I’m happy to share with you an incredibly helpful 19-step guide to eco friendly living. This guide is useful for anyone looking to live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle but is especially doable for busy, working moms.
You hear it a lot: “go green!” “Save the planet!” “There is no planet B!” But what does eco friendly living actually mean? How do you live an eco friendly lifestyle? In today’s world, is it even possible?
Why do I say this guide to eco friendly guide is even doable for busy, working moms? Because I am one! During the weekday I work as an environmental educator, teaching about water quality in my community. In my free time, I blog about eco friendly living and working mom tips. I do all this with a very active toddler and a baby on the way.
Why am I telling you this? I’m mentioning this because I want to provide context for this guide. I do not believe you have to do all the things to be considered eco friendly. What I do believe is if everyone did what they could to help the environment, and did it consistently, we’d all see positive changes to our environment.
I hope you love this incredibly helpful guide all about eco friendly living!
Why is eco friendly living important?
Being eco-conscious is important because, well, we need the Earth to live.
Prior to reading the book Silent Spring, I never really thought about the fact that our actions have an impact on the environment. Think about it, we have a beautiful planet that provides us with air, water, food and is just the right distance from the sun to keep us alive. How incredible is that!
Our job is simple, enjoy the beautiful, natural benefits for the Earth while leaving enough for people in the future.
Is eco-conscious living easy?
Being eco-conscious means living with the environment in mind. In order to live a more eco-conscious lifestyle, you’ll have to disrupt some of the conventional ways you think about your life and the world.
Most of our everyday lives are centered around convenience. This is why it may seem difficult to start living a more eco-conscious lifestyle, but taking small steps, one day at a time can help you create a life with less impact on the Earth.
Always keep in mind, you won’t be perfect and we can’t do everything, but we can do something!
How do you start eco-conscious living?
1.) Commit to starting slow
Starting slow is my number one strategy for successful eco-conscious living. Always remember, there is no rush and no timeline as to when you need to have made the appropriate swaps and lifestyle switches to decrease your impact on the environment.
It has taken me years to get to where I am today and I still have improvements I want to make!
Instead of trying to do everything at once, start slow. Choose one of the steps below, and start there! Continue working on it until it becomes a habit and then add on.
2.) Cut back on buying disposable or single-use items
Once you’ve made a commitment to eco-conscious living, cut back on buying disposable or single-use items.
Single-use items are also called disposable items. They are items that are most often used one time before they are thrown away. Usually, it takes large amounts of natural resources to create the product and have it transported to you but is only used for a short period of time before being thrown away.
Once thrown away, it can take hundreds or thousands of years for these items to break down or biodegrade.
Examples of single-use items to cut back on include:
- Aluminum foil/plastic wrap
- Cotton swabs/ Cotton pads
- Disposable drink cups/containers
- Single-use face masks
- Disposable gloves
- Dryer sheets
- Paper towels
- Paper plates and bowls
- Plastic bags
- Single-use plastic utensils
- Plastic straws
- Takeout containers
- To-go water/drinks (in cups or plastic bottles)
Can you easily eliminate any of these from your current lifestyle?
3.) Unplug
This seems simple and obvious, right? But how many of us actually do this?
When you leave things plugged in that are not currently in use it is called Vampire Power. This Vampire Power can be sucking up 10% of your electricity bill a month!
Here are some items you can consider unplugging when not in use to save energy:
- Chargers
- Coffee maker
- Computers and computer monitors
- DVD players
- Free-standing lights
- Game systems
- Small appliances
- Sound systems
- Vacuum cleaner
4.) Turn down your hot water heater
It costs $0 to turn down the temperature on your water heater. This simple task can save you money on your energy bill and move you closer toward your goal of eco-conscious living.
It is suggested water heater temperatures be set to 120 degrees. Water heaters set at 140 degrees or more can waste up to $400 a year.
5.) Wash your laundry on cold
An estimated 75 to 90 percent of all the energy your washer uses goes to warming up the water, so switching to colder water can lower your gas or electric bill.
As often as possible, wash your clothing on cold. This can also help you preserve your clothes longer and reduce wrinkles in your clothing.
6.) Start meal planning
Meal planning is an excellent step on your eco-conscious living journey. Why? Meal planning helps you reduce food waste.
Food waste is one of the largest items found in landfills. If you are looking to incorporate eco-conscious living, it is extremely important to try to reduce your food waste.
