Sustainable Swaps for the New Year
With all the resolutions and new life changes starting up this New Year, why not add sustainability to the list? Becoming more eco-conscious doesn’t have to be as all-consuming as some make it out to be, and can be done on a budget with just a little extra planning. So get swapping and start your year off right with some sustainability style!
The best thing to remember when moving to a sustainable lifestyle is that accidents happen, and that’s okay! Forgetting to bring your reusable mug or buying food in prepackaged plastic from time to time is unavoidable and bound to happen, so don’t beat yourself up about it. Remember that whatever changes you are able to make is better than nothing, and all those small changes will add up to a big impact!
Bring Your Own
One of the simplest ways to lower the amount of waste you create is to make the swap to reusables! A great way to get into this mindset is to bring a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go. Not only will this help you stay hydrated, it’ll also help you avoid buying single-use water bottles and other to-go drinks. If your tap water isn’t the tastiest, look into purchasing a water purifier or charcoal filters so that you’ll always have delicious water when you need to fill up & go!
When headed to a store, grocery or otherwise, be sure that you bring your own bag to carry all of your purchases in. A single reusable tote bag can save you hundreds (if not thousands) of paper & plastic disposable bags over just a few short years. And if you live in an area that charges a fee for disposable bags, a few good quality tote bags can end up saving you a lot of money too.
While at the grocery store, skip the plastic produce bags in place of reusable cotton ones [link]. These bags are washable, breathable, and reusable, and will actually help your produce stay fresher, longer at home! If you’re mid-grocery shopping and happen to run out of produce bags, you can simply skip the bags all together. For large produce like apples, onions, & peppers, they can just be placed into the cart loose, then put into a larger tote bag once purchased. No need to waste a plastic bag for a single bell pepper or onion again!
For restaurant take out, ask to skip the disposable napkins, utensils, and individual condiment packets, especially if you’re just taking the food home to eat. If you are planning on eating on the go, plan ahead and pack your own utensils and napkins that can be washed and reused after your meal. Additionally, you can ask to skip the bag and bring your own to carry the food out in. To go above and beyond, you can even bring your own container and ask the restaurant to fill it up with food. Some places will be happy to fill up your own container, while others might deny this due to their health & safety protocols. It’s always good to ask, the worst they can say is “no”.
If you frequent a local coffee shop, try bringing your own reusable travel mug or cup & straw and asking the baristas to fill that up rather than a single-use disposable cup. If you’re more into milk tea, consider bringing (or making) your own cup and jumbo straw for these boba runs. For candy shops or ice cream & frozen yogurt parlors, you can bring your own containers, cups, and spoons as well. Just have the cashiers check the tare weight before filling up so that you’re not paying for any additional weight of the reusable container. Depending on how frequently you get take out drinks, meals and other treats, these small changes can really add up quickly!
When you’re packing up your to-go utensils and containers, consider packing your own meals, drinks, and snacks whenever you can. Instead of buying lunch everyday at work, try packing your own lunch the day before. Or rather than stopping at the nearest coffee shop every morning, make your own cold brew coffee at home. Not only will this help you reduce your waste, but it’ll also help save a lot of money.
Use What You Have
While it may seem like living a sustainable lifestyle is expensive, it actually relies on using what you already have. Even though most sustainability blogs show off 100% plastic free, aesthetically pleasing living of matching sets and the constantly new products, that’s not practical or realistic for most people.
When shopping, try to separate the things that you want to buy from what you actually need. Especially when it comes to clothing or decor, constantly updating your home and wardrobe can negatively impact the planet, and isn’t really necessary. Instead of buying new clothing every season to match the latest fashion trends, stick to the clothing that you already own. And if you’re in the market for buying a new-to-you item, try looking around at thrift stores, garage sales, or online second-hand websites like Ebay, Poshmark, Mercari, or Facebook Marketplace. You can often find what you need second hand, and for a lot cheaper than at a traditional store.
Try buying foods & other items loose without packaging, or in packaging that can easily be reused or recycled. Light plastic films are almost impossible to reuse and can not be recycled, so skip these whenever possible in place of a reusable container. Metal cans are incredibly recyclable, and glass jars and bottles are great for repurposing at home. Reuse glass jars for drinking glasses, flower vases, food storage, or for filling up at your local zero-waste shop! Plastic containers may not be as recyclable as you think, so be cautious when shopping and make a plan for repurposing them. Tubs from salsa, yogurt, or take-out can be reused as food storage containers, pots for small plants, or even organizational bins. These are perfect for using in the freezer, as the plastic can bend if any liquid inside expands, rather than cracking like glass.
