Five Ways To Lower Waste
It's been two years since our family started a lower waste lifestyle. When we first made the decision, the options and the cost seemed overwhelming. When I do something, I like to go all in! At the time, In my mind, if I wasn't eliminating everything, there was no point in doing it at all. But I quickly saw how going down that rabbit hole would leave me poor and frustrated, so I started to research the best places to start. I wanted to make sure that if I started this journey, it would be one that would be easy for me to keep up. How many times have you started something with good intentions and then realized it was more than you could handle and gave up? With stores like The Kind Matter and Well.ca converting areas of your home is very easy, and in the long run, they do save you money! Today I'm going to share my top 5 of my favourite products.
Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
We all use these bars, and they last 100-125 washes. I've had a lot of people ask me if they are okay for colour treated hair, and the answer is YES! My hair is highlighted, and I've never had any issues with it making the colour look brassy or dull. My favourite thing about the bars is I've gone from washing my hair daily to once or twice a week. Anthony, who struggles with a dry scalp, has noticed a considerable improvement since using these bars and even thinks it's made his hair fuller and softer. We get ours from The Kind Matter; they carry two different brands. We've used and like both. The cost for the two bars is $36.00.
Dish scrubbers
Replaced: Disposable sponges and plastic scrub brushes.
I used my first set of 3 in the kitchen for over a year, and now I use them for cleaning the bathtub, floor, etc. They work wonders on pots and pans. I'm able to scrub off food that is burned onto my white casserole dishes in a fraction of the time it used to take me, if it's really greasy I'll add a smidge of baking soda. I wash my scrubber with the tea towels and let air dry. I've let them slip into the dryer a time or two as well, and it shrinks them just a tad. I've never had a problem with build-up or odors. I got mine from Amazon.
Sponge Cloths
Replaced: Paper towels, Single Use dishcloths.
I LOVE these little clothes!! They are useful in the kitchen, absorb up to 20 times its weight. Machine washable up to 300 times and replace up to 15 rolls of paper towels. Mine have never smelled or had build up. I change them monthly and wash them with tea towels and hang to dry. I use them in my kitchen as well as in the kid's lunch boxes. I cut them to size and place them under berries or foods that have moisture. I also use them to dry freshly washed fruit, to clean my chalkboards, dust, scrub chairs, walls, etc. they are versatile and durable. Once they are unusable, they go into the green bin and fully decompose in 6- 8 weeks. Ours are Ten and Co. brand purchased from The Kind Matter but available almost everywhere.
Wax Wraps
Replaced - Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, single-use snack packages.
We use the handy wraps for just about everything! They come in a variety of sizes and are perfect for traveling, lunches, keeping leftovers, covering dishes during the outdoor dining season, I like these far better than I ever liked plastic wrap. We get ours from Waxology. They are moldable, gripable, tacky, and breathable. I wash mine in lukewarm water with mild dish soap and hang to dry. I change my wraps every 2-3 months (sometimes sooner) and use them weekly. Once they are no longer useable, i throw them into the green bin for composting.
Mason Jars & Reusable Plastic Lids
Replaced - Ziploc bags, single-serve yogurts, bagged baking supplies, plastic take out containers ( from restaurants)
I've always LOVED using mason jars in every room of the house. The one thing I didn't like is the two-part lid system and that after continuous washing, the lids show minor rust, especially if they aren't fully dry before putting them away. We get these white plastic lids off Amazon. I have two sets, one for regular mason jars and one for a wide mouth. Our mason jars go to school with the kiddos for yogurt, cheese, and crackers, and apple sauce, to name a few. They can store liquids or dry foods. Our pantry is full of them. They are great for picnics, storing leftovers, food prep, salads. We don't like eating out, so if I know we will be out for the day, I make quinoa salad the night before and store it in the jars. They fit nicely in a lunch pail with ice packs. Because they are glass, they wash thoroughly, don't hold smells or stains, and the glass is pretty resiliant.
I hope you've found some of these suggestions helpful. A quote that's been floating around a lot is "Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction," and I couldn't agree with it more. Imagine if every household converted just one or two products? Think about how much waste we could reduce.
Megan, xo
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