that’s it, they come to you, swap your bin, and you’re good to go!
While you can read more about the whole process + pricing details on their site, here are some of my favorite reasons to compost:
- Less things in the trash! We honestly take the trash out maybe every 8-10 days. Sometimes I even forget when the last time was.
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When organic matter decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen), it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is 30x more potent than CO2.
- Replenish our soils. Organic compost is the most effective way to grow organic crops. Community Composting carefully turns your food scraps into rich, organic certified compost. And each spring, customers are able to receive some of that soil as part of the program! (Already planning my future garden.)
Whether you’re local to Rochester or not, definitely look into options in your area. Once you start composting it’s hard to go back! And no, it doesn’t smell.. ever.
4. Produce/Market Bags
Reusable bags have (thankfully) become very mainstream and some grocery stores are even starting to charge get rid of plastic bags altogether (and charge for paper ones!). It’s really great to see these bigger players, who have such an overall impact, make conscious choices like this. In addition to your typical reusable bag, produce bags are also amazing to have around. I’m always baffled by the people who use a plastic bag for their one head of broccoli and then proceed to weigh it and slap the sticker on top. You might be making the cashiers life “easier”, but it’s their job to know (or find out) the produce codes and takes all of .3 seconds to do so.
If you’re not comfortable going commando (no bag at all) with produce, bring your own! These ones are my fav; they’re mesh, slightly stretchy, and machine-washable. I also love to bring them to the farmers market as well!
5. Reusable Straws
I love my stainless steel straws so very much. While this might not be a “swap” because I never kept straws at home regardless, it’s definitely a welcomed addition. I use one for my smoothie almost every day, and while some do some with a tiny brush to clean, I will normally rinse through with very hot water right after usage or you can boil them in water to disinfect. If you want to be even more committed, you can keep one in your bag and refuse straws throughout your daily coffee/tea purchases. I know, #extra. But also #savetheturtles.
6. Glass Jars/Containers
You don’t have to go crazy and store everything in glass jars, but even having a few containers around to keep leftovers or bring your lunch into work is so helpful. Less plastic in the world, but also less in your own environment (and don’t even get me started on heating plastic in the microwave… just don’t!). Ball jars are super affordable, can be used to take a smoothie/juice/coffee on the go, and can even be found at thrift stores! These are some of my favorite’s: for leftovers/packed lunch (these), for bulk food storage (these or these), and for more interesting/serving style jars (these).
7. Silicone Baking Sheets
These are the newest addition to my kitchen! I’ve mostly seen them used for baking, which isn’t my thing, so I guess I never felt the need to purchase. But after going through 183 rolls of parchment paper from roasting veggies non-stop, I finally realized I needed them. Positives: no sticking + less waste. Negatives: It’s dishwasher safe, but I don’t feel that it gets super clean that way so I tend to wash by hand and even then- it sometimes still feels slightly oily. But overall love them– truly not a dealbreaker at all!
Note: read the sizing before you purchase. I got the full sheet size without realizing it (which is fine as I have both sized pans), but meant to get the half.
Bonus: All-In-One Soap Concentrate
This one is more about non-toxic cleaning products vs. swapping plastic, but having a pump-able glass jar for our dish soap has been amazing. We just refill every time it’s out and avoid purchasing new soap (with more plastic). This concentrate is incredible and will literally last for a year (if not more). You can also use it for SO many other things (floors, bathroom, etc). It’s different from the regular Dr. Bronner’s as this one is slightly stronger for more household cleaning (not meant for your skin/body). The ingredients are so simple and bonus: it smells like pine!
What are you most favorite sustainable products or kitchen/life swaps? Do share!