Eco-Friendly Alternatives: Do's and Don'ts
- luanniewang
- Nov 17, 2024
- 3 min read
Oftentimes, it feels difficult, even impossible to transform your life into a more sustainable version. There are a plethora of reasons for this, whether it be habit, money, requirement, or more specific situations. This widespread struggle is perfectly understandable, but it is a mindset that is holding us back more than it should. With some effort and passion, you can discover and implement various eco-friendly products into your everyday life, cutting down consumerism and waste. Here are five of my most realistic and interesting picks:
1. Reusable Straws > Plastic/Disposable Straws
You probably know this one already, but for whatever reason, I still don’t see them being used enough! Okay, I get that biodegradable paper straws are super gross and melty, but nothing is stopping you from using straws made out of reusable materials such as silicone and stainless steel. Perhaps throwing away a plastic straw after use is effortless, but taking a few seconds to clean and dry a reusable straw is still super easy, and you’ll feel great about helping to – as we used to chant – save the turtles (sksksk). 2. Reusable Bags > Plastic Bags
Again, this is a common one, and it’s pretty widespread, but again, it could be used more. Rather than building up stashes of plastic bags after grocery hauls (I’m guilty of this one – womp womp womp wooooomp), pick up a cute, durable, spacious tote (or two if you routinely have lots to carry) that you can use for your shopping trips over and over again. You can even get ones with fancy functions like insulation to keep certain foods cold! Now you’ve just got to remember to bring them to the store… 3. Cosmetic Refills > New Products
My beauty girlies can relate – sometimes we find that perfect product that we just gotta buy again and again, but the plastic waste that generates isn’t cute. Luckily, popular brands such as Sol De Janeiro have begun to offer low-waste refills of their most popular products. Keep the same container and receive a capsule with the same full-size product, all while decreasing waste! Additionally, refills are often cheaper than the original product. It’s a win-win situation through and through! 4. Lint Brush > Lint Roller
This alternative is one I discovered randomly at my local Ikea for just three dollars. Adhesive isn’t the only thing that can suck up lint and dust; instead of ripping off and tossing out a bunch of lint roller sheets, get a cheap lint brush. The bristles are designed to pluck lint right off, and you can push the brush in a certain direction to remove collected dust from the bristles. This is one of my favorite eco-friendly products, and I even find that it removes lint from my clothes more effectively than my wasteful lint roller!
5. Phone Stickers > New Phone Case
This is a concept I recently found, and I think it’s really cool! I’m sure you’ve changed your phone case at least one or two times. Personally, I always promise this will be the case I stick with for at least a few more years, but I get the urge to buy a new case just a few months later. However, companies like Evry Jewels have a solution! Get a plain “Universal Phone Base” and then some cute designs on cheap stickers that seamlessly apply over the base case (that rhymes!). This is an alternative that allows you to easily customize your device and change styles to your heart’s desire.
I hope you found these products interesting and agree that they are easy alternatives to use in everyday life. I especially hope that you will give them a shot and continue finding ways to live more sustainably!
These types of blog posts are something I am thinking about turning into a series, a “Sustainable Spotlight” or something of the like! Let me know your thoughts or if you have any eco-friendly alternatives you would like to see featured. Reach out to me at luanniewang@gmail.com, and Stay Sustainable!
