Month: December 2020

bookmark_borderHere’s Why You Should Go Green in 2021!

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Hey earth muffins! Wow, I can’t believe that tomorrow starts a brand new year… 2020 has been a mix of things: bad, good, and downright unbelievable at times. As the new year begins, many people take time to set resolutions. I personally love to think about how I want to improve my life for the upcoming year. 😊 If you haven’t thought about your resolution(s) yet, here are all the reasons you should “go green” in 2021! This is the year to start your eco-journey if you haven’t, so make it your top resolution.

A picture of a neon sign that says Green

One person really can make a difference.

I’ve heard the excuse that “one person can’t make a difference” too many times to count. But, I’ve noticed that the people who say this aren’t actually trying to be sustainable… Which means they really don’t know for sure if one person can make a difference or not! As someone who actively tries to be green, I can definitely say that even my small steps make a difference when looked at collectively. Sure, it might not seem like making simple swaps to zero waste products would have an impact… But just think of all the disposable products I’ve avoided! My consumer behaviors have changed so much so that I barely shop new anymore; I’ve stopped eating meat… I don’t see how these things couldn’t have an impact, even if it is small! If you are one of the people who uses this excuse to rationalize your un-sustainable behaviors, I challenge you to make 2021 the start of being green! I look forward to hearing about how you make a difference on the planet!

I’ve saved SO much money by going low waste.

Think about it: you buy less, you buy secondhand, you buy only what you need, and you don’t buy single use/disposable products. While I might have to spend a bit more at the bulk bins or on a vegetarian meat substitute or a sustainable product (like Yay for Earth lotion), this is immaterial when I look at my money habits overall. Money buys happiness, and after starting my eco journey in 2018, I’ve been able to live my life exactly how I want to. I’m able to save for retirement and put money aside for trips when the pandemic is over; there is no reason why you shouldn’t explore the cost-savings of a low waste lifestyle as well! While the planet should probably be the reason why you go green, you can’t go wrong with saving money too.

I’ve never been healthier!

Throughout my eco journey I’ve learned a lot of scary things, including information about the chemicals, additives, and “other stuff” that is in mainstream packaged foods, makeup, beauty products, etc. I’ve pared down my bathroom items, reduced the amount of packaged food I eat, opted for natural birth control, and take extra care to only expose my body to as natural of products as possible. I think it is safe to say that sustainable companies care about your health and the planet, while Fortune 500 companies typically do not. My body feels better and my mind feels better that I am taking care of Mother Earth. 😍 I totally suggest you reap these benefits of going green in 2021 as well!

A picture of zero waste products on a bathroom counter

It gives you a better outlook on life.

I’ve always been an extremely positive person, but since 2018 I’ve seen myself grow into a new person. After learning about the earth and our consumption patterns, I have a more questioning mind especially when it comes to buying things. I’ve realized that our society has a lot of problems from inequalities to social norms to everything in between… And I’ve learned to do what I want instead of care about what others “expect” me to be/do because of them. Who cares if I don’t shave my legs because I’m a woman? Why does it matter if I have a (sometimes smelly) compost bin under my kitchen sink? Why care about what everyone thinks of you when you don’t like everyone yourself? I feel so good about myself because I am not only being sustainable for me, but for the future generations to come. Going on this eco journey has helped me realize what is important to my life… And it definitely has nothing to do with material goods!

YOU’RE SAVING THE PLANET.

You should go green in 2021 because you literally will play a role in saving our earth. By buying from sustainable companies you are ensuring workers and natural resources are treated fairly; starting a compost bin will save on food waste and reduce methane in the landfill; donating to charities will save the rainforest and/or support your local community – the benefits are endless! Sure, you will be able to save money, feel great, and see improvements in your life… But, going green is so much more than that. Make 2021 the year where you put Mother Earth first! 🌎❤️ I honestly can’t think of a better new year’s resolution.

