12 Earth Day Tips for Living a Greener Lifestyle

With Earth Day coming up, living a greener lifestyle is top of mind. We’re all pretty lucky because innovators and creators have made it easy to transition into a more eco-friendly lifestyle. There are so many great sustainable products available and by making small changes around your home, you can save money while feeling good. 

For those of you who are looking for some simple tips to bring home this Earth Month, we’ve got you covered.

12 tips on living a greener lifestyle. 

1. Reduce the plastic and general waste in your home. 

The easiest area to start is in the kitchen. Stop using throw away dishcloths and plastic sponges. There are SO many better alternatives out there. Washcloths, swedish dishcloths, eco-friendly sponges, and the list goes on! 

You can and should also STOP using plastic wrap and sandwich bags in your kitchen. Beeswax wraps are a well-known alternative and they work (and smell) amazing. They keep your food fresher for longer as well because they allow your food to breathe. Hence our motto: seal your food sweetly AND sustainably. 

Another great way to reduce plastic in your home is by refilling your liquids! You can refill many items such as:
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hand wash
• Dishwashing liquid
• Cleaning products
• And the list goes on!

2. TURN OFF your lights!

We know you’ve heard this one before but it is so simple and just doesn’t get done enough. Turn off your lights when you aren’t in the room! You can enjoy the natural light once in a while, too. 

Another tip: use energy-efficient LED lights and high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment. You’ll save money and help reduce your footprint. 

3. Choose energy-efficient appliances

We’re not saying that you should go out and buy all new appliances, but if you’re in need of a new stove, for example, now is the time to consider an energy-efficient option. It will cost you more now but save you later on when it comes to your monthly bills.

4. Start a garden

Growing a garden is such a wonderful feeling. It is so satisfying to cook your freshly picked vegetables. It can become a really great learning tool as well if you have children. 

Don’t have a yard? No problem! Join a community garden or grow some vegetables or herbs indoors.

By doing this, you’ll be reducing food waste and probably a lot of packaging waste as well.
 

5. Take shorter showers 

Using less water will help the earth in a BIG way so don’t feel like something as “small” as this won’t make an impact. Try taking a slightly shorter shower tomorrow and see how it feels. 

Tip: You can make it fun and challenge yourself by taking a shower to the same playlist each day to see if you can beat your time!

Other ways to use less water: 
• Use the dishwasher less often (or wait until it is full)
• Rinse some items by hand when possible
• Try watering your grass less often

6. Choose fruits and vegetables that are in season

Did you know that buying groceries in season is actually cheaper?! It is also better for you AND for the environment. Why not visit the local farmers’ market on the weekend? It makes for a nice outing and it also means that your food takes a lot less energy to transport (smaller carbon footprint). Local and in-season vegetables and fruits are a beautiful thing. 

7. Think about your cleaning products!

The amount of TOXIC chemical products that we allow into our homes is unsettling…there is a myth that the stronger the smell, the cleaner it is. That couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Believe it or not, there are non-toxic cleaners out there and they are effective, affordable and SAFE for humans and pets.

Get the toxins out of your air! I bet you’ll feel better once you do. 

8. Choose paperless billing

Paperless billing is better all around. It’s easier for you and for the person giving you the bill. Plus it’s better for the environment. Reduce your paper waste and have your bills emailed to you. 

Side note: you’ll love how quickly the clutter goes away when you don’t have bills lying around everywhere! If they are in your email, it’s easier to sort and you’ll never lose them. 

9. Walk or bike instead of drive when possible

It’s Springtime, so get out and enjoy the sunshine with a nice walk or bike whenever you can. The combination of fresh air and exercise is great for your mind and you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint at the same time.

10. Recycle, recycle, RECYCLE

Please recycle! It’s easy to be lazy and just throw everything in the garbage but take the two extra minutes to rinse out a bottle or walk to the recycling bin. Recycling does make a difference and we urge you to make an effort! 

11. Take reusable water bottles and bags with you

Throw-away plastic bottles do not break down or decompose. They actually release toxic chemicals into the air and can kill wildlife. Do yourself, the planet and the animals a big favour and invest in some stylish reusable water bottles! You can take them everywhere. 

And if you want to go a step further, you can invest in reusable bags as well. You can use reusable bags for shopping and even produce bags for your fruits and vegetables!

12. Avoid disposable products

Whenever possible, you should avoid using disposable products such as paper and plastic plates, plastic utensils, napkins, etc. You can use cloth napkins, cloth rags, rechargeable batteries, refillable coffee cups, etc. And you can even get yourself dishes from a thrift store for parties! All it takes is a bit of planning. 

We hope you found these tips helpful and we wish you luck on your journey to becoming a more sustainable household! If you have any questions or if you’re looking for quality, eco-friendly products, check out our store or contact us and we’ll be happy to chat sustainability with you. 

Let’s work together to keep our earth happy!

Live simply. Live sustainably.