3 Simple Sustainable Living Tips

2/27/2020

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3 Simple Sustainable Living Tips

Finding ways to live more sustainably is becoming very popular. Not only is it good for the planet it is also good for your pocket book! Sustainable products actually save you money (and time!).

As with most topics, you can find naysayers and cheerleaders on both sides of the aisle.

Those who think any eco-friendly products are worthless and those who promote zero waste living to the extreme.

I like making an effort to use sustainable products in my life because I think it is responsible and worthwhile to reduce waste. I also like saving money (I mean who doesn’t!).

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Just in time for EarthDay 2020 - which happens to be Earth Day’s 50th anniversary - these sustainable living tips can help you take a few small steps in your sustainable living efforts.

3 easy ways to make small sustainable changes in your life:

1. Reusable straws - at least at home!

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National Geographic reports an estimated 500 million plastic straws are used (and thrown away) in the US every single day! Eco Cycle averages that out as 1.6 straws per person estimating between the ages of 5 and 65 each person (in the US) will use about 38,000 or more plastic straws.

In my house, prior to using reusable straws, we averaged more than 1.6 straws per person per day.

There are pros and cons to traveling with your reusable straws. While the pro's seem obvious - lest waste, saving money.

The cons include getting kind of stinky when used on the go (away from home) which is why at our house we use stainless steel straws at home, some of us use plastic straws when we are out and my fiercest zero waste advocate at home will refrain from using a straw when we are out.

You can find reusable straws everywhere now! Its as easy as going to any grocery store or your can buy them online here:

2. Reusable Zip Top Bags

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I have no idea how many zip top bags I used to go through in a week. Especially when my girls were younger and I was constantly packing snacks.

All I know is plastic zip top bags were always on my shopping list until I made an effort to start trying reusable, sustainable food storage options.

Thanks to Grove Collaborative I tried using reusable zip top bags in various sizes and found they are super easy to use and clean.

Receive a Grove Sustainable Starter Set for FREE with your 1st purchase of $20+

I still purchase disposable zip top bags but not nearly as often as I used to, which saves money and time!

Check out Grove Collaborative or shop for some reusable bags here:

3. Dryer Balls instead of dryer sheets!

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Used dryer sheets may not take up a lot of room however they are a single use product that is really unnecessary and they do create a lot of waste.

We all love the “fresh” smell dryer sheets give our clothes, towels and sheets however that smell is derived from harmful chemicals that not only smell “good” but leave a harmful, chemical laden film on all of our clothing, sheets and towels as well.

Ditching the dryer balls not only reduces waste, it's good for your health!

Not convinced the “smell” is harmful?
Read this from Eco Watch:

Fragrances can include tens to hundreds of different chemicals, some of which are toxic, and many of which are known allergens, like limonene and linalool. All fragrance chemicals are usually kept secret from consumers. Dryer sheets can contain volatile organic compounds like acetaldehyde and butane, which can cause respiratory irritation. Quats, a fabric softener chemical, is often part of a family of chemicals called quaternary ammonium compounds, many of which are linked to asthma. Acetone, used in dryer sheets, can cause nervous system effects like headaches or dizziness.

Reusable Dryer Balls come in plastic and wool (as pictured).

Need a “fresh” smell for your laundry? Try Wool Dryer Balls with some good essential oils!

Check out these options to purchase!

I am a firm believer that every little bit helps when it comes to our environment!

Please let me know if you try these sustainable living tips! I would love to hear how they work for you.

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5 Comments

melanie link

2/29/2020 07:56:36 am

Great post Heidi! I need to do better. I have started with the straws and I like the idea of reusable baggies.
Xx Melanie

Heidi link

4/23/2020 08:21:19 am

I like the reuseable zip top bags I purchased from Grove. Easy to clean but they are bulky to store! Way to go on the straws!

Rosemary Davis link

2/29/2020 08:39:12 am

A powerful post!
Thanks for sharing these simple tips.
We all can do better. It’s about becoming more aware. I’m going to start using less zip bags and more containers in my home.

4/23/2020 08:21:02 am

Thanks for reading! If we all do a little it makes a big difference!

Brooke link

4/30/2020 09:30:59 am

We're really bad about plastic bags too. I used to have fabric ones but they had cartoons on them and I never replaced them once the kids got older. I didn't know Ziploc mad reusable ones too.

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