Author

Megan Kioulafofski

Megan is a writer, business owner, and a passionate eco-enthusiast. Wanting to share her passion and enthusiasm for eco-friendly living, she writes about topics that can help others live more sustainably in their daily lives. Currently living in Puerto Rico, she spends her spare time at farmers’ markets, cooking delicious meals, and practicing beach yoga.

How To Make More Sustainable Shopping Choices

by Megan Kioulafofski January 17, 2022

5 minutes read

More and more businesses are transforming their products into ones that have a lower impact on the environment, and there are tons of new stores dedicated to reducing their impact on the environment and only selling sustainable products. It’s actually becoming easier these days to shop more sustainably.

If you are trying to reduce your consumption or try out more sustainable shopping methods, here are some tips.

Buy local products

A simple and highly effective way to make more sustainable shopping choices is by buying locally. This will reduce your carbon footprint as the product will have had minimal impact on the planet.

Likewise, it will help you support more local businesses that aim to improve the eco-friendliness of the planet.

Buy food that is in season

Another tip when purchasing fresh produce is to only buy in season. Should you try to buy products that are out of season, it is common that the food will have traveled a long way to get onto the supermarket shelf.

Hence, buying food that is in season and hasn’t had to travel far will help you make more sustainable shopping choices.

Do your research

Doing some research before investing in a brand will help you understand their ethos and how their product is made.

Let’s say you enjoy beauty products and often buy from new brands. Instead of shopping for everyday customer brands, you could do your research into sustainable beauty brands.

When you purchase from sustainable brands, you will be having a much less direct impact on the planet.

Buy pre-owned

Should you want to purchase new clothes or books, it is a good choice to buy pre-owned. Buying products that have already been used and owned will reduce the impact on the environment by ensuring that the products do not get disposed of without having enough love.

You can find plenty of places that sell pre-owned products such as charity shops or online auction sites.

Use reusable shopping bags

Plastic bags contribute to our planet’s degradation. By eliminating the use of plastic bags from your life and using reusable bags instead, it will ensure that you make the right shopping choices from the get-go.

Reusable bags that are made from cotton or hemp are more sustainable than plastic, and can last much longer allowing you to reuse them again and again. There’s a small initial investment, but in the long run is less damaging to the environment.

Buy from brands that offer recyclable packaging

Sometimes the packaging of the products we buy can make a huge impact on our carbon footprint. Therefore, buying from brands that only use sustainable packaging will ensure to reduce your impact on the planet.

You will be able to reuse or recycle the packaging and hence, reduce the impact that you have on the planet when shopping.

Packaging that is paper or cardboard means that it is recyclable and therefore, kinder to the planet.

Use containers for storage

Instead of buying and storing food from supermarkets in plastic bags, you could take your own containers. There are plenty of shops that offer products that can be purchased without packaging, from vegetables to cereals.

You can fill your containers without having to use plastic bags or single use packaging, and can help to reduce your impact on the planet when shopping.

Organic food products

Buying organic food products is a useful way to make a more positive impact on the planet. These will have been locally and sustainably sourced, which means that you are offering a local and sustainable impact.

The organic products will have organic labels. To make this easier, you could choose to shop at organic stores so that you know everything is organic.

Go heavy on the veg

Although you might eat meat and fish, trying to swap those some days a week for vegetarian or vegan meals will help you make more eco-friendly food choices as well as shopping choices.

Going heavy on the veg is not only good for your health, but it will ensure that you attain more vegetables for more sustainable meals.

Again, choosing organic produce, bringing your own containers, and taking them home in reusable bags will maximize the impact of your sustainable shopping. Pro tip: store your fruits and vegetables in The Freshie Foodsaver Bag, keeping it fresh in the fridge for up to 3 weeks!

Pay your bills online

Paying bills is similar to shopping, as you are paying for a service. It can help to pay your bills online. Paying bills online will reduce the amount of paper used, which is essential to living more sustainably.

Walk or bike to the shop

Try out walking or biking to the shop. Great for your health to get outside, get some fresh air and some exercise, but it will also lower your emissions and have a reduced impact on the environment.

Walking to the shop could encourage you to shop locally too, which offers double the benefits. You could find new shops within walking distance and support local and eco-friendly businesses as opposed to driving to and shopping at large supermarkets, which already have a huge carbon footprint.

Only buy for a reason

A common issue with contributing unsustainably to the planet is buying without a reason. Should you often buy things for no reason and simply have little purpose for the product, then think again.

Only buying for a reason will ensure to limit your carbon footprint and only consume things that are essential.

For instance, a thoughtful gift such as buying flag cases to display what your loved one fought for during battle, then do so. Or perhaps a moon phase necklace for your loved one to commemorate a special day. On the other hand, purchasing a fast fashion top because you like the color has a lot less significance. Limit your purchases to what’s important.

Shop less

The simple answer to making more sustainable shopping choices is shopping less. As well as avoiding impulse and unnecessary buys, it can help you by shopping less. It will also reduce the amount you spend, which will help you save money as well as save the planet.

If you enjoy buying new clothes, then buy used ones before you choose new ones. If you want new clothes, reduce the number of times each year you shop. Make more essential shopping choices that can actually last longer, serve you better, and help the environment.

If you liked this article, comment your thoughts below, or check out some of our other blogs:

January 17, 2022 0 comment

Creative Ways to Make Vegetables Attractive For Kids

by Megan Kioulafofski January 17, 2022

6 minutes read

Wondering how to make vegetables attractive for your kids? Read on to discover some easy tips and tasty recipes that all parents can use to change their children’s habits for the better.

Many of us are well aware of the obesity crisis that is affecting our nation’s children. Even though the problem was identified long ago, CNN reports that the rates of obesity continue to increase, especially in younger children.

Experts are in consensus that the battle over this plague must start and end in the kitchen. As a society, we have moved far away from the sources of real food, and often fill our meals with processed items that lead to poor health and weight issues.

We’ve all long known that eating more fruits and raw vegetables is key to a healthy diet. Everyone is equally familiar with kids’ notorious disdain for anything green on their plates. Since vegetables are unquestionably helpful in weight management, it is crucial for parents to take drastic steps to incorporate more plant-based ingredients into kids‘ diets.

Here are some tips from SOL + SPIRIT on how to make your children’s meals healthy and tasty.