Planning out your meals helps you know exactly how much you need to buy and keeps you from having too many leftovers or throwing away food that has gone bad.
7.) Reduce your meat consumption
Reducing your meat consumption is one of the single largest ways to decrease your impact on the environment.
While going completely plant-based is an option, it isn’t the only option. You can reduce your meat consumption by following a flexitarian diet.
A flexitarian is a person who occasionally eats meat. This means the person mostly eats a vegetarian or plant-based diet but may have animal products, on occasion.
Flexitarian diets are ideal for someone who may not be ready to completely give up all animal products or wants to slowly begin their journey to a more plant-based diet. It is flexible and an eco-friendly alternative to our traditional meat-packed diets.
8.) Research before you buy
Greenwashing occurs when companies misleadingly market products to seem more environmentally conscious.
Examples of greenwashing include:
“No added hormones” – hormones are regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are legally not allowed in raising hogs or poultry. When companies advertise their meats as “no added hormones” they are making a claim as if they are being environmentally conscious by not adding hormones, but in actuality, they are following the law.
“Natural” – did you know the FDA has not formally created a definition for the term natural? There is also no process of verification for this term.
Food labeling and nutrition are regulated by the federal government to keep people informed and safe. Since the term “natural” does not have a formal definition, these foods may still use pesticides, high fructose corn syrup, and GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
Use of earth tones such as brown and green – when you see these colors you tend to think “eco-friendly”, “healthy”, “natural”, “from the earth”. Companies use these associations to subtly attract customers into thinking their products are better for them or better for the environment. They’re usually not.
Recycling symbols – Some companies add recycling symbols to products that cannot actually be recycled in the curbside bin. In addition, a recycling symbol does not make a product good for you or the environment.
Fancy claims – Ask yourself what the company is really claiming. Sometimes you will see claims like “made better” or “made simply”. These don’t actually mean anything. This product is made better than what? Simply made doesn’t mean it’s made in an eco-conscious way.
Here’s the bottom line here: Do your research before you buy products. Look past the beautiful pictures and packings and understand what they’re really claiming. This takes research, time, and practice.
9.) Buy less
We live in a world of stuff. In fact, we love stuff. There are more storage units in the United States than there are McDonald’s, and there are A LOT of Mcdonald’s in the US.
Remember the saying “reduce, reuse, recycle”. We first want to reduce. If we don’t buy those items in the first place, there is no need to reuse or recycle it. If we buy less, than less has to be produced. This means a lowering our environmental impact and reducing how many natural resources have to be used to create these items.
The only thing better than buying sustainable products is reducing how much you buy in the first place.
10.) Avoid plastic
Plastic is plaguing our planet. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
Plastic is in so many items we use every day from our bedsheets and clothing to our food packaging and toothpaste. While some of it may be hard to avoid, we should work to avoid plastic whenever we can.
Plastic waste usually ends up in the landfill or local waterways. Studies have found the average person is ingesting a credit card’s weight in plastic every week.
Ways to avoid plastic:
- Bring your own bags and containers
- Avoid buying plastic water bottles
- Buy in bulk, if possible
- Use loose-leaf tea with a tea infuser, instead of tea bags
- Avoid Keurig pods
- Buy items in glass or aluminum when possible
- Avoid single-use items such as disposable utensils and straws
11.) DIY cleaning products
Making your own cleaning products helps to keep harsh chemicals from going down the drain and ultimately into our waterways. In addition, the chemicals found in some of our most beloved cleaning products may be hazardous to our health.
A more eco-conscious solution to traditional cleaning products are DIY cleaning products. Use items such as vinegar, baking soda, lemons, oranges, and essential oils to make cleaning products that are better for your health and the planet.
12.) Thrift
Buying second-hand is not only fun, it’s amazing for the environment. Remember the “reduce, reuse, recycle” we talked about earlier. This is reusing!
Instead of buying items made of virgin materials, reuse items that have already been created. These pre-loved items are often in great condition and can be easily incorporated into your eco-conscious lifestyle.
Thrifting places to try:
- Goodwill
- Platos Closet
- Once Upon a Child
- Local second-hand stores
- Poshmark
- ThredUP
13.) Switch to reusables
Reusable items are made to be used over and over again. This is in direct contrast to single-use items which are used once before being discarded.
Even if a single-use item is recyclable – like a 20 oz. soda bottle, using a reusable bottle would still be better for the environment.
