Make Earth Day, Everyday
Earth Day is upon us! On April 22nd millions of people all over the world will show their support for the environment. With the climate crisis becoming more and more serious by the day, it is more important than ever for all of us to play a part in trying to save our planet. We all just need to be mindful of how our daily actions and consumer behaviors play a part in the greater issue and resolution. By making some simple adjustments to our life we can make Earth Day, everyday! With that in mind, I have put together a few ways in which you can make more environmentally friendly purchasing decisions in all aspects of your home and life.
Paper Towel Challenge
The amount of paper towels that most of us use throughout the day is astounding. About 90% of Americans use them for cleaning, and this is a huge problem. You might not think about using them because they are convenient and lightweight with no washing needed, but there are some good options out there that we can use instead. This is where The Paper Towel Challenge comes in. Challenge yourself to use the least amount of paper towels possible in a year by using one reusable kitchen rag instead. Below are a couple of great suggestions that work well and have a nice aesthetic.
Paper Towel Alternatives
Cloth rags reduce the need for paper towels making a big difference in reducing waste and saving money.
Cotton & Calm Exquisitely Absorbent Kitchen Towels
These are made of high-performance fabric and are 100% cotton. They are free from any harmful chemicals and synthetic materials. They are multipurpose and versatile and are machine washable and dryable which makes them great for cleaning around the house with no lint left behind.
Simply Magic Herringbone Kitchen Towels
Long-lasting, all-natural and 100% cotton. Built for everyday use and a great paper towel alternative.
Swedish Dishcloth Cellulose Sponge Cloth
It’s a cute minimalistic style and a great gift. These kitchen cloths are a perfect combination of a cellulose sponge and a dishcloth. They are eco-friendly, odor-free and reusable. The towels are machine washable safe for repeated use and less waste. Each set of 10 should last a whole year for all your cleaning needs and should be a good paper towel replacement.
These cloths are designed to absorb like a sponge and wipe like a cloth. They replace ordinary paper towels and sponges. They are extremely versatile, streak-free, lint-free, and stylish. They are reusable, sustainable, biodegradable, and compostable.
Multi-Use Cleaning Rags: Super absorbent and reusable, industrial-strength microfiber rags that can be used for cleaning and then thrown in the washer and dryer.
Highly absorbent, microfiber towels that can be reused and washed hundreds of times. Available in 6 colors!
Environmental Laundry & Cleaning Products
Most everyday cleaning products that contain chemicals can be irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory system. Using green cleaning products can reduce human health and environmental concerns that come along with cleaning.
It’s a household cleaner that makes glass sparkle and removes bathtub film. A little goes a long way with its highly concentrated formula. It removes odor from laundry, kitchens, refrigerators, dishwashers, trash cans and more. It’s made with eco-friendly products and is cruelty-free.
The Laundress Refillable Laundry Pouch
Say goodbye to those super thick plastic laundry detergent bottles that you throw away all of the time. Highly-concentrated detergent for everyday laundering. It includes their 32 fl oz Signature Detergent (up to 64 washes) and 64 fl oz Signature Detergent Refill (up to 128 washes). The best part (besides the amazing smell) is that the refill pouch reduces water and energy usage with 62% less plastic than traditional laundry bottles. Arrives in a 100% post-consumer recycled material (PCR) bottle.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap
This soap contains plant-derived cleaning ingredients to make grease disappear. The garden-fresh lavender has an original and clean floral scent. This product was not tested on animals and is cruelty-free.
Eco-friendly and people-safe formula designed for people with sensitive skin. Safe for all fabric types except silk and leather with no risk of fading. This non-toxic formula contains no chemical-based sudsing ingredients. It is formulated with only 5 earth-derived ingredients, is certified cruelty-free and vegan and perfect for anyone with fragrance sensitivities, for newborn baby clothing and bedding.
A powerful chlorine-free whitener made of plant-derived ingredients for a non-bleach alternative. It whitens brights and brightens colors. It is a perfect stain remover with many additional uses around the home.