Attack the Childhood Obesity Problem From Multiple Angles

Children eat junk food because they are accustomed to it, it tastes good, and they lack information and connection to real food sources.

In order to incorporate healthier eating habits, parents need to touch on each of these causes for poor diets. Children become used to processed foods because parents make them available for them. Rethink your family’s diet as one with vegetables featured prominently in all meals and snacks, maximize flavor, and teach your kids about where food comes from.

Add Tasty Vegetables to Your Meals

Finding real food that tastes as good as high-fat, high-carb and refined sugar junk food is challenging, but by no means impossible. And, as ZenBusiness points out, if you work from home, you benefit from being better able to source and prepare healthy meals – the kitchen may be just down the hall.

Determine your kids’ favorite foods and snacks, and make a vegetables-based recipe or similar dish for them to try. If mashed potatoes are a family meal staple, try swapping them out for mashed cauliflower. These swaps can be done in steps – trying a half-potato, half-cauliflower mix as a starter.

Sometimes, kids really are just looking for seasoning and texture. Instead of only serving bland steamed veggies, try high-heat roasting and sprinkle on different spices and herbs. During warm months, try grilling different vegetables and experiment with salads and cold-soups, such as gazpacho.

Keep Vegetables Fresh For Longer

If not stored properly, vegetables can spoil fast, making them lose appeal for kids and harder to incorporate into their meals. This reason alone can make parents stock up on frozen foods and ready-made meals that have no nutritional value, but last longer.

Don’t sacrifice your family’s health just because you’re afraid your produce will spoil at rapid speed! If you want to save money and wish to avoid throwing food away, there are some ways to make your raw veggies last longer, including:

Avoid washing and chopping your veggies before you consume them.
Make sure you store your food properly. Use organic cotton reusable produce bags to keep your fruits and vegetables organized and in prime condition for longer. For vegetables that go bad fast, the freshie food saver bag is a Godsend. This type of bag allows you to store food for weeks, and is especially ideal for keeping fruits & veggies hydrated and fresh in a breathable environment.

When You Absolutely Must, Go Stealthy with Your Veggies

If you cannot get your picky eaters to eat a healthy snack such as roasted Brussels sprouts, carrot oven fries or grilled zucchini, Yumble explains that you may have no choice but to sneak vegetables into meals. While this method doesn’t necessarily solve the problem ideally through changing habits, it does pack meals with vitamin C, fiber and other vegetable benefits.

For kids who love pasta and sauce, incorporating vegetables is much easier. First, tomato sauce is already packed with nutrition – especially if it is homemade. You can increase its health content by adding pureed sautéed vegetables.

If you are looking for ways to diversify the recipe, spinach, kale, steamed broccoli, and summer squash are easy to blend into a sauce, but so are boiled carrots, beets, sweet potatoes and sautéed mushrooms.

Your veggie-packed tomato sauce can do double or triple duty, too. Use it as a pizza sauce, and try swapping out dough for a cauliflower crust.

Add in some chilies and taco spices and your tomato sauce can be the base for chili or tacos. When having taco night, instead of lettuce, try adding finely shredded cabbage or broccoli slaw as a garnish.

Bring Your Kids Close to the Source of Their Food

When children understand where food comes from, they will have a greater appreciation and interest in nutrition. Farms often have family fun days, where kids can see farming equipment and learn about how different types of produce grow and are harvested. Local farmers markets are other easily accessible ways to introduce your kids to where their food comes from.

Ultimately, raising your kids‘ love for vegetables and incorporating them into diets doesn’t happen overnight, but is a process. Start small with some flavor-packed recipes, sneak some healthy veggies into your children’s favorite meals, and provide them with some education about food. In the end, it will not be only your kids but your whole family that experience the benefits of vegetables.

Photo Credit: Vegetables Pixabay

January 17, 2022 0 comment

Parenting Sustainability

How to Raise an Eco-Conscious Child

by Megan Kioulafofski December 8, 2021

6 minutes read

Learning how to raise an eco-conscious child is mandatory for the future and wellbeing of our planet. Here is how to do it!

Children are curious and hungry for knowledge by nature. As a conscious parent, you should take advantage of this and teach them from a young age many things and skills they can benefit from in the future.

One of the valuable things they should learn from an early age is to lead an eco-conscious life. Given the current climate change situation, showing your children how to be more conscious and take care of our planet is beneficial on many levels. Even though this topic is complex, if you are looking for how to raise a conscious child, there are many fun ways to do it.

So, without further ado, let’s see what your options are!

Let them connect with nature

If you wonder how to raise a conscious child, you should know that one of the best ways to teach kids to be more eco-friendly is to let them connect with nature. Instead of keeping them in the house all day, go outside with them and show them how awesome and fun nature is. Kids are natural explorers and wanderers, so let them discover the beauty of nature. Take them hiking, fishing, to the park, or even camping.

The sooner they develop a deeper connection with nature, the sooner they will start to preserve it. They will associate nature with fun and happiness, and this feeling will help them behave in a more eco-friendly manner throughout life.

girls tossing leaves in fall

Plant a tree

We all know the importance of trees for our environment. This is the knowledge we need to transfer to our children if we are looking for how to raise them more eco-conscious.

Therefore, an activity such as planting a tree is an excellent opportunity to teach your kids how trees work and help our environment. In addition, tell them that trees are the lungs of our planet. This is a fact that will definitely stick with them for a long time.

You can make this activity a tradition and plant a tree with your kid on every birthday. Moreover, it’s always a good idea to bring your kid to local community activities organized for Earth and Plant day. There are always some activities planned for such occasions that are both fun and educational.

Create a recycling corner in your house

If you want to teach your child to be more eco-conscious, you can’t overlook recycling. This is one of the most important steps of the eco-friendly journey. Since kids are too young to learn about the complexity of the recycling process, you can introduce them to the activity. So, how to do this?

We suggest making a game of sorting out your garbage by creating a recycling corner in your house. Get a hold of 4 biodegradable plastic containers and use each for a different material you’ll recycle – paper, cans, glass, and plastic.

To make your kids even more excited about this, let them draw a recycling sign and hang it above this corner. You can even let them draw labels for these containers. The more involved they feel in this process, the more they will be happy to participate in it later.

Do fun DIY projects with reusable material

Speaking of recycling, did you know that it can also be used in an educational way by parents looking for how to raise conscious children?