Why you should go green in 2021 pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Celebrate a Zero Waste Christmas

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Hey earth muffins, happy Christmas Eve to all those who celebrate! 🎄 With Christmas less than a day away, I wanted to share this post to remind you all that the holidays can be sustainable! Especially this year, celebrations will be different. So, take that opportunity to reduce your impact on the planet too! I am lucky that my family (and my own household) has been staying safe in our respective bubbles. This allowed me to still go home for Christmas this year which I am extremely grateful for. Here are some of my top suggestions on how you can celebrate a zero waste Christmas this year! 😊

Wrap your gifts in reusables.

A picture of presents wrapped in reusable fabric gift wraps

You might have seen this picture on my Instagram, but I thought it was worth mentioning in a post too. Instead of using wrapping paper, use fabric wraps! I bought these at Lush and plan on using them every year for the same family member. However, an even better zero waste solution is to use fabrics you already have around the house. Or, hit up your local thrift shop as I always see some pretty adorable printed fabric at mine. Just thinking about all of the single use wrapping paper trash that is created on Christmas makes my head spin; reusables are always a better option! 🎁

Donate to your local community.

Many people won’t be able to celebrate Christmas with their families this year. Instead of large gatherings with lots of food, there might be a small dinner or even dinner for one. If you were supposed to host a large amount of people, donate the food you would have bought to families in need in your community. The pandemic hit everyone – share what you can in the giving season! If you aren’t sure how to donate food, then write a check instead. Most organizations allow you to donate online, which is a great contactless way to give.

Use actual dishes, silverware, and cloth napkins for Christmas dinner!

Like I mentioned in my Thanksgiving post this year, it is so much better for the planet to use reusables at the dinner table. Even if the number of guests only includes your household members, you can still make the dinner nice! I personally will be folding napkins into Christmas trees for our fancy dinner. It is actually super easy to do, and looks adorable! On top of the reusables, think about reducing the meats at your feast. Even if you just swap the meat in one dish for a protein replacement, you will have a better impact on Mother Earth already!

Attend virtual church celebrations.

I used to go to church every week before the pandemic hit. While the churches in my area are actually open (with limited capacity of course), I don’t feel the need to go and spread germs. Watching church livestreams or on YouTube is a great alternative. You can still dress up like you were actually going but then can enjoy the festivities from the comfort of your home. The true meaning of Christmas is important to remember, especially during this challenging time for many.

Make a plan for all those cookies and treats.

A picture of a gingerbread christmas cookie

I know my family always goes a little nuts when it comes to baking this time of year… But a zero waste Christmas requires you to have a good plan to reduce your food waste. I’ve written a whole post about how you can avoid throwing away excess food; definitely check it out for some ideas like sharing with your neighbors or even freezing leftovers!

Relax with your loved ones!

Christmas is a time to unwind and chill for a whole day. Who says you even have to change out of your pajamas? Spend some quality time with your family playing board games, drinking low waste hot cocoa, playing outside, or watching your favorite Christmas movies. My family always watches A Christmas Story each year, which is a great tradition that I look forward to. What will you be doing this year to celebrate the holiday?

How to celebrate a zero waste Christmas pinterest pin

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderMy Pela Case Review – A Compostable Phone Case?!

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Hey earth muffins! When I started my new job back in September, one of the perks of working for the company is that they take over your phone plan. Up until that point, I’d only had one smartphone; I got an iPhone 6 in high school and have had it ever since. Not only have I had the same phone, but I’d also been using the same phone case. Because the company I work for took over my plan, they forced me to upgrade to a new device. I took that opportunity to purchase a Pela phone case! I mentioned that this was on my sustainable products wishlist, and I couldn’t wait to give it a try! 😍 Now that I’ve had a few months to try it out, here is my Pela case review for you all!

A picture of a green, Pela phone case

What I Love About My Pela Case

Obviously I love that this product is super sustainable. When I started my eco journey back in 2018, this company was one of the first eco-brands I discovered. They make products centered around 4 pillars: community, creativity, consciousness, and courage. Over a BILLION plastic phone cases are sold each year – just think about all of that plastic going to the landfill… The Pela case is plastic-free, compostable, and even certified climate neutral. Pretty awesome for a phone case company!

