Eco-friendly Alternatives for Everyday Use

We could tell you all of the reasons why you should be more to be eco-friendly, but you’re here, so you already know why it’s so important. Why don’t we just skip to some of the things that you can easily replace and make a significant impact?

Have you ever thought about what you’re really doing? According to Toilet Paper Fun Facts, the average person uses 57 sheets in a day and about 100 rolls in a year. Think about all of those trees you’re literally flushing away!

You may be thinking, “well, I have to use something,” which is true but why not purchase toilet paper from a renewable source? Many companies now make toilet paper from bamboo, sugarcane, or combinations of the two. Wipe easy, knowing no trees were affected by your trip to the bathroom.

You’ve seen the picture of the seahorse carrying the straw or people collecting straws off of the beach. These little plastic tubes seem harmless, but their impact is hard felt. Replacing straws at home is probably less of an uphill battle, than not using and/or refusing when you go out. It may be challenging to get waitstaff and/or your favorite business to buy in on this one. ​

The fix is simple — metal, silicone, or biodegradable straws ones. You can carry your own straw, or lobby your favorite eatery to make the switch. Even McDonald’s is listening to its customers and making the change.

The human obsession with plastic and throw away objects can be rather disheartening. Plastic bags litter the globe. You get them when you go to the grocery store or get takeout. Then there ziplock bags and produce bags. Just so many bags!

You might think it’s difficult to replace all of these bags with something sustainable, but start one step at a time. You can buy or even make reusable grocery bags. Once you get in the habit of using them, you’ll be glad you did.

Next, purchase your own mesh produce bags (or make some). Then use them whenever you shop. Last, tackle those ziplock baggies. Try glass containers, mason jars, and other reusables. When you can’t, reuse those baggies — unless it would be unsafe to do so.

Keeping your leftovers to eat another day is definitely great for the environment, but it’s important to be mindful of what you’re using to store your food. We often turn to plastic wrap for meat, leftovers, or even lunch. In turn, that plastic ends up in a landfill taking up space and littering the environment. ​

Rather than use plastic wrap, try beeswax wrap or natural parchment paper. Beeswax wrap is reusable and versatile. However, there are some items you won’t want to store in it like meat. If you’re freezing or storing raw meat in any way, you might try natural parchment paper or freezable glass containers.

If you’re covering the tops of bowls or covering something you’re putting in the microwave, then silicone lids are a superb alternative to plastic. With all of these choices, you’re likely to find you don’t even miss that clingy, frustrating plastic wrap sticking to itself. ​

Holidays, family get-togethers, barbeques, and birthday parties are fun and enjoyable, but they also produce a lot of waste from disposable products. Just think about the last time you had a big family event. The trash bin was likely overflowing with plates and utensils. Those all end up in a landfill and polluting the earth. ​

The good news is you don’t have to wash the dishes to protect the environment. It used to be that we’d have to pull out the dishes if we didn’t want buy disposables. Now, there are other products on the market. There are compostable and/or biodegradable plates, cups and utensils. A quick Google search turns up sites like Let’s Go Green who offer products made from bamboo, sugarcane and other earth-safe materials.

If these seem to be too much work for you or maybe they’re not your thing, then you could try an option that has your stomach in mind — edible dishware! Biotrem is just one of several companies that offers edible plates, cutlery, etc. They allow you to eat your cutlery and dishes rather than finding a to dispose of them. No matter how you spin it, you’ll be keeping plastic out of your trash. ​

Plastic waste is filling up our oceans and covering our shores. Animals are being harmed and consuming plastic with every bite they eat. Fish have been found to have stomachs full of plastic, which means we’re eating it too. By making simple changes in your life, you can reduce the plastic you use and put into our environment.

Plastic waste is filling up our oceans and covering our shores. Animals are being harmed and consuming plastic with every bite they eat. Fish have been found to have stomachs full of plastic, which means we’re eating it too. By making simple changes in your life, you can reduce the plastic you use and put into our environment.

These are five household items you can replace, but it’s just a short list of the many things you can do to live more earth-friendly every day. Start replacing the waste in your life!

Originally published at www.itsthesmallstuf.com.