You can use some of the reusable materials you have at home for fun DIY projects with your kids. Use stuff like toilet paper rolls, empty water or wine bottles, cardboard boxes, etc. This is an excellent opportunity to bond with your children and teach them that trash isn’t always just trash. Show them it can be used for creating art, crafts, or even something you can use every day.

For example, you can make pencil or brush holders from toilet paper rolls. In addition, you can use old cardboard boxes for packing if you’re in the middle of a relocation process. Teach your kids that even eco-friendly packing and moving is possible, and there is a great green solution for this.

Encourage them to walk or ride a bike

We are all aware that the carbon footprint of cars is enormous. If we want to make this planet a better place, and learn how to raise eco-conscious children, we need to decrease all the toxic emissions our vehicles cause on a daily basis.

While kids can’t understand the terminology, we can teach them that walking and riding a bike is better than getting by in the car all the time. They are more than capable of understanding that some things are bad for the environment and some things are good.

That’s why we need to encourage them to walk and ride a bike as often as possible. To help them, it’s good to go on bike rides with them and take them on hiking trails. Make these eco-friendly activities fun, and they will do them with pleasure, especially if they make a habit of them from an early age.

Introduce them to gardening

A great way to teach your child to be more eco-conscious is to introduce them to gardening.

Gardening is an activity that will help them understand the life cycle of all living things. It also instills in children a sense of interest, compassion, and responsibility for something alive, as well as a solid grasp of the ecosystem needed to support life.

This is exactly why kids thrive when it comes to gardening. Letting them plant their own garden will make them grow a healthy relationship with nature. In addition, seeing the plants they have planted grow into something they can eat will get them extremely excited. They will even want to try some vegetables they don’t usually eat. So, it’s a win-win situation!

two conscious children

Ready, set, green!

Even though climate change is a complex issue of today’s world, you can teach your children to be more eco-conscious by letting them participate in many eco-friendly activities they will love.

In addition, they don’t have to understand everything that’s going on; they have to get the feeling of what’s good for our environment and what’s bad. This is something that’s easily done through the above mentioned activities. Let them connect with nature from an early age, and they will build a healthy appreciation for it that can grow into something bigger in the future.

If you are looking for more ideas on how to raise a conscious child why not have a look at our other blog posts. We have many great eco-friendly ideas you can try such as:

December 8, 2021 0 comment

Featured Food Sustainability

13 Food Waste Apps Designed to Protect the Earth And Save You Money

by Megan Kioulafofski November 8, 2021

5 minutes read

There is a food waste crisis in the United States. According to the USDA, 30-40% of all food is wasted in the U.S. alone. In order to combat this crisis, sustainable innovators are coming up with creative tools, one of which being food waste apps.

Food waste apps are helping people minimize their waste as well as redistribute uneaten food to those who need it most. From tracking and preventing food expiration to connecting restaurants with customers, all of these apps are geared toward ending the food waste crisis.

Here are 13 apps that help keep food in bellies and out of the trash.

1. Fridgely

Fridgely is an app that notifies you when your food is about to expire. Each family in the U.S. wastes up to 25% of their food and Fridgely aims to cut that number down.

Simply scan an item’s barcode as you put your groceries away and the app will acquire all the information it needs. The app can sync between devices allowing your whole family to know what is about to expire in the fridge.

2. Flashfood

Flashfood locates groceries in stores near you that are about to expire. These items can be purchased directly through the app at a lowered price point. This app is currently operating in Canada and in 10 U.S. states, but it’s quickly expanding. If it’s not yet operating near you, keep a lookout for when it does!

3. Food for All

It’s no secret that restaurants waste a significant amount of their food. While poor management is often the reason for this, it’s an easy mistake to over-order and over-produce food, especially when operating at scale. The Food for All app helps customers connect with restaurants at the end of the day to collect leftover food at a discounted rate. This app even offers an added charitable bonus, helping customers donate meals to those in need.

4. Too Good To Go

Another app that helps you collaborate with restaurants and stores to combat food waste is Too Good To Go. Participating locations will sell food that is about to expire at a discounted price. Just place your order on the app and pick it up! This app is currently only available in New York City but is looking to launch in other U.S. cities.

5. Kitche

It’s an easy mistake to forget that you already have an item at home and accidentally grab the same item during your next grocery run. This app helps prevent that from everything. Kitche allows you to keep track of all the food you purchase by taking a quick photo of your receipt. It will even recommend recipes to you based on what’s in your fridge.

6. Food Rescue US

The Food Rescue app provides a way for you to volunteer and support communities struggling to bring enough food home. It helps volunteers and restaurants collaborate with organizations to help them distribute excess food. If you have some time on your hands and are looking for a way to help your community, Food Rescue US is for you.

7. Misfits Market

Misfits Market is an online, eco-friendly grocery store that works directly with farmers and food producers to sell food that would otherwise go to waste. These products are up to 40% off retail. Much of the time, the food that doesn’t get sold goes to waste due to its appearance (despite it being perfectly edible), such as produce that looks “funny”.

8. Raeri (formerly Transfernation)

When companies host large events, they often produce a huge amount of leftover food. This New York City-based app allows you to notify volunteers who will come collect the food from you and take it to a philanthropic organization.

The system also keeps track of your company’s donations to ensure you get your tax write-off.

9. No Food Waste

No Food Waste is an app based in India that helps volunteers discover food-insecure areas and bring food to them. If you have enough food to feed over 50 people, No Food Waste employees will come to pick up the food and redistribute it to a food-insecure community. The app has already helped 835,000 meals get into hungry bellies.

10. Imperfect Foods

Imperfect Foods is a weekly subscription box that uses your preferences to send you foods that would otherwise go to waste. The foods are often surplus or have cosmetic imperfections, deeming them unusable in grocery stores despite being every bit as edible.

You can see what is being sent in your box before it is shipped and remove items you know may go to waste in your home.

11. Best Before

Best Before is another app that allows you to quickly scan the barcodes of your groceries as you put them away in order to keep track of their expiration dates. The app is sustained by crowdsourcing, so it may be necessary to manually type in some expiration dates to benefit yourself and others who use the app.

You can also sync this app across devices to share expiration dates with the whole family.

12. OLIO

OLIO is a great app for your whole community. Simply take photos of the items in your pantry that you don’t plan to use and share them with your neighbors to see if they are interested in taking them off your hands. This is a great way to build community while keeping good food from going into landfills.