It is also great that there is still a nice variety of styles and colors. You can get cases with wallet pouches or engraved with designs like bees or sea turtles. Depending on the phone case size, you can also get some printed designs that use Greenguard ink. If you are into crafting, their lastest design in a “stitch case” where you can literally cross stitch your own pattern onto your phone case! 😮 While I thought they all looked awesome, I decided to go for the plain, classic green case.

A picture of the Pela stitch phone case

The phone case feels exactly like any other soft case made of silicone. The case I had been using for years was hard plastic and literally had chunks missing from different falls. 😬 I personally like the feeling of a soft case better, as it feels so smooth when you are holding your phone! Plus, I think the case does a great job of protecting my phone, which is what you are looking for in a good phone case.

I love that you can see the bits and pieces of Flaxstic in the case as well. Flaxstic is what the case is made of, and you can see brightly colored pieces in the case – so cool! Every time I look at the cute specks of color it reminds me that my phone case can be composted and is excellent for the environment! 🌎❤️ Plus, it means your phone case is totally unique… Every single one will be different!

A close up photo of a pela phone case

What Could Be Improved On

For my only “negative”, I think it is important to mention that the price is much more expensive than the $8 Amazon case I had on my older phone all of those years. In total, I paid $41.23 for my case. I think this is comparable to many cases though; a lot of brands are in the range of $50-100 for a good case. As I mention in most of my reviews, you might be paying a tiny bit more. BUT, you are paying to support a company that truly cares about the environment! Sure, it isn’t the cheapest phone case on the planet, but at least it won’t have a huge impact on Mother Earth. 😊 Totally worth it in my opinion!

Pela phone case review pinterest pin

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderTips for Getting the BEST Secondhand Holiday Decor

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Hey earth muffins! With the holiday season just around the corner, there are decorations everywhere! I think decorating my apartment is one of my favorite things to do in December. From the tree to cookie plates for Santa, what’s not to love? 🎅 Believe it or not, you don’t have to purchase all of your holiday decor from big-box stores. If you are on an eco journey, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on Christmas decorations either. There are plenty of ways to acquire used decor; here are my top tips for getting the best secondhand holiday decor pieces!

A picture of the lights of a Christmas tree

Where to Get the Best Secondhand Pieces

The first place to look is the basements, attics, and storage units of friends and family! It seems like everyone has a small collection of holiday decor hidden somewhere. If they aren’t using it, they might gladly give it to you! The tree I have in my apartment was in my boyfriend’s mom’s storage unit, along with two others that she wasn’t putting up. She already had her favorite tree in the living room, so it was a no-brainer to let us borrow one! 🎄

If they are open where you live, try checking out thrift stores too. Again, people usually have way too much holiday decor; so, it often ends up at the thrift. Most of my local shops have sections dedicated to the next holiday, and I’ve been able to find some really great pieces! I haven’t been able to look for any Christmas decor this year due to Mister Corona, but I’d highly suggest it in a more “normal” year. 😊

A picture of an antique ornament

I’d also recommend combing through some antique stores. While the decorations may be priced a bit higher than a thrift store, you can probably find some very unique pieces! I personally really like finding old ornaments at antique stores. It is so cool to think about where it came from, and if there are any others like it out there. ❄️

Another great way to get secondhand decor is on Facebook Marketplace. Because it is already the holiday season, the choices might be limited… But, if you look in October (or even earlier) you should be able to find some cool things! I’ve written a whole post about how you can get the best deals on Marketplace, so I recommend checking that post out as well! You could also check out many other resale sites/apps: Ebay, Freecycle, OfferUp, etc.

A picture of the Christmas listings in Grand Rapids

Other Tips for Secondhand Holiday Decor

Secondhand decor is great because it reuses what has already been taken from the planet (in terms of resources). It also prevents things from heading to the landfill! While it is awesome, you could still buy new if the decor piece is sustainable. I personally recommend checking out Etsy to find handmade pieces. That way you can ensure the product is made with eco-friendly materials while supporting a small business. Plus, Etsy offsets the carbon from every order! 😍 I have been sifting through stocking listings recently, as I think hand knitted ones would look amazing in my apartment.

