Category: Zero Waste

bookmark_borderEco-Friendly Easter Gifts: What to Put in Your Baskets!

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Hey earth muffins! It is crazy to think that Easter is only ten days away. Lent has gone by so fast! I hope everyone is looking forward to spending time with family and friends to celebrate the holiday; I know I definitely am. Most people make some sort of Easter basket… Which can totally be sustainable! 🌎 ❤️Here are my top suggestions for eco-friendly Easter gifts to give this year!

Go with secondhand baskets.

Most of the “Easter” baskets at the store are flimsy and cheaply made these days. Instead, check out the options at your local thrift stores to find baskets of all shapes and colors. You can always find a ton of basket choices secondhand, which makes it easy to avoid those crappy ones elsewhere.

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bookmark_borderThe Best DIY All Purpose Cleaner for Spring Cleaning

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Hey earth muffins! I love spring for multiple reasons: the end of winter, flowers blooming, and (yes) even spring cleaning. There is something about decluttering and sorting the house that clears my mind and makes me feel more at ease at home. Does anyone agree with me?? While cleaning isn’t the most enjoyable activity, the reward after is always worth it. Plus, you can stay sustainable and zero waste as you clean too! Today I will be sharing my favorite DIY all purpose cleaner with you all – let’s jump right into it!

Why Should You Make Your Own All Purpose Cleaner?

Let’s face it – there is an endless array of cleaners at the store. It is honestly so overwhelming (and smelly) in the cleaning supplies aisle! Along with stressing your brain out with too many options, most cleaners are full of nasty chemicals that aren’t great for you. While they are supposed to keep your house clean, do you really want to breathe in all those toxins when there are other more natural options?? On top of this, many come in plastic bottles too which means they are bad for the environment and typically end up in the landfill. So instead of buying cleaners this spring, I suggest making your own! This is a great way to zero waste your cleaning supplies and keep your household chemical-free.

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bookmark_border5 Eco-Friendly Dollar Tree Products To Buy This Month

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Hey earth muffins! Today I’m coming at you with another post about eco-friendly products that can be purchased at not-so-eco-friendly stores! 😊 I’ve featured sustainable Target products and eco finds at Walmart, but I thought it would be fun to challenge myself to find eco-friendly Dollar Tree swaps. Yes, that’s right – the dollar store. Target has a nice selection of low waste products and even Walmart has some options… But can a store that survives off producing and selling cheaply made items have “sustainable” options? Let’s jump right in and find out!

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bookmark_borderThe Benefits of Wool Dryer Balls – Do They Actually Work??

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Hey earth muffins! I can’t believe April is almost here 🌷 The weather has been getting warmer and my busy season at work is slowly coming to a close… I am definitey excited to have some free time again! In today’s post, I want to talk about laundry. While not glamorous or exciting, it is a necessary chore that I seem to be doing constantly. To make your laundry routine more eco-friendly, I suggest using wool dryer balls. Do they actually work? 🤔 Keep reading to find out!

What is Great About Wool Dryer Balls

There are plenty of ways to zero waste laundry in your house. This is one of the easiest! Instead of using single-use dryer sheets, buy yourself a set of wool dryer balls instead. They are reusable over multiple years, which beats tossing dryer sheets in the trash after every load of laundry. What a win for the planet!

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bookmark_borderHow to Avoid Damaged Pieces When Thrifting: What to Look For Before You Buy!

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Hey earth muffins! Shopping secondhand is one of my favorite ways to save the planet. Instead of buying new, it is fun to search for treasures among all the used options. From thrift stores to Facebook Marketplace, there are endless possibilities! While I’ve shared my top thrifting tips in the past, I thought it would be helpful to share how I avoid damaged pieces when shopping secondhand. Nothing is worse than finding a broken piece or hole once you get the item home. Avoid the damaged items by following these tips:

Give the item a complete inspection before purchase.

It is obviously important to inspect all the pieces in your cart/basket before checkout. I typically save this for the very end, but you could also inspect each item before it makes the cut into your “to buy” pile. Depending on how thorough your inspection is, you can either do it right there in the aisle or find a quiet corner of the store instead. Make sure you check all angles and sides!

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bookmark_borderHow to Throw a Zero Waste Party – Birthday Edition!

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Hey earth muffins! My boyfriend’s 25th birthday is just around the corner, so I thought it would be fun to write a themed birthday post today. 😍 I wrote a whole post about how to celebrate a zero waste birthday last year; but, I wanted to focus on a zero waste party today. Parties are super fun and a great way to celebrate your loved one – and they can definitely be eco-friendly too! Here are my top tips for throwing the coolest zero waste party this year!

1. Use e-invitations

As a kid, I remember getting invitations in the mail for birthday parties. While I personally love getting something special in the mail, you don’t have to use paper invitations anymore. Instead, try electronic alternatives! There are tons of great websites that allow you to send invites. If you don’t want to be limited by their designs, use sites like Canva to create your own and email it out to friends. You could also start a group on Facebook that invites everyone. This is a great way to mass send all the details for the party! Paper invites are usually thrown in the trash, so definitely choose electronic instead.

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bookmark_borderMy Tips to Reduce Food Waste in the Kitchen!

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Hey earth muffins! One of the easiest ways to reduce your impact on the planet is to be mindful of the waste you create in the kitchen. Yes, that’s right – I’m talking about food waste today! Why is this a great place to start?? Because it can lead to HUGE results. Like I mentioned in my how to reduce food waste post, one third of the food produced in the world is wasted… Which is such a waste! I absolutely love to cook, so I’ve gotten into some great habits since starting my eco journey. Hopefully these help you all reduce food waste in the kitchen as well!

~Cook the right portion sizes.

If you want to save time, money, AND the planet, start being more mindful about portion size. I used to prepare way too much food when I cooked. I’m sure you all are guilty of just “making the whole box of pasta” at times too. Doing this is often easier in the moment because you think you will eat it later… But a ton of leftovers isn’t the best idea. To be more eco-friendly, I recommend only preparing what you know you (and your family) will eat. I’m not saying serve smaller portion sizes by any means – cook as much as you want to eat!

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bookmark_borderWhat Exactly is “Zero Waste”? & Other Common Terms Defined!

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Hey earth muffins! If you have been following Life of an Earth Muffin for awhile (which you should be if you aren’t!), you will know I use terms like “zero waste” and “sustainability” often. But, you may be wondering: what is “zero waste”?? Common sustainability terms can have multiple meanings depending on who you talk to… I thought it would be fun to define the terms I use most for you all. That way, we are on the same page and don’t have to question terminology anymore. 😊 Let’s jump right into it!

Zero Waste

If you search on Dictionary.com or other online dictionaries, the term “zero waste” comes up with no results. However, there are plenty of definitions out there. Here is one:

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