Category: Zero Waste

bookmark_borderHow to Zero Waste Your Coffee Routine

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Hey earth muffins! Since I started my sustainable journey, every so often I will write a post about “How to Zero Waste [insert topic here]”. I’ve written about everything from zero waste periods to laundry rooms; today I want to talk about how you can zero waste your whipped coffee morning routine! If you aren’t into the trendy TikTok drink, don’t worry – I will also be including tips for reducing waste for coffee and tea as well. 😀Many people start their day off with a delicious cup of joe, so it is a great time to rethink and modify to make it a more sustainable part of your day!

Tips for Reducing Coffee Waste

MAKE YOUR COFFEE AT HOME! During quarantine I can bet you couldn’t make it to the local Starbucks or coffee shop to get that chai latte… So learn how to make your favorite beverage at home! Even though you might be able to use your own reusable mug at a cafe, that still doesn’t prevent the employee from creating other waste when creating your drink (like stir sticks or straws). The coffee places where I live are still not allowing reusables right now, so making your coffee at home is a must. Plus, you can finally utilize all those fun mugs you have purchased at the thrift store! 😍

A picture of a thrifted hedgehog coffee mug

Buy your coffee and tea from the bulk bins. Again, this might be difficult if your local establishments have their bulk bins closed, but mine still has the coffee/tea section open. 🎉 Bring your own reusable bag with you, pop in the ground (or whole) coffee beans or loose leaf tea, and head on your way. This avoids the plastic tubs/bags for coffee and even the tea bag for tea!

Reusable Products for a Zero Waste Coffee Routine

After purchasing your ground coffee beans, I suggest getting a reusable coffee filter if your coffee pot doesn’t already have one built inside it. I’m pretty sure most pots do these days but, if not, Amazon has a great selection for a cheap price (affiliate link)!

A picture of a reusable coffee filter

If you want to avoid filters altogether, you could think about investing in a French Press. ☕ I’m not a coffee drinker, but my parents absolutely love how the coffee turns out in the French Press. After our travels to Italy a few years back, my dad also got an Italian Bialetti (affiliate link) to make himself some delicious coffee without any single use filter. These are both great options for reducing your waste in the morning!

For those of you who love the Keurig, there are actually reusable K cups you can purchase (affiliate link). This is extremely helpful if you don’t want the same drink flavor every day. Plus, for only $10 this is a great investment – just think about all the plastic waste you will be saving! 😁 If you don’t have a Keurig, some companies like Nespresso have cup/pod recycling programs in place. While you have to send back your pods (and create some carbon waste by doing so), this is still a better option than having them end up in the landfill.

A picture of reusable K cups

Many people love getting their coffee at a cafe because of the milky foam… So I suggest getting your own milk frother (affiliate link)! This will allow you to make your fave drink at home – super sustainable! There are many options from handheld frothers (affiliate link) to full machines that do heavy duty frothing, so fit what meets your budget and make sure the frother will last a long time. 🙃

Reusable Products for a Low Waste Tea Routine

Because I’m not a coffee drinker, I love to drink a cup of tea in the morning. 🥰 Like I said before, try to buy your tea from the bulk bins. If that isn’t an option, then buy loose leaf tea in metal containers. You can at least recycle the container when you are finished! Some of my favorite places to buy tea are TJ Maxx and David’s Tea.

To steep the tea, I suggest using a stainless steel tea strainer. There are many silicone options on the market as well (usually in really cute designs!), but I’ve always felt more comfortable with metal versus plastic. 🤷‍♀️These strainers can be found on Amazon for the low price of $7 (affiliate link); I absolutely love mine!

A picture of a resuable stainless steel tea strainer

If you can’t find loose leaf tea where you live, then try to find a company that has compostable tea bags. Obviously it is better to not have the bag at all, but it is perfectly okay to go this route!

Overall, I think it is super easy to reduce your waste each morning by skipping the Starbucks line and heading for your own kitchen. Plus, your morning will never be ruined by the barista adding too much sugar or making your drink wrong! 😋Whether it be zero waste whipped coffee for all those TikTokers out there or a simple green tea, you can always make your morning a bit more sustainable! What is your favorite morning beverage?

A picture with a coffee filter and the words How to Zero Waste Your Coffee and Tea Routine
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Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderReview: Dental Lace Refillable Floss

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Hey earth muffins! When trying to reduce my waste in the bathroom, I found that replacing floss with something more sustainable was a difficult thing. I have genetically soft teeth, so flossing every day is essential to preventing any tooth decay. In a normal store, you will come across plastic floss and “flossers”; both single use and SO wasteful! As my collection of floss containers from dentist visits slowly dwindled, I made it my mission to find a better alternative. I came across the company Dental Lace and reached out to them to see if I could review their Dental Lace refillable floss… And they gladly sent me some! I have been trying out their floss every day for a few weeks now and wanted to share my thoughts on this sustainable alternative! 🦷

A picture of a glass container of Dental Lace refillable floss

What I Like About Dental Lace Floss

For starters, it does such a good job flossing! Many of the plastic flosses on the market are difficult to hold, slippery in the mouth, and just an overall bad experience. Dental Lace is nothing like that!! Because the floss is made of 100% mulberry silk, it doesn’t slip around in your fingers. This allows you to get all those tight spots for a healthy, clean mouth.

