This last year or so, i’ve really tried to up my eco-friendly game. Learning more about the environment, opening up my mind as to what i could be doing better and just generally being more aware. I have since learnt that i didn’t know that much at all! I’ve found the more i’ve learnt along the way, the more i want to know on the subject. It’s a never ending hole of information that can be quite confusing and confronting. So, i thought i’d write this article to try and help pass on some of the information in a more simple way.
Here are my top simple everyday swaps to be more eco-friendly. Especially if you’re just starting out…
Bamboo Toilet Roll
By making the simple switch to bamboo toilet roll, you’ll be helping the environment no end. The production of toilet paper is unsustainable and uses a tremendous amount of energy to create. Plus, if you think about it, it’s something being made to literally be flushed down the toilet! Around the world approx 270,000 trees are flushed down the toilet EVERY DAY!
Americans alone are said to use around 35 million toilet rolls per day. A report found that it takes approx 473,587,500,000 gallons of water to produce all that toilet paper – just for Americans. Along with 253,000 tons of chlorine to bleach it. In terms of electricity, the manufacturing of this alone requires about 17.3 terawatts of electricity annually. It then takes up to 37 gallons of water to make a single roll of toilet paper.
So, why is bamboo so much better? Bamboo products are some of the most eco-friendly products available. Not only are they made from sustainable materials, they also break down quickly and are compostable. Bamboo is a renewable resource. It’s very soft and incredibly strong. Not only this, bamboo is also the fastest growing plant on the planet. Growing at around 35 inches a DAY! As it grows so quickly, it can be replenished much faster, making it so sustainable.
I recently switched to the 100% plastic free and compostable bamboo loo roll by Uranus Wiper. I LOVE that everything about these toilet rolls can be recycled, right down to the string holding it together. If you’re a keen gardener, you could use this twine to hold up runner beans, or various other climbing plants. It’s also the only bamboo loo roll i’ve found so far that’s quilted, making it super absorbent and soft on your tooshie!
Sustainable Homewares
It’s not just about what we consume that should be considered as a simple everyday swap to be more eco-friendly. Most of us have probably heard of the term ‘fast fashion’ however this only just seems to be a thing when it comes to homewares. Sustainable homewares are not nearly as readily available as many other items yet, but if you do your research, you can find some truly beautiful pieces to deck out your home.
Be mindful of where the items are coming from, the closer to you, the better. Also, read the ‘about us’ section on their websites to see if they really are an ethical, sustainable and eco-friendly brand. Ask them questions, if they have nothing to hide they won’t mind being asked. How do they source their products and materials. How big is their carbon footprint…etc.
For example, i recently came across this beautiful Teakroot Dish from Natalia Willmott. The perfect addition to any home looking to be more mindful of the environment. Each item is hand sourced from the various local designers and creators. Meaning that not only has your piece of homeware been sourced sustainably, as many are handmade, yours will be unique!
Eco-Friendly Dental Hygiene
Have you ever thought about the chemicals in your dental products? Not to mention the amount of plastic it all comes in. From the tubes of toothpaste, to the brushes themselves. In the UK alone, we use approx 275,000 tonnes of plastic each year! That’s about 15 million bottles and tubes per day! On average, each family in the UK throws away about 40kg of plastic per year. Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose so it will be here long after we’re all gone.
With that in mind, here are a few items when it comes to your dental hygiene you could switch to, to make a difference. Opting for a bamboo toothbrush is probably one of the easiest and cheapest things you could do. They are available almost every where these days which makes it that bit easier. However, make sure you check out the brand as well. Some very non eco-friendly brands sell bamboo toothbrushes so do your homework before purchasing. This little bundle from Earth Bits makes the perfect eco-friendly starter kit when it comes to your dental health. You get the bamboo toothbrush, natural toothpaste, and the environmentally friendly floss. All of which can either be composted (the toothbrush), or recycled after you’ve finished using them.
The toothpaste is pretty similar in taste, and works just as well as a standard toothpaste. I love the dental floss. It smells amazing and i just love that it comes in a little glass jar. Once you’ve finished with your floss, you can order a refill to continue using your original jar, making it even more environmentally friendly!
Plastic Free Chewing Gum
One simple everyday swap to be more eco-friendly is to change the chewing gum you use. This might seem odd but i bet you didn’t know most chewing gum has plastic in it! Many of these plastic filled chewing gums have things like – plastic polymers, resin and petroleum-derived paraffin wax in them!