13. Food Rescue Hero

Food Rescue Hero connects users with non-profits that need help delivering meals. This app is simple and efficient, allowing “rescues” to be completed in just a half hour. This gives volunteers the opportunity to provide their assistance whenever they have a bit of free time. Food Rescue Hero even provides details about each non-profit so volunteers can get to know the organizations they assist.

Combating waste is a huge challenge, but when everyone does their part it becomes much easier to keep goods out of landfills and deliver them to people in need.
If you would like to explore more practical food waste apps, check out Capital One Shopping’s infographic below.

November 8, 2021 1 comment

Backyard Sustainability

How to Create an Eco-Friendly Backyard With Xeriscaping

by Megan Kioulafofski November 3, 2021

6 minutes read

Perfect for those with a busy life, xeriscaping has boomed over the past several years. What is xeriscaping, you might ask? Xeriscaping is a type of drought-tolerant landscaping. It involves a mixture of benefits for your backyard – from little to no maintenance to limited irrigation.

This landscape is not only convenient but also much more eco-friendly than traditional landscaping. Xeriscaped yards require less water, as it involves drought tolerant plants and there is typically little grass. In fact, with xeriscaping, the water use will be reduced by up to 70%.

Not only is xeriscaping eco-friendly, but it is also very cost-efficient. The limited water usage can save you up to 30% on your utility bills. Plus, it can increase the overall value of your property anywhere from 5-13%.

If you are wanting to add to your landscape in an eco-friendly and simple way, xeriscaping might be for you! We have curated a step-by-step guide to creating your xeriscaped backyard.

How to Create a Xeriscape Your Backyard

There are 7 key components to creating and maintaining a xeriscaped yard. With the right planning and execution, you will have an eco-friendly, drought-tolerant backyard in no time! Follow these simple xeriscaping steps to get started.

1. Design your new yard’s layout

The first step in any process is to have a plan or garden design to go by. Plan out the features of your new lawn and how it will fit in with the rest of your home’s appeal.

Draw out a birds-eye view of your home and yard, adding any features and fixtures that are permanent, plus any features you want to add- such as a xeriscaped space, an oasis zone, a walkway, a transition zone, or a fountain. Even consider the colors and textures of these features.

A landscape design will not only help you visualize what you are wanting in your new space but also help any contractors you may hire to help create your yard.

2. Calculate costs and needed supplies

After you have decided what you want your new yard to look like, it is time to start making a list of needed supplies. Understanding what supplies you need and how much they will cost you will give you a rough estimate of what this project will cost.

Some common supplies needed when xeriscaping the backyard include:

Rocks, gravel, or sand
Weedkiller
Paver stones
Metal edging
Shovels

You will also need to consider the size of your landscape or the area you plan on xeriscaping to know how much you will need of certain supplies. Some people choose to xeriscape their entire yard, while others choose to only xeriscape certain zones.

While xeriscaping is often a more costly process than a traditional landscaping job, it will save you money in the long run as traditional landscaping requires more maintenance and upkeep.

3. Remove current plants and grass

In order to get the xeriscaped look and for your backyard to be low maintenance, you will have to remove any current trees or grass in the area you plan to xeriscape. Oftentimes this is the hardest part of the xeriscaping process.

If you plan on doing this yourself you will most likely have to have tools such as a stump grinder, pickaxe, or sheers. If your yard has many trees or plants, it may be best to call in professional reinforcements.

4. Treat the area for weeds

Once the ground is bare, you will need to treat the area to prevent the growth of weeds and grass. There are chemicals to prevent grass and weeds, but we understand wanting to go chemical-free. Luckily, if you prefer to use zero chemicals, you can lay down a weed mat or cardboard under your mulch to keep weeds from sprouting.

5. Plant natives and add xeriscape materials

This is where the process gets very rewarding. During this step, you will begin planting and adding your xeriscaping materials, such as rocks, ornamental grasses, pavers, and edging. Your vision of how the backyard should look will come to life!

While you will want flowers and plants that are very drought-tolerant in your new xeriscape, you will also want to make sure these plants are native to your region so they can thrive in your climate. Here are some of the native plants most likely to thrive in each region.

West: Desert Willow, Blue Palo Verde, Desert Marigold

South: Sweetbay Magnolia, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Narrowleaf Sunflower

Midwest: Hackberry, American Cranberrybush, Swamp Milkweed

Northeast: Winterberry, Blue Vervain, Cardinal Flower

6. Add final touches

Final touches can take your xeriscaping to the next level. Consider adding solar panels, yard signs, or figurines to your new backyard to add a personal touch.

Adding smart tech to your xeriscape can be eco-friendly and convenient as well. Solar-powered lanterns will guide your walkway, whereas moisture meters can help you keep track of when your plants actually need to be watered. Using this technology is a great low-maintenance and eco-friendly way to maintain your new xeriscape.

7. Create a maintenance schedule

Once your xeriscape is complete, you can finally relax. Xeriscapes are extremely low maintenance, but you will still want to keep a maintenance schedule handy to prevent anything from happening to the beautiful space you have created. The following tasks can serve as a guideline for maintaining your new yard.

Weekly: Mow and tend to any grass near your xeriscaped space to keep it from intruding.

A few times each month: Water the plants as needed.

Every few months: Check for weed growth. If there is any, consider a weed killer or putting more weed mats/cardboard down.

Each fall: Use your leaf blower to keep leaves out of your xeriscaped space to keep it looking clean and beautiful.

Overall, xeriscaping your backyard is a great, eco-friendly way to upgrade your curb appeal. It is also cost-effective in the long run, as it lowers utility bills and can even lower your home insurance.

Xeriscaping has even been known to protect your home from wildfires. There are so many benefits to this style of landscaping. Get started now to be more eco-friendly and create a beautiful outdoor space.

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Author: Lily Scott

November 3, 2021 0 comment

Home Sustainability

How to Implement a Zero-Waste Bathroom

by Megan Kioulafofski October 25, 2021

7 minutes read

The bathroom, one of the smallest parts of your home, is actually the one that creates the most waste. Think about your morning routine alone, and all the products you’ve tried that have failed and end up in the “bathroom graveyard”.

