Getting new habits to stick requires not only time but also patience. Learning how to change your habits to reduce your waste can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! Whether it’s at home, school, or work, reducing your waste in thoughtful ways can have noticeable effects on you and your environment. Read on to discover easy ways to help the environment and reduce your waste.
Although we don’t have to forgo daily comforts altogether, it’s vital to rethink them. Here are some ways to make your routines more conscious and eco-friendly.
This probably isn’t the first (or the last time) you hear about the evils of single-use plastic. Plastic cutlery, coffee cups, and even tea bags make our lives momentarily easier only to end up in a landfill for the rest of their lives. The best alternative is to avoid them altogether. Instead, chose to bring your own cutlery, reusable cup or straw, and brew plastic-free tea. If you know that you eat out or grab a coffee on the go every day, packing low impact alternatives will help you reduce your waste significantly.
Staying hydrated is essential for your health and general well-being, but buying plastic water bottles isn’t an environmentally or financially sustainable habit. Bringing and filling your bottle will help you stay refreshed on the move without hurting the environment or your wallet. These days, there are plenty of reusable bottles out there to choose from. Depending on your lifestyle, you might prefer one kind of bottle over the other. For tips on selecting the best bottle for you, check out Which’s reusable bottle guide.
More and more packaging-free or zero-waste shops are popping up around Europe and the UK every day. In fact, you might be surprised to find that you have one down the road from you. Purchasing products in bulk and placing them in your own containers helps reduce your waste and save you a pretty penny, too! These packaging-free shops also give you the freedom to choose more environmentally conscious items. Packaging free products often offer sustainable, organic, and vegan options that fit into the lifestyle you’ve chosen.
Buying your fruits, vegetables, and any other food items locally can help you massively reduce your waste. On top of that, it enables you to reduce emissions and support local businesses at the same time. Furthermore, you can learn more about your food directly from the people who farm or supply it. Shopping locally and using your own bags or containers to bring them home can also save you a lot of money in the long run, as well. When you shop locally, you are more likely to buy only what you need and reduce the amount of food that goes off in your fridge, too.
Everyone needs a little bit of inspiration now and again. Well, the same goes for reducing your waste and living a more sustainable lifestyle. Social media is a great place to connect with other people looking to reduce their waste and change their lifestyles. There are plenty of eco-influencers out there who regularly share about their zero waste journey and tips on how to reduce your waste. A few zero waste role models who come to mind are Waste Free Planet and Anita Vandyke.
Living a more natural life means simplifying in many ways. Check out these easy ways to simplify your routine and reduce your waste.
Washing your hair every day strips it of its helpful, natural oils and can even dry it out. By washing your hair less, you can save a lot of water and minimize your impact on the planet. Choosing to use shampoo bars when you do decide to wash your hair also helps significantly reduce your waste. You can learn more about shampoo bars here.
Cotton pads are a comfortable, yet harmful habit that many of us have in our beauty routines. Switching to reusable pads, however, allows us to decrease the amount of rubbish we create. Also, it reduces our dependency on cotton, which, despite being a natural or “eco-friendly” material, uses a lot of water. However, most cotton pads actually include plastic fibres, which mean they aren’t biodegradable. Therefore, reusable pads pollute and waste less, making them a more eco-conscious choice.
At WapoBeauty, we’re all about crafting natural, safe, and effective skincare at home. Making cosmetics at home allows you to embrace a more natural lifestyle, take control of what goes on your body, and save money while you’re at it. Crafting your own cosmetic products even makes it easier to reduce your waste as you refuse and reuse more. Besides choosing better ingredients for you and your family, you can also choose better ingredients for the environment when you make your own cosmetics. Reducing your waste will never feel more empowering or fulfilling than when you make beauty products from home.
Turning over a newer and greener leaf is easy when you have a positive mindset and a strategy in place. With these tips, we hope that you’ll be able to significantly reduce your waste and live a more eco-conscious life. If you decide to start making cosmetics at home, you might be interested in selling them later on down the line. Consider learning more about WapoBeauty’s information guide on How to Sell Your Skincare Products Legally in Ireland and the EU. Those interested in learning how to formulate and make safe and professional skincare products may also want to sign up for WapoBeauty’s Making Natural Skincare Day Course next weekend.
Ashuni Pérez is an American writer based in Valencia, Spain. She has a passion for natural beauty and the environment. Ashuni loves to cycle and drink smoothies in the sun. Follow her on Instagram at @ashuuuuni
© 2024 Wapo.ie
One Response