1. Carry a reusable water bottle
I bring a reusable water bottle with me everywhere. It reminds me to drink water and I reduce waste and spending by not buying bottled water.
2. Bring cups, mugs, and cutlery to the office
Offices are a huge contributor of trash. Instead of using disposable cups and cutlery, bring your own dishes from home. For added bonus points, bring a dish towel to dry them off after you wash them or let them air dry instead of using a paper towel.
3. Bring your own bag when you go shopping
A trip to the grocery store can produce a lot of plastic bags. I reuse plastic bags for trash can liners but I can only go through so much. You can recycle plastic bags at certain locations but it’s better if you can avoid having to use them by bringing your own reusable bag. You can also bring your own bag when you’re shopping at any store or refuse a bag if you’re not buying that much so you don’t end up with a disposable bag that you’re going to get rid of.
4. Reuse plastic bags
If you end up with plastic bags, you can reuse them to line trash cans, hold trash on road trips, store shoes when you pack a suitcase, hold dirty laundry when you’re traveling, or fill with donations.
5. Reuse shipping materials
I always keep padded envelopes, boxes, and packing materials to reuse.
6. Recycle
Recycle paper, glass, plastic, metal, and cardboard if you can. There are also programs that recycle plastic film, cosmetic packaging, and food packaging.
7. Be a conscious consumer
Shop at stores with an ethos that you support. I love the body products at Lush but I also love their commitment to charity work, cruelty free beauty, and the environment.
Buy used when you can. You never know what treasures you can find when thrift shopping and a lot of clothes are in new or barely worn condition.
8. Sell or donate gently used clothing
If you have clothes you don’t wear anymore, you can sell them on eBay or donate them to a local organization.
9. Bring food storage container for leftovers
Whenever I eat out, I bring a container for leftovers since I never finish what I order. I try to avoid styrofoam whenever possible and bringing your own container has the added benefit of your food staying sealed.
10. Fold a paper towel in half before using it
After watching this TED talk, I shake my hands after washing them and fold the paper towel in half every time. There’s a technical reason why folding the paper towel in half works better but try it out for yourself.
Ultimately, try not to buy or acquire more than you need. Reuse or minimize your environmental impact where you can. Recycle the rest if possible.