So, now you see why waste reduction is critical. This tiny room ejects a pile of plastic continually. And that realization should be enough to motivate you to implement a zero-waste bathroom.

Indeed, leading a zero-waste lifestyle is challenging. What is more, the initial enthusiasm often gets stomped by the frustration only days later. However, going zero-waste is possible. All you need to do is decide to make more sustainable choices. And one of them is reducing the waste you create.

Begin by something simple like getting reusable shopping bags and work from there. Any time is the right time to make the change. But if you are moving into a new home, it is a perfect opportunity for a fresh start and some new habits.

Thus, after you have made sure to have a green process while moving, it’s time to learn how to be more environmentally conscious in your new home. This article will show you how to do it in your bathroom, what products to choose, and possibly entice you to implement more eco-friendly habits into your life.

Switch to bamboo brushes

You may be surprised to hear that your tiny little toothbrush is one of the biggest plastic polluters. The first brush you ever used as a kid is still polluting our oceans and poisoning marine life.

Luckily, there is a much better alternative for your zero-waste bathroom- bamboo toothbrushes. Not only are they substantially more environmentally friendly as bamboo is one of the most sustainable crops in the world, but they are also much more stylish.

Plastic toothbrushes, dental floss, and mouthwash are all very necessary products in your bathroom. But they are also great polluters. So, switch to more sustainable options.

eco-friendly bathroom products

When the time to dispose of them comes, make sure to remove the bristles as they are typically not biodegradable. Although, you may be able to find ones with plant fibers in the bristles as well.

Stop using disposable razors

Right after the toothbrushes, the next great polluter is disposable razors. Yes, even the ones with replaceable cartridges. They are still plastic and come packed in more of the plastic. So, if you are trying to turn your bathroom zero-waste, ditch them. Despite what you may think, disposable razors are the easiest things to discard from your life because you have a few alternatives.

Firstly, you can switch to a stainless-steel razor. Admittedly, it looks pretty unappealing and even a bit dangerous, but these razors are actually very safe and easy to use. Moreover, good quality ones can last you a lifetime.

Next, you can use an electric razor or an electric epilator. Perhaps the result with the electric razor won’t be the same as they usually don’t get so close to the skin, but you will reduce waste from these products to a minimum.

Finally, you can invest in laser hair removal. It is pretty costly, but it will also save you a lot of trouble.

Switch to bamboo cotton swabs

Another single-use product that you regularly use in the bathroom and is thus a dangerous polluter is a plastic cotton swab. If you are trying to go zero-waste, you need to know that cotton swabs cannot be recycled, so they all end up in landfills and oceans, where they take centuries to disintegrate. They are so harmful to the environment and the sea animals that some countries forbid their use.

Whenever possible, try to find biodegradable products to replace ones made of plastic. For instance, buy bamboo cotton swabs and replace your plastic hairbrush with a bamboo one.

sustainable bathroom products

Whenever possible, try to find biodegradable products to replace ones made of plastic. For instance, buy bamboo cotton swabs and replace your plastic hairbrush with a bamboo one.

However, you can make an easy switch to practically the same thing but better as it’s made of bamboo and is thus biodegradable. And the reason we say “practically the same” is that bamboo cotton swabs are actually better for you as well. Their thinner heads allow for a better clean as they will not push ear wax deeper into your ear, causing all sorts of issues.

Start using zero-waste cotton pads

If you are reading this article, it probably means you are introducing more sustainable habits into your lifestyle. Before you have decided to learn how to implement a zero-waste bathroom, you may have read an article or two about sustainable fashion. So, while you were reading, you might have learned that tremendous amounts of water are necessary to produce cotton. So, try to reduce your usage by opting for reusable cloth pads. You can buy them or make them yourself, which is an even better and greener option. You probably have some old cotton pieces of clothing you can use for this purpose. Unlike disposable cotton pads, you can wash these many times in your laundry machine.

Alter your skincare habits

The skincare industry is probably one of the most significant plastic waste culprits. While there have been more sustainable options recently, many plastic containers still end up in landfills and oceans.

So, after you have switched to reusable makeup remover pads, you could also stop buying a makeup remover and use coconut oil instead. If you have very dry skin, you can also use coconut oil as a moisturizer, and you can definitely use it as a body lotion. Coconut oil comes in a glass container, and you can buy it in bulk. In addition to coconut oil, you can start making your own skincare using shea butter, beeswax, and various essential oils.

Implement a zero-waste bathroom with eco-friendlier hygienic products

Especially now, when we are battling a global pandemic, we understand the importance of frequent hand washing. However, most soaps have harmful ingredients such as sulfates and parabens, and they come wrapped in plastic packaging. So, it’s necessary to find better alternatives.

zero-waste bathroom accessories

We must use soaps, but we should find biodegradable packaging or brands that sell refills.

Luckily, if you do some research, you can find more sustainable brands that sell hygienic products that check all the boxes. They should be cruelty-free, vegan, baby-safe, and of course, zero-waste. Find brands that sell refills if you like liquid soap. But if you are more of a soap bar person, choose those in biodegradable packaging without microplastics and dangerous chemicals.

And, if possible, try to use multipurpose soap. One you can use both for your hands, face, and body.

Finally, switch to natural cleaning products for your home as well. There are homemade solutions, and many green store-bought options.

A few more considerations

Of course, there are many more ways to implement a zero-waste bathroom in your home as there are so many more eco-friendly products you use, and they are all great sources of plastic waste.

For instance, try to use plant-derived or silk dental floss instead of polyester. Also, if you plan a bathroom renovation, consider installing a bidet attachment. It will reduce your toilet paper usage by about 60%.

Instead of purchasing a bottle of mouthwash, find a recipe for a homemade alternative online. And you can do the same with your hair conditioner. Some of these tips will take you a bit more time and effort, but it won’t be a burden once you get the hang of it. Also, our planet will be thankful, and you will be rewarded with a feeling of contentment because you are making a change.

If you enjoyed this article and are ready to start on your zero waste journey, you might also be interested in:

Jenna Dawson is a freelance writer focusing on the environment and eco-friendly solutions that help us lead greener lives. She loves sharing tips on how to be more sustainable and help the planet heal. In her free time, Jenna volunteers in an animal shelter and upcycles items others would discard.

