New Year, Less Waste. 3 Simple Habits to Be More Green This Year.

We are going back to the basicssss for this one!! Everyone starts somewhere, and we'd say this is that somewhere! It can be easy to say "I'm going to be more eco-friendly this year", but if you don't already have a few eco habits in place, it can be hard to start and stick to building a more conscious lifestyle. But don't worry, we're here to help. 

These tips are for anyone that is just starting out on their eco-conscious journey (so if you're an expert, go read one of our other posts lol). These habits are fairly easy to implement, don't really cost any money, and can be implemented today. All it takes is you wanting to make a positive impact. 😊

Ditch Plastic Water Bottles

This one seems too obvious, but I still continue to see people on the daily using plastic water bottles. BILLIONS of plastic bottles are used and discarded every day, and not many of them actually get recycled. Don't even get me started on the microplastics in these bottles. 
Some people choose to stick to using plastic water bottles due to lack of access to clean water. Luckily, there are lots of different filters for all types of homes and kitchens nowadays. If clean water is what's holding you back from ditching plastic bottles, buy a charcoal stick. They're fairly inexpensive, natural, and a convenient way to clean your water. (We plan on stocking some in the future, so stay tuned).

Also, a bonus tip is to only have ONE (or maybe two) reusable bottles. They're not collectibles, they're drinking vessels! Companies have gotten real good (cough Stanley cough) at marketing their limited edition bottles. But the reality is that you don't need ten of them taking up space in your house. I bet if you go to Goodwill, you can find a brand new stainless steel one for 5-10 bucks, and that's because someone bought one they didn't need.

Make More Food and Drinks at Home

Takeout is incredibly wasteful. While it might be tasty sometimes, there's a lot of garbage that goes along with it. Whether it's dinner with friends or getting out of the office for lunch, some people go out to eat multiple times a week! And don't even get me started on going out for daily coffee. We get it, it's your vice, the happy part of your day. But those dollars and plastic cups really add up! You can make an amazing drink at home for a fraction of the cost.

Save yourself the waste and a ton of money by making food and drinks at home. It might take you a little time to plan out and do, but once you get into the habit of doing it, you won't go back. Especially when you see how much money you can save!

Shop Secondhand First

We talk about this one so much, but that's because it's so important. Buying brand new things, especially new clothing or accessories made of plastic, is harmful for our health and the planet. Of course there is no judgement here, and we get that not everything can be bought secondhand all the time. But we can definitely evaluate our spending and plan how we want to buy things to avoid impulse purchases, which are a real environmental killer.
We're not here to tell you to stop buying everythinggg, these are supposed to be easy tips, remember? 😉 But, our habit for you is that if you see something you want, put it on a list and try to find it secondhand before buying it new. You actually might find it kind of fun and decide to make a game out of it! The thrill of the hunt is real.

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Feeling overwhelmed still? Just focus on one thing at a time. You don't need to change overnight. Start with these basic habits and keep moving forward. 

What habits will you be trying to form this year? Let us know in the comments!