Seventh Generation Fragrance-Free Dishwasher Detergent
You get grease-fighting clean with these powered by plants and minerals detergent packs. This detergent is made with renewable plant-based ingredients so you know it’s designed with the environment as a priority.
REUSABLE BAGS
If you haven’t gotten rid of the plastic bags that you’ve been saving for that next use, now is the perfect time to do that. There are so many things that are wrong with them and while it seems that paper bags are preferable to plastic, which they are, reusable shopping bags are the best choice that all of us can make for all your shopping outings. It’s a much better alternative because it can be used over and over again day in and day out. Here are a couple of great reusable bag options.
Envirosax Reusable Grocery Bags
These multi-use bags are foldable, super strong and come in different prints.
These market bags are designed for beautiful moments and lasting global impact. You have the ability to customize the text as well.
Reusable grocery bags in 10 different solid colors that you can designate different bag colors for different kinds of items. Each bag is foldable and can hold 50 pounds.
Creative Green Life Store - Heavy-Duty Totes
A large, premium quality, heavy-duty tote bag set with extra long handles and a reinforced bottom. Collapsible, foldable, durable, and eco-friendly bags that make shopping easy.
Metal Straws
Stainless steel straws are made to be used over and over again and eliminate the need for hundreds of plastic straws. Keeping them clean reduces waste and ensures convenient use for many years to come.
These reusable wide metal straws with colorful silicone tips are the best premium dimension choice for smoothies, milkshakes, protein shakes, oatmeal, slushies, blended coffee and other homemade thick drinks. This 6-pack of 10” straws comes with 2 cleaning brushes.
Easy Bites Reusable Cocktail Straws
These 6 short stainless steel metal straws with a cleaning brush are perfect for your favorite margarita. They come with a cute hemp pouch for storing.
Hiware Reusable Rainbow Color Metal Straws
This set of 12 dishwasher safe, colorfast straws are perfect for lemonade, iced tea, or any beverage of your choice. It comes with 6 bent straws and 6 straight straws in a perfect travel case.
The original collapsible, reusable metal straw that lets you suck responsibly. It folds up and fits in a cute little case that can attach to a keychain. It is dishwasher safe and comes with a cleaning brush.
Water Bottles
I used to be guilty of buying cases of plastic water bottles. It was so easy to purchase when I was shopping for groceries. About 10 years ago, I switched over and began using different kinds of non-toxic water bottles. I keep them filled in our refrigerator and it’s so handy to grab one when I’m on the go, in addition to being more eco-friendly. It’s just smart and an easy way to be kind to our environment.
These frosted water bottles with a gold lid not only look good but ARE good for the environment. With their functional design and leak-proof lid, they are BPA-free and non-toxic which is a winning combination. They are also lightweight and easy to take with you when you’re on the go.
These triple insulated water bottles keep beverages cold for up to 54 hours and hot up to 26 hours. These water bottles feature unique prints, colors, and patterns so that you’ll be drinking in style. All S’well water bottles are made of stainless steel and are BPA-free. All purchased S’well products replace millions of plastic water bottles.
Iron Flask Sports Water Bottle
This stainless steel BPA-free bottle is non-toxic and comes with 3 different kinds of lids. It comes in an assortment of colors and sizes which makes it a popular choice. The bottle is durable and elegant in addition to having a laser engraved logo to assure the highest quality.
These stainless steel water bottles come with a straw and a wide mouth lid. It is BPA-free avoiding many plastic by-products found in so many bottles today. The Hydro Cell team offers quality customer service, high-quality products, and a lifetime warranty.
In addition to making adjustments to our own lives, it’s also important to educate others. Gifting your friends or family some of the items above is a wonderful way to start a discussion about being environmentally conscientious. You’ll be providing them with knowledge AND the tools they need to begin making a change immediately. If you have any earth friendly items or tips that you would like to share, please do so in the comments below! I’m always looking to learn about the latest and greatest.
xx Barbara 🌎