October 25, 2021 0 comment

Home Sustainability

Edible Landscaping 101

by Megan Kioulafofski October 21, 2021

5 minutes read

It is no secret that growing our own food is better for the environment and our health. Growing food is convenient and rewarding, but often people think they need to create an entire garden to do so. Did you know that you can grow healthy and delicious foods into your own landscape?

With the right plants and design, you can live more sustainably, avoiding pesticides and grocery store plastics by growing food in your yard. Not every plant is right for this growing method, but there are some fantastic seeds that can be planted strategically and thrive without a garden. We have curated a guide on how to create a delicious and sustainable edible landscape.

Environmental Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

Growing food in your own yard has many environmental benefits. It is a simple way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Reduce Carbon Emissions and Waste

Grocery store fruits, vegetables, and herbs traditionally travel thousands of miles to get to your grocery store. This emits a huge amount of carbon emissions. Just by growing your own food, you are preventing and protesting against the fossil fuels that impact our environment by the use of commercial farming.

Not to mention, pounds upon pounds of unnecessary plastic and cardboard are used while transporting these foods and putting them on the shelves. Food from your yard is fresher and prevents this waste.

Avoids Use of Harmful Pesticides

One of the biggest benefits of growing your own food is that you know what is going into your soil. Commercial farms often use herbicides and pesticides with toxic ingredients to help grow fruits and vegetables bought at grocery stores. Some of these are carcinogens that can cause cancer. They will even use harmful ingredients to help grow these items bigger, faster- all for a profit.

This pollution in the soil will trickle into our food and waterways. It is much safer for people and the environment when these chemicals are avoided.

mother and daughter gardening in backyard

The Best Plants For Edible Landscaping

Some plants, such as leafy greens, corn, and peas, are best planted in a garden as they attract hungry animals. Certain plants have the natural ability to ward off hungry foragers, rather than attract them, whether it be through aroma or texture.

The plants listed below are somewhat resistant to wildlife and fare best when planted with ornamentals out in the open. All of these plants also can be fed with compost and planted in certain pairs, so there is no need for chemicals that are actually toxic for humans and the environment.

Strawberries

Strawberries are a delicious fruit that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. These bright red berries will blend into your landscape for added beauty, as well as make a great addition to summer salads

Blueberries

Blueberries are a healthy and delicious snack that can be planted right in your own backyard. They are easy to plant and bloom into beautiful bushes with white flowers.

Fruit Trees

You can pluck delicious pears, cherries, and lemons off trees you grow in your own backyard! Any type of fruit tree can grow well right out in the open.

Herbs

Herbs grown as perennials without a strong aroma, such as lavender, thyme, and oregano, are great for an edible landscape. Herbs with strong aromas will attract foragers.

Peppers

Peppers can be planted out in the open after they have grown taller and hardier. Once they are out in your landscape, they bring a gorgeous pop of color!

Artichokes

Artichokes are yummy baked, steamed, or grilled- and the best part is that they can be picked straight from your own edible landscape. These grow beautifully with spiky foliage and purple flowers. Their spikes make them unappealing to hungry wildlife.

Eggplants

This purple vegetable is a delicious addition to any meal. They are gorgeous additions to your edible landscape as well as they have star-shaped flowers. These flowers are also scratchy which prevents hungry wildlife from eating your eggplants.

Beans

Pole beans can grow on a trellis, which adds dimension to your edible landscape. With chicken wire around the bottom of the plant, the beans will be safe from wildlife.

Onions, Garlic, and Chives

Wildlife will not target these delicious ingredients. You can even plant these next to other veggies to protect those as well.

Kale

Kale is one of the healthiest veggies out there. It also grows beautiful with frilly green leaves to make your landscape look even lusher than before.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a fan favorite vegetable and simple to grow on a stake or trellis in your yard. Before long, you will have tons of tomatoes to make yummy salsa or stew.

Edible Flowers

Flowers such as honeysuckle and lilac are not only beautiful editions to your landscaping but also great garnishes for cocktails and salads.

Additional Edible Landscaping Design Tips

Here are a few more curated tips for making your edible landscape as beautiful as it is delicious.

Know Your Landscape

Make sure to pick a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight as this is where most fruits and vegetables thrive. For the shady spots, pick plants that thrive better in the shade, such as cherry tomatoes. Also, learn the nutrients of your soil before planting anything there.

Containers

For height variation and to add interest, include several plants in containers throughout the landscape. This creates variety and a fun, interesting space to look at.

Add a Walkway for Accessibility

The last thing you or your family wants to do is trip when on their way to pick some fresh fruit. Adding a walkway throughout your edible landscape is a great way to do this. Consider upcycling old palettes or using other sustainable materials to create a unique and usable walkway.

Overall, creating an edible landscape is a beautiful way to contribute to the sustainability movement. Growing your own food is healthier and safer for your family while being more beneficial to the environment. For more tips, see the infographic from Angi below.

Photo by angi.com

October 21, 2021 0 comment

Home Sustainability

Take The Eco-Friendly Route With Natural Cleaning Products

by Megan Kioulafofski September 30, 2021

7 minutes read

Ready to ditch those chemically-laden, environmentally unfriendly cleaning products? Here’s how to switch to natural cleaners instead!

It’s exciting to know that something as mundane as cleaning your home can become a major part of your journey to being eco-friendly.

Just by simply paying attention to the products you use, you can cut out some major harmful chemicals and stop contributing to a mass system that’s poisoning the environment.

It’s all about getting and using cleaning products that work without doing damage to the world around them.

The number of people across the US who are switching to a more eco-friendly lifestyle is on the rise. This means that it’s a lot easier to find sustainable options for cleaning your home, as well as being a lot cheaper than before.

It’s also never been easier to find out information about your cleaning products and what the ingredients are doing to the environment.

If you’re ready to switch to natural products when cleaning your home, we suggest starting out slowly and working your way through this list:

1. Switch To Green Products

It used to be quite difficult to find natural, eco-friendly cleaning products that were commercially available. You had to go to specific health shops, and they often cost a fortune. Choice was limited, and all too often products were in short supply.

Fortunately, today, most big retailers have their own organic or green line of products available, right alongside their regular products. They also tend to stock a variety of options for the environmentally minded person.

This level of choice means that you can buy a natural cleaning product while doing your regular grocery shopping. And, with so much choice, you get to compare ingredients and prices too.

You don’t have to just buy the one option that’s available.

