Hey, Ambitious Fam! Today is the start of Earth Week here on the blog and on Instagram where I will be sharing video content. Over the next few days, I will be sharing a few product reviews and sustainability resources. While I have been passionate about recycling since I was a child (just ask my mom haha), I started sharing more about my sustainability journey on the blog in 2018 (check out this page to see all the posts in one place!). Since then, I have learned so much about the value of reducing consumption and how small swaps can help you lead a more sustainable life. My sustainability philosophy is simple: a bunch of people making little swaps or eco-friendly decisions can make a large impact on the health of the earth. I believe in imperfect sustainability as a way to get more people involved without the pressure of a completely zero waste lifestyle. While this is my philosophy, I understand that the eco-crisis is much larger than any one individual (and that it’s huge corporations that have the largest impact). However, that won’t stop me from doing my part and hopefully encouraging others to do the same.
All of this being said, 2020 and the pandemic forced me to shift some of my sustainable practices. Dining in over carry out to reduce waste was no longer an option. Many places suspended the option to use your own cup and even reusable bags at one point. While I was sad to see some of my plastic consumption increase, I was happy that I still had some other measures in place and that the Earth seemed to be benefiting from a reduction of pollution.
To kick off Earth Week, let’s look back at a few easy eco-friendly swaps and sustainable practices that I have shared in past blog posts to see whether I still use them/would still recommend them to others who are looking to make small changes in their everyday life.
Imperfect Produce (Foods)
I started my account with Imperfect Foods (formally known as Imperfect Produce) in January of 2019 as a way to support local farmers and reduce food waste. The subscription service allows for you to choose from a selection of organic and non-organic produce, pantry items, and has even expanded to dairy and meat options at discounted rates. Imperfect Foods has also grown to include more cities across the country. I still occasionally receive a box from them, but not as frequently as a couple of years ago. There were a few weeks this year where I opted to do a produce box pick-up directly from a local farm. However, they were a great service to have available during the pandemic and I plan to continue utilizing it! Check out the original post for more information or click this link for a $20 discount on your first box!
Composting
In 2019, I shared a composting for beginners post that included 3 tips that I learned after composting for about a year. Happy to report that I am still composting using the same methods shared in the post! While someday I hope to have my own compost bin running to sustain my future garden, for now, I simply freeze my food scraps and drop them off at a collection site. Check out the post for more details about the benefits and how you can get started composting (even in a small space).
Eco-Friendly Period Solutions
2019 was also the year that I learned more about clean period options. I tried period panties and a menstrual cup for the first time to see if they were something that I could incorporate into my lifestyle. While I still encourage the use of clean and eco-friendly period products, I am no longer using them personally. If you have read my IUD series on the blog, then you may recall that using the contraceptive has resulted in the cessation of my period. In other words, the only reason that I am no longer using sustainable period products is that I no longer have the need for them. Getting an IUD may have unknowingly become an eco-friendly period solution in itself!
Plant-Based Dish Sponge
One of the eco-friendly swaps that I made in 2020 was switching to a plant-based dish sponge. The Casabella Kind (formerly Twist) dish sponges from Target are 100% plant-based and therefore compostable! While I still regularly use these sponges to wash my dishes (and a separate sponge for plant maintenance), this is one of the swaps that I think you can skip IF you don’t currently use a sponge. A reusable/washable dishcloth also works great as a handwashing option.
Dropps Laundry Detergent
In 2020, I also made the switch to Dropps as a plastic-free laundry solution. Dropps is a company that provides a variety of eco-friendly solutions for your laundry and kitchen needs. I still use their sensitive-skin laundry pods and they have made my laundry process a lot easier, mostly because they are more portable than carrying around the plastic bottles of liquid detergent. For more information about Dropps laundry detergent, check out the original post (here) or click this link for a discount!
Overall, the sustainable swaps that I have shared on the blog are still in practice today! Have you made any of the switches that I shared in this post?