To understand why, think about the amount of raw materials it takes to create an item. Plastic is created from oil, glass is created from sand, and aluminum is created from…aluminum. These materials must be taken from the Earth and processed to create your item. Single-use items are then used for minutes before being discarded.
Alternatively, reusable items can be used over long periods of time reducing the number of materials need to create more and reducing waste from continuously buying items. This will save you time, money, and most importantly, save the environment.
Reusable items to invest in:
- Water bottle
- Straws
- Coffee filter
- Coffee travel cup
- Plastic storage bags
- Reusable bags
- Mesh produce bags
- Reusable masks
- Refillable deodorant
- Tea towels
- Dryer balls
- Cloth diapers
14.) Buy items in glass over plastic
When possible, purchase items in class instead of plastic.
Why?
- Plastic contains harmful chemicals that can leach into your food
- Only 8.7% of plastic is recycled
- Glass is 100% recyclable
- Glass is easier to reuse
15.) Switch to sustainable products
Remember, it is always better to reduce and reuse. Buy sustainable products that are better for the environment.
Choose products that are made ethically and from a source that can be easily created and produced without destroying the environment.
Currently, I am getting into sustainable fashion. My favorite sustainable fashion brand is Poplinen. Poplinen makes ethical, sustainable, size-inclusive women’s clothing in the United States. Learn more about choosing sustainable clothing here!
Remember to do your research to ensure you avoid greenwashing.
16.) Add plants to your space
Plants help clean the air. Not to mention plants completely beautify your space.
Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Humans, on the other hand, take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Sounds like a mutually beneficial relationship to me!
If you’ve ever watched the Lorax or Bee Movie, you already know we need plants just as much as plants need us!
17.) Compost
I’ve written an entire blog post about compost! You can read it here.
Compost is made up of materials broken down to create a rich, fertile soil. Composting is a great way to repurpose leftover kitchen scraps!
If you are able, collect your kitchen scraps in and add then to your composting bin. Add these veggie scraps along with egg shells, coffee, leaves, boxes, grass clippings, etc.
When kitchen scraps are added to the landfill they create a harmful gas called methane. Methane is a major greenhouse gas contributor. Composting eliminates additional release of methane into the atmosphere.
18.) Recycle appropriately
Recycling is a “go-to” for many. Recycling makes us feel good and seemingly helps the environment.
In reality, recycling in the United States is in trouble. Most of our recycling is exported to China. However, China has recently increased its restrictions on what they will accept. They are not only requiring cleaner recyclables, but they are also rejecting recyclables that are not meeting standards.
When we recycle the wrong materials or dirty materials, we contaminate the recyclables. Contaminated materials are sent back to the United States and usually sent to the landfill.
How to be a better recycler:
- Don’t wishfully recycle. Just because you want it to be recycled, doesn’t mean it can be.
- If you’re not sure if something can be recycled, research
- Check with your locality for a list of what can be recycled.
- Companies may place a recycling symbol on an item (greenwashing!), but this does not mean it is recyclable where you live
- Some items may not be recycled in the curbside bin but can be recycled at local grocery stores (like plastic bags) or through Terracycle.
- Remember, most plastic is not accepted in your curbside bin.
19.) Accept that mistakes will happen
You have to ditch the idea of perfectionism. While you’re at it, release yourself from comparisons and/or superiority.
In order to make your journey to eco friendly living long-lasting and sustainable, you have to accept that you will not be perfect and what works for you may not work for someone else.
If we’re being honest, having the ability to live an eco friendly lifestyle is a privilege. The resources and access to materials for eco-friendly living is sometimes costly and not available to everyone.
It is most important to do what you can and decrease your impact however you can – no matter how big or small.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to help you get started with eco friendly living.
What steps are you taking to begin your eco friendly living journey? How are you practicing eco friendly living? Remember to check the links throughout the blog posts for products to help you along your journey!
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Unplug is definitely something I am doing and trying to purchase items that have more than one use
Lavone,
Thank you so much for reading my eco-conscious living guide! It is so easy to forget how something as simple as unplugging can benefit us! Reducing our use of single-use items is so important for an eco-conscious journey. Sounds like you’re off to a great start!
This is such a great post! I love a simple, approachable list that makes switching to better options more attainable. Thank you for sharing this! 💕 Can’t wait to start checking things off this list.
Thank you so much for reading this eco-conscious living guide! I’m excited to hear you’re taking some next steps and starting to make sustainable switches!