Sustainability.
Sustainability is important to us.
Here are ways that you can introduce more sustainability within your own household and start living the “green” life.
Bath
Reusable cotton makeup rounds for washing face
Use bar soap to avoid plastic bottles
Natural sponge/loofahs or sisal soap saver bags over plastic loofa
Stainless steel razor
Solid shampoo and condition – great for traveling!
Bath-Bamboo Q-tips
Earth-Friendly Deodorant
Clothes line to dry clothes outside
Peroxide
Clothes line to dry clothes outside
Look for green and blue Environmental Protection Agency Safer Choice label to avoid toxic cleaning products
Kitchen
Natural walnut sponges
Reusable “Ziploc” bags
Silicone bowl covers – great for onions, limes
Recycled glass
Unbleached coffee filters (NEVER k-cups)
Glass storage containers
Reusable straws – glass or metal
Kitchen-Composting
Egg cartons recycled
Compostable kitchen cleaning cloth
Cloth napkins
Recycle the top part of pizza box
Vinegar
Cleaning-compostable trash bags
Pack your freezer—consumes less energy when your freezer is full
Office
Use recycled paper for all printing
Recycle use ink cartridges when empty
Donate old cell phones to various organizations that can reuse them
Staff t-shirts – organic cotton and no toxic printing
Compost shredded paper
LED lights in new office
Compost office shredding
Recycled and re-use envelopes
Nest thermostat
Recycle! As much as 90% of workplace trash can be recycled
Lifestyle
Thrift store shopping – Chelsea’s favorite finds: pet supplies (carriers, cages, bowls) terra cotta pots for house plants, plastic storage containers, mason jars, utensils for taking to work
Farmers Markets and CSA, purchasing in season
Composting
Choose glass containers over plastic when possible (pasta sauce, beverages, olive oil)
Lupine Pet – dog collars and leash made from recycled plastic bottles
Use unfinished water bottles to water plants
Mineral based sunscreen
Know the recycling guidelines in your area to ensure you are not contaminating the system
Bagito produce shopping bags
Vinegar based weed killer
Book donations to a local church or library for their book sale
Donate to the Habitat for Humanity
Hand bag helper – It keeps your keys, glasses, go-to cards at your fingertips
Eat beans over beef. Legumes produce 34 times less greenhouse gas pollution. Or try eating vegetarian a few times a week!
It takes 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton t-shirt – so unless it’s an essential purchase, save some money and pass on buying new clothes
Invite birds, bees and butterflies to your yard – nearly 90% of all flowering species rely on pollinators
Do your children eat off polystyrene-foam trays at school? At your next PTA meeting advocate for paper boats or re-usable trays.
Start writing the businesses you frequent to start making environmentally changes, like ditching plastic straws or stop using plastic shopping bags
Visiting and making donations to our National or State Parks – these funds go to making sure the parks are around for future generations
Talk to your friends and family about how you are making changes to reduce your impact – you may inspire more people to reduce, reuse and recycle!