7 Cheapest Eco-Friendly Things You Can Start Doing Today
There is this major debate whether or not sustainability is only for the privileged. Just like many other lifestyle choices, there comes this aesthetic to make it seem very appealing. When it comes to sustainability, people will purchase brand new electric vehicles, eat salads every day, own a huge garden, or pay hundreds of dollars just to own some fair-trade clothes. Sure, this view of being sustainable sounds fairly unachievable and something that only upper-class society can afford if it’s going to be described as this.
Being eco-friendly is far more than paying an arm for a leg for something that most people can’t achieve. While it’s true that there are some aspects of sustainability that seem as if it’s only for the privileged, there are thankfully some ways to be eco-friendly that anyone can do regardless of their economic status. This post is going to give you some of the cheapest (and free) ways that you can begin getting into a more sustainable lifestyle. Being eco-conscious doesn’t have to be unattainable and it’s something that you and your whole family can begin doing today.
Get into recycling
One of the most basic things that everyone is taught as a child would be to recycle. Recycling conserves natural resources, reduces pollution, saves energy, and it gives a second life to items that would have ended up in our oceans or a landfill somewhere. . Recycling is sorting and cleaning up trash such as glass, paper, metal, and plastic.
Aluminum cans are one of the most recycled resources, and it’s one that can make you a bit of money as well. Recycling is one of the easiest things you can do to help the environment, and all it takes is getting informed on where your local recycling center is, where the recycling drop-off is located, and how you can avoid any recycling mistakes.
Buy second hand
One of the cheapest ways to be sustainable involves shopping. For starters, you should only purchase things when you’re needing them. Just because you’re buying second-hand doesn’t immediately equal you being sustainable. It still takes time and resources to purchase second-hand goods, so make sure you’re only buying what you’re needing. Purchasing second-hand items, whether it be from a thrift shop, consignment shop, market, or even something such as craigslist or FB Marketplace can be great.
You’re helping out by preventing an item from being thrown into a landfill somewhere. It also gives you the chance to buy something that you were needing at a much more affordable rate. Thrift shops have a wide variety of items from clothes, furniture, electronics, bedding, and so much more. It’s honestly quite amazing some of the finds you can get at a thrift shop. Thrifting has become very popular over the last few years as people are far more aware of the harmful effects that consumerism has done on the planet. If you’re needing something, try to look for it second-hand first, and if you still can’t find it, then resort to buying it new.
Borrowing or renting
Borrowing items that you only need once is far better than using your money and using resources to buy something that you’re only going to need. One great example would be tools, if you’re needing something like a hammer, and you only need it once, you’re better off asking your neighbors. You’ll save money, and you’ll have less junk in your house that you don’t need. The same can be said for renting, there are just some items that you only need short-term, there’s no point in using resources just to buy an item that only needs to be used just once.
Make changes at home
When it comes to living a more eco-friendly life, it’s best to begin right at home. There are so many ways that you can make more eco-conscious decisions, and they can all be done in the comfort of your own home. Some great examples would be looking into the best solar companies for solar panels, turning the power off when you’re not needing it, unplugging appliances that are not in use, using less hot water, buying Star and other energy appliances, and even switching to low flow toilets and showers. There are even more things you can do at home that may not even cost any money at all such as:
Reusing old jars as containers
Giving a second life to products (one example would be using an old toothbrush as a scrub brush)
Using current household ingredients to make cleaner
Turn off lights in rooms that you’re not in
Using seeds from fruits and vegetables to grow produce
Propagating plants to have additional plants
These are all small ways to have an eco-friendly home, but they’re also one of the best ways to just dip your toes in being eco-friendly. Some of these methods are very common, so there may be a chance that you’re doing some of these tips right now without realizing it.
Buy products with less packaging
Sometimes you need to buy items that are brand new, food and clothing are included in this. Today, there is this expectation that there needs to be an unboxing experience when purchasing goods. All this does is create more waste. Look into purchasing items that have little to no waste. It’s not completely possible to have a zero-waste lifestyle, but you may be able to produce and use as little waste as possible.
When going grocery shopping, try to buy items that aren’t wrapped in plastic. With some shops, such as minimal waste grocery stores, you bring your own bags and jars to restock on common pantry goods (such as flour, rice, and sugar). Buying fewer products that are filled with unnecessary packaging will eventually lead to more brands and companies realizing that it’s something that needs to be changed.
Get a reusable water bottle
One of the simplest and best ways to reduce your carbon footprint and the waste that you create is going to be through using that’s that are indeed reusable. You get water at home from a faucet, so why spend money on packaged water? Most tap water within the US is generally clean and meets EPA standards, so there isn’t a reason to be buying it. You’ll save a lot of money in the long run too. Getting a reusable water bottle is the best thing you can do for your wallet and for mother Earth.
Sure, there are flashy and expensive reusable water bottles such as HydroFlask, but you really don’t need to spend a lot of money or get anything fancy just to become eco-friendly. Even those cheap water bottles that you get at events can be reused and they work just fine. You don’t need to purchase expensive items just to become eco-friendly.
Don’t throw out what you already have
There’s this idea that in order to be sustainable, you need to have stainless steel containers, bamboo toothbrushes, oat soap, or something expensive. Sure, there are sustainable brands that have a high price tag but that doesn’t mean you should just immediately throw away your toothbrush, your Tupperware, and anything else that’s plastic that you have at home. You’re just sending them to the landfill and you’re falling for greenwashing.
Use what you already have, use up the items that you have at home before you resort to making any more purchases. You don’t need to buy every “eco-friendly” item that’s on the market just so you can say that you’re sustainable. It’s something that doesn’t have to be expensive either.
