Living a sustainable life or starting your green journey is all about the small changes we implement daily. One of the easiest ways to reduce our daily carbon footprint and overall environmental impact is to take small actions to make changes around our home. With that in mind, we have gathered some tips on daily items that can be easily switched into their sustainable & eco-friendly versions.

Laundry detergents & dish soap

Switching harsh detergents to eco-friendly ones might seem like an action that only impacts a little. But if we all switched to products that have a low impact on our environment. Using plant-based and biodegradable ingredients can help conserve natural resources and reduce emissions, as they don’t have harsh chemicals that pollute our water sources. 

Reusable food storage

Store your food and take care of the environment at the same time. Say goodbye to zip lock bags, which can leach chemicals into your food whenever heated, and adopt reusable food storage. Reusable containers can be made of various materials such as glass, stainless steel, natural fabrics, and silicone, making choosing which fits your needs easy.

Reusable cleaning cloths

Introduce microfiber cloths to your cleaning routine and wipe single-use paper towels and cleaning wipes away from your house. Reusable cloths lead to less landfill waste and have a lower carbon footprint. Use them for various uses around your home, toss them in a laundry machine with an eco-friendly detergent, and have brand-new cleaning cloths for any spill or dirt. What to become our planet’s best friend? Instead of buying new cleaning cloths, reuse old worn-out t-shirts or towels instead.

Dish sponge

Replace your disposable dish sponges with natural materials like cellulose or bamboo. More durable than polyester and polyurethane sponges, sustainable sponges last longer and can be composed at the end of their product life. Our favourite ecological sponges are: 

• Dishcloths (offered in a variety of materials such as cotton, recycled cotton, cellulose, and sponges made of natural wood)
• Eco-friendly sponges (e.g., fabric sponges)
• Natural loofah
• Coconut scrub pads and coir scrubbers
• Plant-fiber scrubbers
• Bamboo scrubbers

Reusable utensils and straws

The best and most sustainable utensils and straws are those we already have at home. Simply wrap your most used cutlery items and a straw, take it with you when you’re on the go and always be prepared for the next munchies. However, if you’re looking to buy reusable utensils for your daily life, here’s what you should look for in your next set:

• Look for biodegradable materials such as wood, bamboo, wheat straw and cornstarch.
• Opt for durable and heat-resistant materials such as food-grade silicone and metal like stainless steel.
• Looking for something lightweight? Opt for aluminium cutlery; just be aware that aluminium is an excellent heat conductor.

Working to protect our planet and create a sustainable future might sound scary, and it’s easy not to know where to start. Remember during your journey to sustainability that small changes can have a significant impact. We’re all working towards imperfect sustainability, and by adopting eco-friendly habits in our daily lives at home, we can collectively make a difference.