However, this doesn’t mean you need to stop chewing gum. You just need to switch to a more natural brand such as Milliways Super Natural Gum. At £1 per box of 10 it’s not even that expensive compared to more mainstream brands. There are 3 flavours to choose from – watermelon, peppermint and mighty mint. This plant based, plastic free, sugar free gum is a simple switch that will help you and the environment.
Environmentally Friendly Home Fragrances
We all want our homes to smell nice, however finding that fine line between being kind to the environment and making our homes beautiful can be hard. Many diffusers, candles and sprays contain chemicals, or come in plastic bottles/containers. Making them a poor choice when it comes to sustainability.
Diffusers
However, if candles aren’t your thing, perhaps you’re looking for a sustainable reed diffuser instead?! Aequo Essential is a small business that was started by Jane, who was on a one woman crusade to fill her home with beautiful scents, without the toxic chemicals. All of their products are made by hand in small batches so there’s no waste. They are also paraben free, vegan and cruelty free.
Another simple everyday swap to be more eco-friendly is to switch to a natural, handmade reed diffuser may seem like a small step on your way to living a more sustainable life. But you’re helping the environment none the less. Along with helping smaller UK businesses. Thinking about how far your purchases have had to come also makes a big difference. The shorter the distance, the less fuel has been used to transport them.
It’s so important to reuse, recycle and upcycle everything we possibly can instead of throwing things away into landfill. So if we can make one product turn into something else afterwards, that’s great one to add to the list of simple everyday swaps to be more eco-friendly.
Eco-Friendly Beauty Products
Being environmentally conscious doesn’t have to stop there. You can even make small changes with your beauty or skincare regime. For example, instead of buying the smaller, individual bottles of shampoo, body wash or conditioner, you could buy in bulk and decant what you need in to a smaller bottle as you go.
However, if you wanted to be even more eco-friendly, perhaps you might think about opting for a more natural beauty/skincare brand. One that doesn’t have all the harmful chemicals in, or that uses lots of plastic or energy in it’s production.
Then, going a step further than that could mean that you ditch the plastic bottles altogether and opt for a shampoo bar instead. Cynefn, a company born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a small business based in Wales. All of their products are designed and curated in Wales in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. They also donate 10% of all profits to environmental charities and ocean clean-up projects. So by helping them, you’re helping the environment two fold!
These 100% natural bars are great to use in both the shower and the bath and will leave your skin feeling super smooth and hydrated. Plus, at just £6.95 each, they’re a bargain!
Eco-Friendly On The Go
Being environmentally friendly used to be really difficult as everything is about convenience, and being quick and accessible. Hence the one use coffee cups, straws, water bottles, plastic plates…etc. However, these days, it’s so much easier to be mindful of the environment, no matter how busy and hectic your life is. It just means you have to think ahead and take what you need with you. Planning and organising is all you really need to implement in to your day.
Whether you’re a coffee lover, a water guzzler, a shopping addict, or buying as a gift. You can get affordable eco friendly gifts from brands such as Ethical Market. From re-useable coffee cups, straws, stationery and water bottles in all shapes and sizes. So whether you’re just starting out on your eco-friendly journey, or are just looking to add something to your sustainable collection, check them out!
Budget Friendly On The Go
However, if you’re looking for something a bit more budget friendly, the company Smash (image above) have brought out a range in Tesco that you can get for £5 with your clubcard! There are 3 colour ways available – pink, blue and green. All are the same price and in the range are the lunchbox, glass bottle and the glass coffee cup. I love to use the glass coffee cup for my super immune boosting juice every morning. There’s just something a bit more enjoyable having in this glass than a normal cup or mug. Plus, you can put the lid on it and keep any leftovers in the fridge for later. The lunchbox is super light weight, making it perfect to go in your picnic bag. As is the large glass water bottle. For a glass bottle it is incredibly light. The strap also means it’s easy to carry around with you if you’re looking for something to take on walks with you.
In the UK alone, we get through 7.7 BILLION plastic water bottles a year! That works out at roughly 117 bottles per person, per year. If you switch to a re-useable water bottle, over the course of a year, you’ve already saved the planet by 117 bottles. Just think if we all did that, or even a few of us, how much plastic that would save!
Which of these simple everyday swaps to be more eco-friendly will you choose?
*Some items were gifted for this article.
Other Articles You May Find Of Interest
- 50 Simple Ways To Be Eco Friendly
- Ways To Be More Environmentally Friendly
- Why Coconut Water Will Benefit Your Health
- 10 Tips About Going Vegan – A Plant Based Diet
- Common Mistakes People Make When It Comes To Recycling
- The Benefits Of Olive Oil
- How To Be More Minimalistic
- 4 Easy Switches To Reduce Plastic Waste
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