Climate change is an existential issue for all of humanity. While fossil fuel companies and other large corporations are to blame for a lot of the environmental degradation and the depleting atmosphere, everyone needs to do their part to mitigate the warming climate. We are all responsible for our choices. One way to make a difference is to purchase sustainable and reusable products for the home. With so many household items to buy, it is possible to decrease your carbon footprint and work towards making a more sustainable home.
Bamboo Alternatives
One of the best alternatives to many household products is items made with bamboo. Paper products are particularly relevant here. Not only will you be able to find bamboo toilet paper, but there are also paper towels and other bamboo paper products to choose from. Some of them can even be rewashed and used over and over again. This is great because you will have a strong alternative to cheap and wasteful paper.
Bamboo is durable and plentiful in nature. Since trees take in carbon and turn it into oxygen for us to breathe, bamboo is a great alternative to cutting them down. Not only are bamboo products available, but the material can also be used for toothbrushes, bedding like this memory foam pillow, utensils, and much more. It is a miracle plant.
Sustainable Cosmetics
The cosmetic industry can be ethically dubious. Not only are many makeup products unsustainable, containing chemicals that are harmful to the natural world, many of these companies still test their products on animals. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are plenty of organic and sustainable alternatives that can provide the same things as commercial cosmetics. For example, reusable cotton rounds are like traditional makeup removers except they can be washed and used more than once. Instead of tossing out the cotton every time it is soiled, you can wash these bamboo rounds in the bag provided. There are even hair products made with bamboo.
Cleaning Products
Whether it’s for your skin or your bathroom tiles, there are many cleaning products that are bad for you and the environment. Luckily there are options. Choose organic soaps and sea sponges. Go for natural laundry detergents over the established commercial brands. Go for organic dish soap for washing your dishes. It may not feel like much, but every time you choose an organic or all-natural cleaning product, you will be taking a step toward sustainability. Whatever the product is, you can likely find a great eco-friendly alternative.
Cloth & Laundry
In addition to natural laundry detergents, there are plenty of other environmentally-friendly options for the bedroom and laundry room. First, bamboo pillows and bedding options provide comfortable and durable alternatives to cotton and other materials. You can also look into wool dryer balls, which will decrease the amount of dryer time used to dry clothes. These balls are reusable unlike traditional dryer sheets and are made of sustainable wool. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, there is an eco-friendly product for it.
Kitchen Items
One of the most wasteful areas in the home is the kitchen. People opt for plastic utensils and paper plates because they are lazy and don’t want to wash dishes. Still, there are better options for these products. Go for bamboo utensils instead of plastic spoons and forks. There is also a lot of controversy surrounding plastic straws. Instead of buying plastic straws, look into the bamboo alternative. Furthermore, skip paper plates and look into palm leaf plates that can be washed and reused. With so many different options, it is all about your commitment.
Committing to Sustainability
Nobody is perfect, especially when it comes to our impact on the environment. Our society is not set up to encourage us to be sustainable. But if you change the way you think about this issue and do your best to support eco-friendly products, you will not only have the peace of mind you are doing what you can. You will also be able to do what’s right for your family and the world at large. These are just five areas to improve your sustainability and lower your carbon footprint. The most important thing to do is make the change within yourself.