When an appliance, item of clothing, or tool breaks, try repairing it rather than replacing it. Most companies now-a-days value the low price of their products over performance, and in doing so use cheaper materials that’ll ultimately break sooner. This is why vintage appliances like vacuum cleaners, blenders, and toasters are still usable today. So when an item eventually breaks, see if it’s repairable before tossing it in the trash. Oftentimes, reconnecting some pieces or replacing a $3 part can save you $50+ dollars on a new replacement. There are tons of tutorials on YouTube for repairing almost any item, so give it a search to find your appliance & problem. If you can’t fix up your broken items, consider upcycling them into something that will be useful, rather than tossing them.
If you have a stockpile of to-go napkins and utensils, keep and reuse them rather than throwing them out. Keep a set or two of utensils in your bag or car so that you’re always prepared and can forgo any new disposables when eating on the road. Single-use plastic bottles can be refilled with water and stored in the car for emergency backups. Be sure to keep a few extra bags in your car as backups, or even keep a collapsible tote bag in your bag or backpack for impromptu shopping trips.
Switch Up Your Meals
A lot of New Year’s resolutions revolve around losing weight, eating better, and getting fit, but did you know that your diet has a huge impact on the environment as well? In fact, changing what you eat is one of the most impactful ways that ordinary people can reduce their carbon footprints.
A study conducted by the University of Oxford found that “plant-based diets reduce food’s emissions by up to 73%” (University of Oxford). Countless other studies have shown that meat, dairy, and other animal products are huge contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock being estimated to produce up to 14% of all greenhouse emissions globally. The simplest way to cut these emissions is to cut, or at least reduce, the amount of meat & dairy products in your diet.
While going completely plant-based will have the most impact, most people aren’t ready and don’t want to go cold turkey on animal products. If you’re used to eating meat for every meal of every day, try reducing your intake by removing it from just one meal a day. For an even bigger change, try out Meatless Mondays, where you skip meat & fish for one day a week. It’s far less scary than giving up meat entirely, and gives you the chance to try out new vegetarian or vegan meals every week to find some that you like.
If you’re already used to forgoing meat or are a vegetarian, consider trying out Veganuary this year. It’s a yearly challenge from a UK-based charity that’s all about raising awareness for animal welfare, promoting plant-based diets, and improving environmental health. Check out their website (along with Meatless Mondays) for a ton of helpful guides about plant-based protein, nutrition, recipes, and more! Get your friends & family involved in their vegan challenge for the New Year, and see what an impact your dietary change can make.
Still love the taste of meat & cheese but want to reduce your carbon emissions? Luckily for you, plant-based meat & dairy substitutes are becoming more widely available and improving taste accuracy every year! Whether it’s faux burgers, nut-based milk & dairy, or even imitation scrambled eggs, there’s a whole world of plant-based alternatives out there. With tons of brands and options, shop around and find which ones fit your preferences and budget.
For going out to eat, try out some local vegan or vegetarian restaurants with HappyCow. This website is a community driven database for restaurants and other food shops that offer plant-based and vegetarian options. Find some new eateries local to you, or submit some of your favorites for others to find & try out!
Get Composting
Another way to up your sustainability game this New Year is to give composting a try! Not only is composting a great way you lower your food waste and save money, it’s also critical in helping combat greenhouse gas emissions.
As food breaks down in landfills, the lack of oxygen causes anaerobic decomposition and creates large amounts of Methane gas. This greenhouse gas is one of the leading factors behind climate change, as Methane is 25 times more effective than Carbon Dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Composting helps reduce the massive amounts of Methane being produced by the decomposing food by bringing oxygen into the equation. The compost that breaks down is a fantastic, nutrient rich fertilizer that can be used on house plants and in backyard gardens.
Check out our article all about composting to learn more about its benefits and uses! It will show you how to make & maintain your own bins, and you can start them anywhere from your backyard, to apartment, to dorm rooms, you name it. There are also tons of other resources and composting systems available online, which would help you decide exactly what system and setup would work for you.
And even if you’re not interested in getting your hands dirty and making our own compost at home, there are still many options for you to choose from. If you live in California, city-wide composting should be coming to you soon, as a new law is using composting as a way to lower landfill waste and lessen Methane emissions throughout the state. Check your local waste management company to see when your composting services will be starting. If you’re out of state, try finding a composting company near you. These small businesses help by collecting your compostable goods for you and turning it into compost, even offering the compost back to you for all your gardening needs.
For even more sustainable swaps to start making this year, check out our other articles all about lowering your carbon footprint and reducing water & energy usage!
