As we go about our daily lives at home, it can slip our minds to think of how the products we use affect the environment. Larger installations at home, such as solar panels, are often what people think of when the suggestion is made to make your home greener. While those grander solutions are great, you can still make small changes here and there that are inexpensive and require little effort. We want to show you just how easy it can be to be more eco-friendly with very simple switches that you can implement in your home. The more homes that are planet-conscious, the bigger the positive impact.
Don’t Get Plastic Cutlery With Your Takeout Order
If you’re ordering in, let the restaurant know that you don’t want plastic forks or spoons, and get used to digging into your meal at home with your own cutlery. Your cutlery is sitting in the drawer, so why not? This simple switch will mean just the tiniest bit more effort of washing up but will reduce the distribution of an incredible amount of unneeded disposable cutlery.
Opt For Bare Soaps
Many hand soaps come in pumps and unnecessary packaging. Considering that soap (and many other bathroom products) are used daily, soap bottles pile up in no time. Instead, get your supplies in bars from skincare stores that are cruelty-free and use less packaging. These days you can even get shampoo and conditioner in bars. You can also take the opportunity to support a local business who produce handmade soaps, plus, without the packaging, you can smell them before you buy!
Silicone Mats Instead Of Baking Paper
If you love to bake cookies and cakes, you’ll know how easy it is to go through a roll of baking paper. Instead of the constant waste, grab a silicone mat for your oven. They don’t need to be greased and they’re non-stick, so it won’t mess with your cooking. Best of all, you can use it time and time again!
Biodegradable Rubbish Bags
Plastic is one of the biggest culprits in harming the environment. Instead of going through a plastic rubbish bag each day, opt for a biodegradable one that will break down rather than end up in the ocean or landfill. Not only can you use them around the house, in kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, you can also take them on walks with your dog and use them as waste bags.
Switch Your Shower Head
You might not even know it, but by having your daily shower you could be wasting litres and litres of water more than necessary. By simply switching your shower head, you can still have a relaxing shower with comfortable water pressure and simultaneously cut water consumption by a huge amount. You can also use a shower timer to reduce water usage.
Reusable Water Bottles & Coffee Cups
Instead of buying a bulk of plastic water bottles for the household, buy a stainless-steel water bottle for each family member and refill them each day. The same goes for coffee; if you’re going to a café, pack a reusable coffee cup or thermos in your bag and take it with you. When you do it once, you’ll form a habit and eventually do it all the time. If you buy a coffee every workday, that’s 20 single-use cups and lids that you’re saving from going to waste.