How to Get Started with Eco-friendly Living

 

An eco-friendly living space is a great way to make your life more sustainable and reduce your impact on the planet. It also ensures your home provides comfort and relaxation rather than stress and anxiety. 

In this guide, we’ll show you how to make your home eco-friendly without breaking the bank or sacrificing style.

Sustainable Grocery Shopping

1. Use Reusable Shopping Bags

As we all know, ditching plastic shopping bags is a must. Most cities have banned plastic shopping bags at the store levels, but if not, just bring your own bag.

When plastic bags are thrown away, they don’t break down in the environment. Instead, they get trapped in the water system or landfills, where they can leach toxic chemicals into the ground and water supply. They also require an enormous amount of energy to produce.

“Plastic production accounts for more than 3% of total U.S. energy consumption. Less than 10% of plastics are currently recycled, most of which are “downcycled,” or repurposed into low-value products,” according to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.

A simple switch from plastic to reusable bags like this cotton tote with Go Gently Logo and simple slow fashion messaging.

Having your own bag on hand will help lower your carbon footprint and keep more trash out of landfills. Our reusable tote bags are made from 100% cotton and are perfect for shopping, going out, or even just heading to the beach. They’re durable and eco-friendly, so you can feel good about carrying them around wherever you go.  

2. Shop Local and Organic

It’s no secret that organic food is better for you and the planet. But did you know buying local produce and goods can help reduce your carbon footprint even more?

That’s because the less distance your food travels, the less fuel it takes to get there — which means fewer CO2 emissions. When you shop at a local farmers’ market or grocery store, you’re cutting down on gas emissions and supporting local businesses at the same time. And when you eat healthy food, you feel good.

We like keeping fresh fruits and veggies that are easy to grab in our house, and having them in pretty baskets when you open the fridge helps it look good too! And if you're trying to eat more organic food, keeping your fridge stocked with yummy fruits & veggies will motivate your family to select something healthy over that bag of chips!  

We find making your fridge look nice & having lots of healthy choices on hand saves money too!

Choosing Eco Home Products

1. Silicone Covers

If you’re looking for eco-friendly food covers, then try our Silicone Food Covers Brown Set of 4.

These silicone covers are a new way to cover your food without using plastic or foil. They’re made of 100% FDA food-grade silicone—no harmful chemicals. They’re also dishwasher-safe and non-allergenic, making them a great choice for families with children or those with allergies. 

Best of all, these silicone covers are far more sustainable than plastic to produce, and it’s nice to find products that we can reuse over and over without having to throw them away. The primary ingredient in silicone is silica, which is one of the most commonly occurring forms of sand, which of course, begins with natural material. 

Plastic, on the other hand, requires a lot of energy, chemicals and resources to produce. So choosing these low-waste alternatives like silicone are a great step in the direction of helping our planet.

2. Bamboo Toothbrushes

Have you ever considered using bamboo toothbrushes?

Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that absorbs carbon dioxide, meaning it’s a renewable resource. It can be used to make everything from toothbrushes to flooring and even clothing.

Plus, bamboo is biodegradable—so when you’re done with your bamboo toothbrush, you can throw it in the compost bin.

Bamboo toothbrushes are also a great option if you're worried about germs and bacteria. They're much more effective at removing plaque than regular plastic toothbrushes since bamboo naturally has antibacterial properties.

3. Silicon Lids 

Silicone lids are another ultimate kitchen must-have. From keeping salad fresh in your lunch to covering leftovers, they'll add an extra layer of protection to whatever you're storing. 

Our 6-round silicone lids are sturdy and durable, so you can use them again and again. They fit over square and round containers, even over a watermelon, pumpkin or a big old salad bowl. Just choose the size closest to your bowl, dish, container or sliced fruit and stretch it over.

These lids are made of food-grade silicone, which means they'll work even with hot food. Plus, they're dishwasher safe, so cleanup is easy peasy!

4. Non-toxic Toys 

How do you teach your kid to live a sustainable lifestyle when they’re still young?

Try this tip: Make sure all their toys and art supplies are made from non-toxic materials. This includes animal toys, crayons, paints, markers, glue sticks, and more.

Using these eco items, you can keep your kid safe from harmful chemicals and teach them about being conscious about eco-friendly living.

5. Silicone Buds

If you’re like us, you cringe every time you have to throw anything away—and why throw out the cotton swabs when you can wash them? That’s why we’re so excited about these new silicone earbuds that are made from natural bamboo and come with reusable, washable silicone tips.

These buds are comfortable, lightweight and available in 4 different styles. They come in an eco-friendly cardboard storage case, so you can take them with you wherever you go.

We hope this guide has inspired you to try sustainable habits to make your home greener in 2023. If you’re ready to start and are looking for eco-friendly products to refresh your home, check out our Eco Home collection.