We understand that saving the earth probably isn’t on your to-do list. From making sure your kids are eating a heathy diet to getting everyone to rehearsals and practices on time, parenting can be time consuming. So going out of your way to make eco-friendly everyday choices often doesn’t make the priority list. So, we’re making it a little bit easier by giving you a cheat sheet!
Making deliberate choices to cut down on waste can seem like work, but remember you’re setting the example for your kids. And even if your only contribution for the day is opting for the recycling trash can for your empty Starbucks cup, that’s still worth celebrating. We’ve got easy home alternatives for you to start creating a more eco-friendly home. And in the long run, they’ll save you money too.
1. Reusable Water Bottles
You probably have multiple reusable water bottles floating around the house. Now would be a great time to ditch the plastic ones. In America, more than 38 billion water bottles enter our landfills every year.
2. Microfiber Wash Cloths
It’s so easy to go through a paper towel roll in less than a week. We use 13 billion pounds of paper towels each year. Replace paper towels in your home with microfiber wash cloths and you’ll get much more use out of them. Just use, throw in the wash, and use again! They’re great for drying dishes, cleaning any surface, drying hands—you name it.
3. Reusable Straws
You’ve probably seen the video or heard of the hazardous effects of plastic straws on sea turtles. And at this point, a lot of restaurants are making the switch to paper straws or no straws at all. Investing in a pack of reusable straws is an inexpensive and smart alternative to disposable plastic straws. And many packs with come with a container to make it easy to keep a reusable straw with you on the go. Do it for the turtles!
4. Beeswax Wraps
Keep your food fresh with beeswax wraps! They’re organic, reusable up to a year, and come in different sizes. Place it on a casserole dish, wrap up fruits and veggies, or use it for your favorite sandwich. More beeswax wraps, less plastic containers!
5. Reusable totes
If you’re anything like us, you probably have a few of these laying around the house or already in the car. They can be easy to forget until you’re in a check-out line, so getting a reusable tote that’s compact and can easily fit into your purse or pocket insures it’s around when you need it.
Cutting down on waste doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. It’s all about making conscious decisions and setting an example. For more parenting advice and child development information, visit our blog, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
