4 Easy Tips to Be Eco-Friendly Without Spending a Dime
The climate crisis we’re facing has turned into a big issue nowadays. It seems like everything we do affects our planet—and it probably does.
But that's not entirely our fault. For decades, science has been ignored, we grew up on a planet that makes it almost impossible to have an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.
Over time, awareness on this issue has raised, and people is taking more responsibility for their daily habits. From small changes, like carrying your own water bottle to major impactful habits like going vegan.
Every little change leading to a sustainable lifestyle counts. We all start somewhere.
But as awareness on this matter grows, so do reusable products. We all have seen them: stainless steel straws, bamboo toothbrushes, reusable cotton swabs and hundreds of other products.
It feels as if to live a greener lifestyle we have to keep up with the trend and buy all these sustainable products.
But truth is you don’t need to buy all this stuff. You don’t have to spend money on things you don’t need because it’s labeled as “eco-friendly”. Of course some products are great, and worth the try—I have quite a few.
And because I have them, I know that some of them are not necessary.
There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint without spending money. Here are some tips to help you have greener habits without spending a dime.
Cut junk mail out
Every day is the same issue… You walk up to your mailbox and there it is… A huge load of useless mail. And let’s be real for a minute, you don’t read it. You don’t even open it sometimes.
You didn’t even ask for it. But there they are, the endless offers and discounts for all the things you don’t need.
Not only is junk mail a huge waste of paper, it’s also an enormous waste of energy and gasoline. Every year, over 100 million trees are used to create junk mail.
That’s right, 100 million trees! And most junk mail ends up unopened in a landfill. Sad right?
Luckily, this problem has a quick and easy fix. And yes, there's an app for it.
With PaperKarma you can unsubscribe from any unwanted mail. Download the app, take a picture of the logo or return address of the junk mail, add your address and DONE. They take care of the rest. It's that easy.
Don’t want to download an app? Try these easy-to-use websites:
Ultimate tip: Go paperless. Bank statements, insurance billing, services, etc. You can review all of them online. Unclutter your mailbox!
2. Have an eco-conscious home
There’s no better way to save money and be green. There are endless ways you can save energy at your home. Here you have the most impactful ones:
Unplug and turnoff. A quick fix to lower your electric bill.
Even if you’re not using your TV, computer, or kitchen appliances, they still suck energy if plugged in.
The easiest way to “unplug” is by using a power strip and turn it off whenever you’re not using it. This is especially important for set-top boxes like Apple TV, video games, modems, etc. Make it a habit!
When doing laundry, wait until you have a full load.
When doing dishes, wait till the dishwasher is full.
Both dishwashers and washing machines run on electricity. To make the most out of each load, make sure you use it at its full capacity (and with eco-friendly cleaning products, of course!)
Ultimate tip: Line dry your clothes for a long-lasting wardrobe and a greener lifestyle.
Save water. You already do? Think again.
Running water is a privilege, and sometimes we forget that. There is so much you can do to save more water. Start by taking shorter showers. A 10-minute shower uses over 20 gallons (75.71 l) of water plus gas/electricity to heat up the water.
If your toilet is not low-flow (aka water-saving), add in the tank a reused plastic bottle full of rocks or sand. This will help save some water every time you flush.
Other water-saving habits: Close the faucet when you brush your teeth and when washing dishes. Clean your veggies in a bowl rather than running water and if you have a leaky faucet—fix it.
3. Avoid unnecessary plastic
Yes, garlic that comes peeled and ready to use can be very tempting, but do you really need it? All those products using unnecessary plastic containers aren’t essential. It takes less than a minute to peel garlic.
So, join the trend and ditch the plastic. Less demand for unnecessary products equals less wasteful production.
Garlic is not the only one to blame—it’s everywhere, oranges, pineapple, onions, even bananas come wrapped in a plastic bag sometimes.
So, think before you bag. Buy in bulk if possible and be aware of how you can improve.
Ultimate tip: Hit a farmers market and get fresh, plastic-free produce. It might not be the prettiest, but it sure is mouth-watering fresh!
4. Say goodbye to paper towels
What!? No paper towels? But how can you live without them? It isn't that hard. In the U.S. the total waste of paper towels exceeds 3,000 tons a year and globally, over 254 million tons. Every single year. And these numbers are growing. Every year.
We grew so accustomed to using them for every little thing, that we seem to forget about the existence of dish towels. They serve the exact same purpose and they’re reusable for long periods of time.
Yes, paper towels are more convenient, you quickly get rid of a messy problem by throwing the paper towel out. But that doesn't mean it disappears. It ends up somewhere.
Using a dish cloth is more sustainable. It requires a little more from you, but it’s easy. Just rinse off your dishcloth in the sink after using it and let it dry. Or throw it in the laundry basket and wash them.
Microfiber towels are very absorbent and dry quickly. They’re also cheaper than paper towels and last much longer!
Dust off the towels getting old in your kitchen drawer and give it a try! You can start by reducing the number of paper towels you use on a daily basis, and then transition to dishcloths.
If you truly wish to make a change in your habits and have a sustainable lifestyle, there's no need to overcomplicate it. The power to do the right thing is always within yourself.