Simple Ways To Be More Sustainable In Your Daily Routine
Everything we do in our daily lives has an impact on the planet.
While some parts of going green require a lot of effort (but, are worth being conscious of and trying our best!) there are some simple changes you can make every single day to lessen your carbon footprint and be more sustainable.
Below are some easy ways our team put together to make sustainable choices part of your daily routine.
When You’re At Home
1. Grow your own produce and herbs
If you have the means, growing your own fresh veggies and herbs is a great way to be more sustainable while also sprucing up your meals. A larger space for a garden is required for produce, but herbs can be in small spaces like an apartment patio. It makes it easy to add life to your food by walking outside and cutting off a few basil leaves.
2. Reduce food waste
Reduce food waste by using up what you have in the house before buying more food. Food waste is a large problem in our country, so anything we can do to combat waste is helpful. Get creative with that random produce! We recommend soups, stir frys, or green and/or grain bowls that can be a variety of items mixed into one.
3. Compost your kitchen scraps
There are plenty of compost bins available for whatever fits your lifestyle (small, large, inside or outside). Check with your local waste management to see if they have programs to pick up your compost.
4. Use cloths instead of paper towels
A microfiber cloth picks up more than paper towels, anyway. We suggest keeping a stack of cloths under the sink or somewhere easily accessible to grab. Then, keep a small basket in the same spot to throw dirty cloths in and wash the cloths once a week.
5. Ditch plastic in your coffee routine altogether
Keurig cups, plastic drip coffee makers and coffee filters are all problematic for your health and the environment. We recommend using a French press, a percolator or a pour over. Check out our blog post Clean Coffee + Allison’s Routine to learn more about making your coffee free of toxins.
6. Go paperless
If you haven’t already, switch all bills, alerts and updates over to paperless. It's easy to do and more convenient than filing papers away.
7. Hang laundry outside
There’s nothing quite like fresh, air dried laundry. Whenever you can, hang your clothes outside to dry instead of turning on the dryer.
When You’re Out and About
1. Pack your reusable tote bags
You’ve heard it once and we’ll say it again: bring those reusable tote bags everywhere. From grabbing groceries at the farmers market, to picking up home essentials at the department store, we find it easiest to keep them in the car or right by the front door so they are accessible as a grab-and-go.
2. Buy in bulk
Bring your own reusable jars to your favorite bulk store and fill up with goods for your household. This will cut down on trips to the store as well—a double win.
3. Buy local, seasonal produce
This is the most sustainable way to buy food. Being part of a CSA or heading to the farmers market is our favorite way to support farmers in our area. Check out this blog post on How To How To Choose A CSA Or Farmers’ Market for more information.
4. Ride your bike or walk when possible
Going to the cafe down the street? Carve out an extra 30 minutes to walk with the family versus taking the car. Going into the city? Park your car in one spot and leave it there all day. Moving your body is healthy in a plethora of ways.
5. Bring your own reusable water bottle
Remember to bring your own reusable water bottle (glass or lead-free stainless steel) to avoid single use plastic that is bad for the environment as well as your health.
6. Switch to a refillable cleaning system
With just one product (The Concentrate) you can refill your reusable bottles time and time again. No more buying single-use plastics that end up in a landfill. Our Concentrate is synthetic chemical-free, biodegradable, incredibly effective and safe for people and the planet. Try one of our Starter Kits to see the power of switching to human-safe cleaning products.
Prioritizing Sustainability, One Choice at a Time
It may feel overwhelming to try and be more sustainable in your daily life. But it's not about perfection—it's about the small choices you make every day that add up to make a difference. Pick a few of these to start with and build your routine around, and continue choosing more as time goes on. Caring for our planet is important as our childrens’ children will inherit it—and it all relates to human health.
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Marilee Nelson
Marilee Nelson is an Environmental Toxins expert who has spent nearly 30 years advocating for the chemically-sensitive and chronically-ill. She is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Certified Bau-Biologist and Bau-Biology Inspector and specializes in Food As Medicine. She has helped thousands of families and individuals identify, heal and recover from toxic exposures and is on a mission to revolutionize the way American families view their health.