Plus, the fact that so many stores offer eco-friendly cleaning products means that there’s competition. Competition drives prices down, so this makes being environmentally friendly friendlier on the pocket too.

2. Get Rid Of Harmful Products Safely

Ready to ditch your old cleaning products and switch to natural alternatives? Not so fast!

Most cleaning products are full of harsh chemicals that are potentially toxic. The idea was that the stronger the solvent in the product, the stronger its cleaning power and the easier it cleaned your home.

Little emphasis or concern was placed on what these harsh chemicals do to the person breathing in the fumes, or getting the products on their skin. Let alone the children in the household or the pets.

For example, bleach is the number one ingredient used in a multitude of cleaning products. The fumes from these products often include chlorine and chloroform, which are incredibly bad for your lungs. They are also bad for your brain health. In addition, if you’re cleaning in a poorly ventilated space, you could see a buildup of gas that could react to something as harmless as vinegar.

The biggest problem we face is how to get rid of these products in a safe manner. It’s not advisable to simply pour the products down the drain. The concentrated spike of chemicals could damage your drainage system, for one.

Additionally, you’re releasing those chemicals into the water and the ground around you, poisoning them. It’s best to contact local recycling centers and talk to the experts about disposing of these toxic chemicals.

3. Make your Own Cleaning Products

Once you’re on the path to safer, more natural cleaning products, you should consider making your own products at home.

eco cleaning

This is a far more cost effective option, and you can eliminate the use of single-use plastics too. Even if you recycle the bottles and spritzers cleaning products come in, they still add to the plastic problem. If you make your own naturally derived products you can store them in glass bottles and jars, and you can reuse these repeatedly.

DIY eco-cleaning products don’t usually require many ingredients. You won’t need much more than vinegar, cornstarch, lemon, baking soda, soap, and warm water to get most jobs done around the house. When it comes to soap, look for anything unscented that comes in liquid or flake form and make sure that it doesn’t contain petroleum distillates.

Baking soda should be your first port of call.

It softens water in much the same way soap does and it cleans surfaces in the same way. It also deodorizes your home, taking away any bad odors.

Lemon juice is great to fight against bacteria in your home, while vinegar will cut through any grease. Cornstarch is another ingredient to add to the list. You can use it to polish furniture, clean windows and mirrors, and even shampoo your carpets.

Sometimes, you may need ingredients that are a bit stronger. In these cases, look for hydrogen peroxide and oxygen-based bleach. These are strong chemicals, but not nearly as harmful as regular bleach or ammonia.

Oxygen-based bleaches are generally made from peroxide or sodium carbonate and can safely remove stains. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used as a disinfectant for cuts and wounds, and it’s ideal for disinfecting your bathroom and kitchen surfaces.

If you want to add a scent to your natural cleaning products, a few drops of essential oil work wonders. Peppermint, lemon, tea tree, and pine all add a wonderful fresh, clean fragrance.

4. Don’t Forget About Your Garden

The garden is another place where we regularly use cleaning products that are harmful to the environment. The chemicals in most pesticides, weed killers, and bug sprays are harmful when inhaled and can cause lasting damage to the soil.

Instead of buying products from the store that are full of unnatural ingredients, mix up some vinegar, salt, and water to spray on your weeds. There are also plenty of friendly ways to stop snails and worms from munching on your plants.

A compost heap or a compost bin is a great natural fertilizer source that you can use on your lawn and in your flower beds. It’ll also help you to cut down on your waste, because you won’t throw away as much food.

If you want to reuse some of your plastic items you can put them to good use in your garden too. Convert old containers into buckets or watering cans, or into temporary pots for new plants. Or, you can cut up plastic items to create boundaries for flower or nursery beds.

The Final Word On Green Cleaning

As you can see, making the move to natural cleaning products is now easier than ever. It’s a conscious lifestyle choice that makes a huge difference.

Become a conscious consumer if you prefer buying your cleaning products, or try making your own. You can reduce your plastic use, cut down completely on harmful chemicals, and still keep your home fresh, clean, and eco-friendly.

There’s no reason to wait. Your journey to a household that only uses natural cleaning products can begin right now.

If you enjoyed this article check out our sustainable living blog for more interesting information such as:

September 30, 2021 0 comment

Health Home

Non-Toxic, Eco-Friendly Ways to a Cleaner and Healthier Home

by Megan Kioulafofski September 9, 2021

5 minutes read

Cleaning products aren’t clean, says Today. Common all-purpose solutions are chock-full of toxic chemicals like ammonia, naphtha, sulfuric acid, and formaldehyde. Fortunately, you don’t need to rely on dangerous cleaning products to spruce up your home. There are natural alternatives that do as good a – if not better – job. More importantly, they’re not detrimental to your family’s health!

SOL+ SPIRIT brings you handpicked eco-friendly, trustworthy solutions to make your home a tidier and more nurturing environment:

Use lemons and other citrus fruits as deep cleaners

Citrus fruits like lemons, grapefruits, and tangerines are naturally antibacterial and antiseptic. When combined with vinegar, you have a powerful solution with multiple cleaning properties. First, it works as a general-purpose cleaner for microwaves, ovens, cutting boards, and utensils. Second, it can polish materials like wood and copper, perfect for rusted old countertops and stained pots and pans. Finally, it even acts as a deodorizer – use it on smelly containers or garbage disposal.

Add baking soda to your laundry for fresher clothes

Baking soda is good for more than delicious chocolate chip cookies. This everyday pantry item makes for a wonderfully gentle abrasive and deodorizer. While it works as an all-purpose cleaner and stain remover, it’s arguably best used as an addition to your laundry detergent. A cup of soda can soften the water and balances the pH levels. Further, you won’t need as much liquid detergent as usual. Your clothes will come out smelling better-than-ever and almost as bright as the day you bought them.

Get a houseplant for a better environment

If you don’t have houseplants already, it’s time to get some – NBC News reports they boost your mood, enhance productivity and concentration, and reduce stress levels. Additionally, they’re eye-catching and can enhance the décor of any room they are in. Finally, they clean and recycle the air inside, making it more breathable, airy, and fresh. Indoor plants like cacti, ivy, and spider plants are low-maintenance, affordable, and beautiful, making them a worthy addition to any home.

