My Eco-Friendly Adjustments in 2021 (so far!)
I want to share some changes that I’ve made in 2021 and plan to take throughout the remainder of the year along with some of the products and brands I’ve discovered that make these changes even easier! Of course feel free to pick and choose any of these switches, but I wanted to share some relatively easy eco-friendly changes to make to help the planet because even the smallest of changes make a big difference if a score of people take part!
I’ve created a few simple eco-friendly lifestyle changes blog posts in the past that you can find here and here. I’ve also made it a point to share many aspects that I’ve learned throughout my own eco-friendly journey and you can find all of those blog posts here.
And a final resource I wanted to share is the marketplace, EarthHero. Earth Hero includes hundreds of products that are all focused on eco-friendly alternatives to popular household products. So without further ado, see below for my 2021 changes and my review of how easy or challenging they are/were to implement!
My own eco-friendly switches in 2021
Unpaper towels
These “paper” towels are reusable and simple to implement into your daily life! I simply make it a point to reach for these instead of disposable paper towels when I need to clean or wipe something up. If you have extra rags laying around, you could simply use them as paper towels instead of purchasing these new as well!
7.11.21 UPDATE: Love these! I want to get a few more as well because we use them so often. (If you have extra rags, those would work well, too.)
LastSwab instead of cotton swab
This is a reusable option I never thought of before I received it as a gift, but I like it! It is incredibly easy to clean so no worries about reusing it as an ear swab. However, I also turn to cotton swabs if I get mascara on my eye lid - I like to dab a little eye makeup remover on the swab then remove the mascara on my skin and I still use my cotton swabs for this. I’m not sure how, yet, to replace this routine.
7.11.21 UPDATE: Love this and I just got a Beauty Last Swab so that should solve the make-up issue. (There are also bamboo disposable cotton swabs if you prefer.)
Blueland cleaners
I haven’t tried these yet, but I love the initiative to use less plastic packaging in your cleaning supplies plus using less chemicals in your products. And because all of the cleaning products are actually tablets that dissolve in water, all you have to do is purchase new tablets when it’s time for a refill instead of buying an entirely new bottle of cleaner.
7.11.21 UPDATE: Purchased these last night, will update you!
Dropps laundry detergent
I discovered this company threw Instagram and here’s a bit from their website: “Our go-to detergent uses natural plant-based enzymes to help you take on everything from sweat to coffee stains. Great for fabrics you throw in regular or permanent press loads like cotton, athletic wear or poly…” There’s so many chemicals in your everyday detergent (plus the plastic packaging!)”
7.11.21 UPDATE: I actually really like the DROPPS dishwasher pods! However, the laundry pods worked well for basic loads, but the sweatiest workout clothes still had an odor. Dropps has since released an “active“ laundry pod, which would potentially help with this, but I have not tried it yet. I’ll be trying other brands to see if there is one that works better!
Toothpaste Tablets
OK, this has been the biggest adjustment for me. I also began using a bamboo toothbrush at the same time that I wanted to start using this. Instead, I gave myself some time to get used to the bulkiness of the bamboo toothbrush then started implementing these into my tooth brushing routine a couple months later. The taste is pretty strong and it was a shock the first few times I used it, but it just takes some getting used to!
7.11.21 UPDATE: I haven’t used these very much and I’m not a fan of the flavor to be honest. I also did some research and some dentist do not recommend fluoride-free toothpastes (which this one is). I still would like a more environmentally-friendly toothpaste, so I’m still looking!
Vegan food wraps
Beeswax wraps are another great option to replace plastic wrap for food storage, but these are the ones I tried. They are a bit tricky to get used to because at first they’re a bit stiff, but just as the instructions say, once you warm them with your hands, they’re easily bendable to preserve your food.
7.11.21 UPDATE: We use these seldomly to be quite honest. I ruined one by mistake putting it in the toaster oven (smh).
Compostable phone case
I haven’t tried one of these but a fellow fiber artist recommended this case and I can’t wait to try it! Phone cases are one of the many items that I’ve never considered when it comes to the use of plastics.
“This is why we are developing products made of environmentally sensible materials. To educate and inspire the global community of people who are committed to making a positive impact on our planet.” - Pela about page
That’s all that I can think of right now, but I enjoy following several accounts on Instagram to continually learn more and more eco-friendly changes in my everyday life. Thank you for learning alongside me!
“I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.”