Here it is, my #seveneasyways to be more sustainable. These are simple swaps you could make that are hassle free, on the cheap and good for the planet.
Meat free Mondays
If the thought of going vegetarian or vegan fills you with fear, worry not. Meat Free Mondays would be a simple and easy way to reduce your environmental impact. Going veggie would decrease your emissions by 1/2, so why not give one day a week a try. You could eat your favourite veggie meals - maybe avocado on toast for breakfast, Mac n' Cheese for lunch and a vegetable curry for dinner, sounds delicious!
Plastic Bottles
With just one purchase of a reusable water bottle you can save 167 plastic water bottles annually. Even if you recycle all your plastic bottles, only 9% of plastics in the world ever actually get recycled report the UN and one bottle takes 450 years to decompose. If you've got the budget, I'd suggest buying a Chilly's bottle. They use recycled materials, are BPA free and can be recycled when you're done with them at a scrap metal yard (and right now they've got 50% off!)
Who Gives a Crap
The toilet paper company that makes a real difference. I'd never even considered toilet paper as a sustainability swap until my flatmate told me about them, and we've been repeat purchasing ever since. Who Gives a Crap use 100% recycled materials and give them new life in the shape of loo roll. They require no trees and donate 50% of all profits to help build toilets in the developing world.
Reusable Shopping Bag
With the plastic in our oceans affecting sea life, biodiversity and the increasing levels of toxins in our water, why not cut it out and buy a reusable shopping bag? It takes one plastic bag between 10 and 1000 years to biodegrade so I'd suggest getting yourself a shopping bag made out of hemp, this material can biodegrade 7 times, adding nutrition to soil each time it re-enters the cycle.
Like a G+T?
With only 9% of plastics ever being recycled, it seems a shame that to enjoy your (and my) favourite tipple, it comes with a plastic bottle. This seemingly necessary plastic encasing the extremely necessary tonic, doesn't need to be a burden anymore. It's possible to buy tonic in glass bottles, though this comes at a premium. This also means the glass requires recycling, which is currently at a rate of 50%. Though this is much better than the 9% of plastics, this could too be eliminated entirely by purchasing a Soda Stream to make your own tonic.
Calling All Make-Up Lovers
What do you use to take your face off at the end of the day? If it's wipes or cotton pads listen up.
It may come as a surprise to you, much like it did to me, but the cotton used in these disposable products is water intensive and requires toxic chemicals that are polluting rivers and damaging ecosystems. This is why I'd suggest purchasing some washable pads made from bamboo. This way you're reducing emissions and the amount you send to landfill.
Mascara Wands = Pet Brushes
Another beauty related tip - If you wear mascara, save your wands and donate them to wildlife trusts! They'll gain a new lease of life and be used to care for animals who need them most. This initiative is taking place across Australia, the USA and the UK. Here's a UK based charity accepting them but have a google for one close to you.
You can send clean ones to:
Pets And Wildlife Service (PAWS) Staffordshire
4 NORFOLK GROVE
GREAT WYRLEY
WS66JS
Have you found any other swaps to make that were cheap, relatively hassle free and sustainable too? If so, leave a comment for me below!
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