The EcoLife Message
What can you do?
1. Shorten your shopping list
Sometimes single-use items can be convenient, but they create a lot of unnecessary waste. Buy a reusable water bottle, reusable food containers, cloth napkins, reusable grocery bags… reuse wherever you can! Not only will you produce less waste, you’ll save money too.
2. Develop eco-friendly habits
It might sound daunting, but environmentally conscious habits can be as easy as turning the lights off. Try taking short showers, using leftovers, washing clothes with cold water, turning the lights off when you don’t need them, and choosing walking, biking, or public transit for reasonable distances. These little habits add up!
3. Be aware of greenwashing
Products that are labeled “eco-friendly” aren’t always better. If you’ve got something that works and can be reused many times, there’s often no need to buy a new “green” version.
4. Know how to recycle
Recycling correctly can make a big difference, but not everything belongs in the recycling bin. Be sure to learn your local recycling rules so you know what materials can actually be recycled in your area. Rinse out food containers, avoid mixing trash with recyclables, and try to reduce waste before recycling. If you’re really unsure, it’s usually better to throw it in the trash.
Eco Swap Library
Before buying anything new, use what you already have first. When something wears out or you genuinely need a replacement, these categories can help you find lower-waste swaps.
Kitchen
- Reusable food containers
- Cloth napkins
- Reusable grocery bags
- Beeswax wraps or silicone lids
- EarthHero kitchen swaps
Bathroom
- Bar soap instead of plastic bottles
- Refillable shampoo or conditioner
- Bamboo toothbrushes
- Reusable cotton rounds
- Package Free bath swaps
School & Daily Life
- Reusable water bottle
- Secondhand supplies when possible
- Repair before replacing
- Rechargeable batteries
- TerraCycle recycling programs