Eco-Friendly Living

Starting to live a “green” lifestyle doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking.  You don’t need to change every aspect of your personal life to make a better impact on the environment.  In fact, you’re more likely to stick with a sustainable and “green” lifestyle if you make slow changes that will gradually become an everyday habit.  Listed below are some simple tips to start on the path to living eco-friendlier. 

1. Recycle

This is one of the simplest tips to follow.  Most towns have some type of recycling curbside service available to you similar to your waste management service.  Start throwing recyclable products into a recycling bin instead of the trash can.

2. Use Less Paper

Technology has given us the freedom to go paperless with your bills, grocery lists, notes, etc.  Take advantage of the technology at your fingertips and forego the paper whenever you can.  Paper makes up a staggering amount of solid waste in our dumps, so make sure you reuse or recycle the paper you do need- like gift bags and tissue paper!

3. Use Reusable Bags

Buy a few reusable bags to cut down on the plastic bags given out at stores.  It may cost a little bit more upfront, but they will last far longer than a plastic bag, are more durable, and are generally more useful.  We at Simply Organic Bamboo are including a reusable bag with each sheet purchase as an easy way to help you get started using them.  The plastic bags you do obtain should be recycled or reused.  Those small changes make big impacts!

4. Stop Buying Bottled Water

Water bottles add up to more than a million tons of plastic waste each year.  Buy a water filter if you don’t like the taste of your tap water.  For the convenience of travel, use reusable BPA free water bottles.

5. Buy LED Lightbulbs

As your light bulbs go out and need to be replaced, purchase more eco-friendly brands.  They will typically last longer and be more energy efficient, saving you money over time.  Another simple lightbulb tip is to turn them off when you’re not actively using them!

6. Ditch the Paper Towels

Whether cleaning up a mess or cleaning your home, use rags instead of paper towels.  It will cut down the amount of trash you collect and can be washed and reused over and over again.  This also goes for napkins.  Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.  Not only will you save money and be eco-friendlier, but you’ll also achieve a more stylish home dining experience. 

7. Borrow or Buy Secondhand

There are plenty of items out there that you are better off borrowing or using secondhand.  When you borrow or buy pre-loved items, you’re reducing the number of things that end up in a landfill.  Rent your movies, borrow books from the library, or share tools between family and friends.  

8. Conserve Water

There is a lot of energy required to get your water into your home from local water sources and filters.  Conserving water is a simple way to make a big impact.  Take shorter showers and replace your showerhead with a low flow one.  Don’t let the faucet run the entire time you brush your teeth or wash dishes.  When it comes time to buy new appliances, replace them with high efficiency, water saving ones.  Don’t use sprinklers; if you want to water your lawn, collect rain in a rain barrel to use. 

9. Fix It

When something breaks, don’t let your first reaction be chucking it into a dumpster and buying a new one.  Take the time to try and fix things.  The internet provides countless videos and tutorials on how to fix a variety of problems.  If it’s beyond your knowledge or time, consider hiring a local handyman to take a look at it. 

10. Buy Local, Natural, and Organic

Look to farmer markets for your produce; you’re supporting your local farmers, cutting down on pesticide usage, and not forcing cross country and continent delivery of food.  Buy green cleaning products for your home.  There are plenty of eco-friendly cleaning products on the market that are high quality, clean-smelling, and still get the job done!  Stop purchasing synthetic fabrics which are made chemically, and opt for natural fabrics that come from plants like our Simply Organic Bamboo bedding. 

Being more environmentally friendly doesn’t need to be a hassle.  You don’t need to be harvesting all of your own produce or living without modern plumbing to make a positive impact on the earth.  Taking the initiative to make some simple changes here and there will add up to big changes in the long run! 

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