A picture of a knitted Christmas stocking

Lastly, don’t be afraid to make your own holiday decor! Try your hand in salt dough ornaments, make a gingerbread house from scratch, or make paper snowflakes from newspaper/used paper. The ideas are endless! Make sure you are following me on Pinterest, as I often pin my favorite holiday DIY projects. I hope these tips help you get the best secondhand holiday decor pieces – your home is going to look awesome for the holiday season! 🎄

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Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to NOT Recycle: Things to Avoid Doing

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Hey earth muffins! When I talk to people about sustainability, the topic of recycling is usually one of the first things to come up. “Oh, I do my part because I recycle”, “I think recycling is enough”…. I hate to break this to you all, but recycling shouldn’t be what you start with when beginning an eco journey. While there are positives to recycling, there are also a whole bunch of negatives (but that is a whole post for another time). Along with that, many people don’t actually recycle correctly; this means some things you think you are recycling might actually end up in the landfill. To help improve your recycling habits, I thought I would share a few tips on how to NOT recycle. ♻️

1. DON’T recycle everything and make sure you know your local recycling center’s rules!

A picture of the Kent County recycling guide

Some cities have amazing recycling plants in place, others have none. The rules of what can (and cannot) be recycled will be different depending on where you live. Usually a quick google search of “YOUR CITY recycling rules” will do the trick. Many places have easy to read guides and PDFs with plenty of visuals to help aid you in your recycling. Take time to read through it and understand what types of materials can be recycled in your city. This is extremely important when recycling plastic. If you are new to identifying what plastic type an object is, I suggest reading this recycling guide.

2. DON’T forget to wash out your containers! 😬

If you leave chunks of food in the metal can or plastic jar that you are trying to recycle, it will not be able to be recycled… And it could contaminate the whole batch of recycling as well! Best practice is to dump that extra food in your compost bin, rinse it out with water, let dry, and THEN place in the recycle bin.

3. DON’T bag your recyclables – keep things loose out there!

While trash is put into bags when taken to the landfill, it is important to keep recyclable items loose. Putting your recycling into bags makes it difficult to sort at the center; definitely how to not recycle for sure! Many recycling centers don’t even accept loose plastic bags because they have the tendency to get stuck in sorting machines. If you live in an apartment (like me) and have to bring your recycling down to a shared drop off container, I suggest finding a container that you can easily carry down to dump. I use a plastic secondhand crate that a friend gave me a long time ago – it works great! 🌎❤️ Having everything loose allows your center to do its job efficiently and effectively, which is all we can hope for when recycling!

4. DON’T recycle tiny pieces of aluminum foil.

A woman using aluminum foil before recycling it

The reason for no plastic bags is similar to throwing small amounts of aluminum foil into the recycle bin… It might not get caught in the machines, but it most likely will not get sorted correctly. If your center allows you to recycle aluminum foil, save your pieces and turn them into a ball. Once the ball is a large size, it can easily be recycled. 😍 Note that it is extremely important to make sure the foil is free of food/liquids when doing this as well!

5. DON’T get lazy with your recycling habits.

If you don’t know if an item can be recycled, don’t put it in the bin. Don’t put it in the bin even if you wishfully think it might be able to be recycled. If you don’t do the research on if it can be recycled, don’t put it in the bin!! Sure, recycling might take a few more minutes than just throwing it in the trash… But, recycling centers can only be as good as the people inputting the materials to be recycled. It is your responsibility to take ownership of the recycling bin in your house! 😊 If Google can’t help you figure out something you want to know, try calling your local recycling center – they will have the answer you need!

6. DON’T assume everyone else is recycling – do your part!

“One person can’t make a difference”. “My family recycles so I don’t need to”. I’ve heard so many excuses for not recycling. Even if 98% of your network is already recycling, you can still increase that percentage! There is no reason why you shouldn’t take the time to help the planet. Again, recycling has its flaws; but, it is still a great way to do your part! 😊

How to not recycle pinterest pin
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Love,
Jenna ♥

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