Replace air fresheners with natural fragrances

Yes, air fresheners smell good and are a convenient way to get rid of bad odors quickly. However, there’s a price to using them – your health. 20% of the US population experience adverse effects after using them like migraines, headaches, and nausea. Essential oils, candles, baking soda, and even coffee beans are wonderful natural alternatives that don’t hurt you and smell just as good.

Part the curtains and open the windows

When was the last time you drew aside the curtains and cracked open the windows around your house? It’s a good idea to do so every once in a while. The air inside tends to fill up with toxins like pollen, dander, and chemicals, as well as harmful odors over time. Velux claims the air inside can be five times more polluted than the air outside. Some fresh air can make the insides crisp and wholesome again. Further, any natural sunlight you let in will kill bacteria, boost your mood, and reduce the need for artificial lighting.

Purge and declutter for more space

The various knickknacks and odds-and-ends you’ve collected over the years take up precious real estate. Even worse, they gather dust, germs, require cleaning and maintenance, and generally block free airflow and hamper movement. Toss out, donate, or sell the items you don’t absolutely need. Decluttering not only has tangible physical benefits, but it can also make you feel better emotionally and act as a therapeutic mental aid. You’d be surprised at how spacious, clean, and free your home will seem, and how light you’ll feel. For best results, don’t immediately replace the items you get rid of!

Use breathable paints for happier, healthier rooms

Giving your interior a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference to how the place looks and feels. When choosing paints, get the non-toxic kind: APE-free, antimicrobial-free, and low-VOC. Breathable paints can allow in more moisture and humidity inside the room if it gets too dry. Colors are important – they can uplift, inspire, soothe, and heal. Be strategic with your color choices – yellows can inject more enthusiasm and energy into living rooms and kitchens, while blues and greens make bedrooms restful and comforting.

Make eco-friendly upgrades around your house

Eco-friendly upgrades aren’t just good for the environment, but they’re also better for your health as they contain few-to-no harmful chemicals, finishes, and pollutants. Further, eco-friendly is almost always sustainable, so you don’t have to maintain as much. Some practical pro-environmental enhancements are energy-efficient (energy star) appliances, solar panels, extra insulation, glazed windows, natural bamboo or linoleum flooring, more natural lighting options, better ventilation, and non-toxic carpeting.

Such upgrades will typically reduce your carbon footprint and enhance your property’s overall value at the same time. It’s always a good idea to plan with the buyer’s demands in mind, whether you’re looking to sell soon or later, to maximize the appreciation in the property’s value. Click before and after snapshots and maintain a file with receipts – you’ll need both later.

Minimize the tech

Technology is a bit of a double-edged sword. It makes your life easier and more entertaining but also brings with it stress and digital addictions. If you find yourself constantly in front of a screen at home – be it a TV, laptop, or smartphone – then it might be time to cut back. Some ways to do so are having designated technology-free hours, having only one TV for everyone, and putting away smartphones during meal times. Minimizing technology can free up a great deal of time and mental space, and make you and your family happier and healthier.

Conclusion

Your home is your retreat from the world outside. By giving it some extra love and care, you can turn it into an oasis of peace, health, and happiness for both you and your family. Keep making small improvements over time. Before you know it, you’ll witness a massive transformation in your home environment.

September 9, 2021 0 comment

Energy Efficiency Sustainability Technology

The Best Eco Apps for Saving Energy

by Megan Kioulafofski September 1, 2021

4 minutes read

Read this article to discover how eco apps can help you lead a greener lifestyle, reduce your impact on the environment, and save energy.

People tend to use the words “energy” and “electricity” interchangeably. However, electricity is only one part of energy, along with heat. Statistics from Our World in Data show that the average Canadian consumes 105,540kWh of energy per year — this covers electricity, heating, and transport.

As of 2019, around 66% of energy came from fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource. There are efforts to shift to renewable resources, but they’re still behind schedule.

Because of this, it’s all the more important to make an effort to save as much energy as reasonably possible. So if you want to make a positive change, here are some eco-friendly apps that can guide you:

1. Simple Shower Timer

Smart showers can be expensive. Fortunately, eco apps like the Simple Shower Timer are good substitutes. Just enter the amount of time you want to spend in the shower, and then the app will notify you when it’s almost time to finish up.

2. Energy Cost Calculator

As the name suggests, this eco app lets you calculate the amount of energy that a device or appliance uses, and how much it will cost you.

All you need to do is type in the kind of appliance, how long you use it at a given time, and the estimated energy consumption per hour (you can find this on the packaging or detailed on the device). The app will then provide a rough cost per hour, per day, or per week. It can also give you your estimated carbon footprint based on your energy usage as well. Aside from simply saving money, this app lets you see how your energy saving actions can actually save the environment.

3. S-Miles Cloud

Solar energy is a renewable resource, but even if you produce your own energy, having too much of it would be a terrible waste.

As such, aside from storing energy, you should also monitor it so you know you’re not using too much or too little when compared to your production rate. Solar systems installed at home can be managed more efficiently by using eco apps.

For example, Hoymiles installs solar panels in homes, which homeowners can then manage via their phones. The Hoymiles app is called the S-Miles Cloud. From the app, you can monitor, manage, and troubleshoot your installation using visual data. The app even shows you your environmental impact, so your journey to saving more energy is one that is informed and backed up by data.

4. Nest

In 2014, Nest Labs was bought by Google, and four years later, the Google Home division was rebranded to Google Nest.

Google Nest released a number of eco apps and smart products such as their well-known thermostat, which can be integrated into other smart devices like smoke detectors. You can automatically program the thermostat’s schedule and control it with a voice assistant.

The Mini is a small smart speaker that responds to the same Google Assistant-enabled voice commands. But there are other extras, such as intercom functionality and stereo pairing with other Minis. C by GE bulbs are affordable Bluetooth smart bulbs that work well with Google.

Having a smart home can save energy because they can be controlled more accurately and easily, such as with temperature and lighting.

5. JouleBug

JouleBug is a social network for eco-friendly enthusiasts. It encourages sustainable actions by presenting itself like a game or social media app. JouleBug rewards you with points and badges with every green task you complete, such as taking a shorter shower or using a reusable water bottle. You can even compete against friends or other locals to see who’s the greenest user.

Using these energy saving apps is a step in the right direction. If you want to go further, our previous article on SOL + SPIRIT provides specific pointers on how to make each room in your house more eco-friendly.

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September 1, 2021 0 comment