There’s a lot more my family can do to reduce our impact on the environment. For me, doing my part to take care of the earth is part of my faith as a Christian. I believe as humans we should be good stewards of this planet (Genesis 1:26). I’m committed to working on this, but we’re pretty busy people and haven’t been in a place right now where we’re ready to go big on some changes (like cloth diapers – mad respect to parents who do!). However, we’ve made a few affordable eco-friendly swaps in the past few years to reduce our waste.
I am in no way an expert in green living, but you can trust me as a busy toddler mom who also works full time and runs this hobby blog that these swaps work for our schedule and budget. The areas I’m sharing today have either saved us money or have been budget neutral and work for our schedule. While there are a few swaps we’ve made that do cost us more, right now I want to look at more affordable options that work for us.
1. Glass Containers
Some of you may do this already, but I included it since it was our first swap many years ago. We don’t buy plastic containers and try not to buy too many disposable plastic bags. Instead, we use Pyrex glass containers for just about everything. They work in the freezer, dishwasher, and microwave – so they have the essential three covered. Glass containers are a great affordable eco-friendly swap.
2. Bar Soap
Once upon a time, I used Bath and Body Works shower gel almost exclusively. A few years ago I scaled back my usage since the body wash comes in plastic and the ingredients aren’t great for the human body. While I still occasionally use body wash, I now primarily use bar soap that comes wrapped in paper. It was a pretty easy transition. Bar soap can be really expensive or it can be fairly affordable, depending on what you like. I don’t have a favorite soap, since I like to mix it up a lot. I often find mine at Thrive Market or Trader Joe’s. Our household is also a fan of Dr. Bonner’s and Harry’s soap from Target.
3. ThredUP
Fast fashion can be frustrating. I used to buy cute, trendy items from Target or J Crew Factory often but they do not hold up. The tipping point for me was an adorable pair of pants with scalloped edging around the ankles that frayed after a few months. After that, I knew I wanted better quality items but didn’t have the budget for them.
In contrast to the frayed pants debacle, I received a pair of Lululemon leggings for my 30th birthday about three-ish years ago. The leggings are still in great condition and I’ve worn them a ton. Needless to say, I was hooked but I don’t have a Lululemon budget. I started looking into ThredUP, which is an online consignment retailer. This site not only saves me money so I can afford better quality items, but everything is used and doesn’t add to textile waste. I don’t exclusively buy used clothing, but try to when I can. ThredUP also has a very easy-to-use consignment and donation program, which is great if you want to clear some space without adding to a landfill.
4. Buy From Eco-Friendly Retailers
I love Thrive Market so much. I am not sponsored by them but have been a customer for years and shop there regularly. They are my go-to for healthy snacks, specialty ingredients, and other eco-friendly products. They also use very little plastic in shipping and have many affordable swaps.
There are other affordable eco-friendly retailers I’ve tried and liked, but Thrive keeps me coming back due to the variety of products and good sales. I tried Public Goods and liked their products. Their packaging is probably slightly more eco-friendly but they lack the variety of Thrive (which for some might be a bonus). Public Goods similarly requires an annual membership, but for us, there is no room in the budget for another subscription right now. I’ve also shopped Earth Hero which has some really great no- or minimal-packaging products and no membership required.
5. Greener Cleaners
I’ve been slowly migrating towards more eco-friendly cleaners. The next step will probably be making my own, but for now, I’ve been using a lot of Seventh Generation. Overall, the products get the job done and are just as affordable as conventional cleaners. Some of our go tos are: dishwasher powder, dish soap, and concentrated laundry detergent.
Just try it!
I am not an expert in eco-friendly living and have a long way to go, but these were easy and affordable swaps for our family. If you are considering taking on the journey of a more eco-friendly lifestyle, these small steps are a great place to begin. What are your favorite eco-friendly swaps?
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