I was also concerned that because it is made from silk, it wouldn’t be strong enough for someone (like me!) who has small gaps between their teeth. But, I‘ve never had any trouble with the floss breaking or even fraying, so that doesn’t seem to be an issue at all! I am able to get a great clean even in the tightest gaps in the back of my mouth, which is a HUGE bonus for me and my soft teeth.

A picture of the silk Dental Lace refillable floss

In terms of “flavor” I was sent a Fresh Mint floss, but they also sell unflavored as well. I think the scent is the perfect amount, as they use peppermint essential oil. Some oral care products have way too much artificial “flavoring”, so I love that this is natural and not overpowering when you floss. It leaves the mouth feeling the perfect amount of clean without the perception that you ate a whole tin of peppermints. 😬

What I Like About the Packaging

A picture of the packaging of Dental Lace refillable floss

Another great bonus for this floss is its packaging! The container is a small glass bottle with a stainless steel cap. When you order a set, you get the glass bottle and two sets of the silk floss. Each spool has about 33 yards of floss, so you get quite a bit… When you finish those two, you just have to order new spools of the silk floss and pop them in your glass bottle – so sustainable!! 😍 I was concerned that the glass bottle would be too small and easily misplaced, but it is the perfect size to put in your medicine cabinet, bathroom drawer, or bathroom organizer.

The product packaging is also fully sustainable. The floss comes in compostable bags (even though they look plastic!), the cardboard box can be recycled, the glass container can be reused forever, and the floss is compostable too! ☺️ Nothing makes my heart happier than seeing a company that actually cares about leaving less waste on the planet.

The recycling and reusing instructions on Dental Lace floss package

Finally, as I’ve mentioned in previous travel posts, I grew up in New England. This company was founded in Maine, which is near and dear to my heart. So, I had to throw that in as a “pro” to Dental Lace. 😇 While I now live in the Midwest, I still support some of my favorite local Maine shops by ordering online… And now I can add Dental Lace to this list! 🎉

What Could Be Improved with Dental Lace Floss

Honestly, there isn’t much to say in this section because I’ve had such a great experience with this floss. 🥳 But, for me personally, the floss cannot be accepted in the composting service that I am signed up for. BUMMER! The service that I use is a vermicompost that uses the compost mix for community gardens around the city. I reached out to them about the floss, and they said to leave it out of the bin. Unfortunate and a “con” for now; but, when my boyfriend and I move out of this apartment, I will definitely compost the floss!

Lastly, I think it is important to mention the price for those new to sustainable alternatives. While an eco-friendly swap might seems more expensive at first, you need to think about the price long term and also the cost to the environment of using plastic floss/flossers. To get a starter pack from Dental Lace, it will cost you $9. For a set of two spool of refill floss, it will cost you $7. This might seem more expensive than a typical floss product, but I feel that it is very very reasonable! 🥰

Overall, y’all need to check out Dental Lace Floss! I am so happy that I have finally found a sustainable alternative to add into my bathroom routine. I am 100% a convert – I am so excited to continue using this floss! The company also just released refillable Toothpaste Tablets, so I definitely need to try that out as well (as finding toothpaste in sustainable packaging is another nightmare). What type of floss do you currently use?

Dental Lace Floss review pin
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Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_border4 Amazon Products for Any Zero Waste Challenge

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When I started my journey towards sustainable living back in May of 2018, my original goal was a zero waste challenge. But, I’ve since steered myself away from the “zero waste” category and into my own niche. Reflecting back on the start of my journey, I wanted to share my top 4 products that helped me, as a beginner, begin changing my routine towards something more sustainable.

This list is by no means exhaustive! As I look back on the products that got me started, many of them I already had in my apartment or was able to get secondhand/from family and friends. The ones featured in this post today will be the items I bought new. 😃 Let’s jump right into it!

HydroFlask Reusable Water Bottle

A picture of a neon green HydroFlask reusable water bottle
The trusty HydroFlask (affiliate link)

While I (of course) had some reusable water bottles when I started out, I knew I wanted to invest in a better quality one. All of the bottles I had were made of BPA free plastic, which I am still not 100% comfortable with due to the lack of scientific testing on the BPA replacement plastics. So, buying a brand new HydroFlask (affiliate link) was what I chose to do… And I still use it every day! I bought the larger size, which, in theory, might be more difficult to carry around. But, I think this is a benefit for me because I never forget to bring it along! Avoiding all plastic water bottles is a great way to start out a zero waste challenge, so I urge you to invest in something like the HydroFlask (affiliate link)!

Reusable Produce/Bulk Bags

A picture of 6 canvas cloth reusable produce bags
These bags are 10/10! (affiliate link)

As soon as I decided to change my daily life into something more sustainable, I knew I had to invest in some reusable bags. I’m not talking about reusable grocery bags because I already had SO many of those from college, job fairs, etc. These bags are specifically reusable for shopping produce and bulk bins. They are in perfect condition still; I store them in my car so that I am never in a situation where I am bag-less! 😌 I think this set in particular is great for the “zero waste challenge” beginner, as it comes with three different sizes for various food types. The bags are also cotton and can easily be thrown into the laundry with other clothes; so simple to wash! For only $8, these are a must-have (affiliate link)!

Reusable Ziploc Bags

A picture of reusable ziploc bags
Reusable Ziplocs for the win 😍 (affiliate link)

Sticking with bags, I also swapped to reusable Ziplocs! As I mentioned in my sustainable swaps for Plastic Free July post, there are multiple options for replacing Saran wrap. I already had some mason jars when I started my journey, but I knew I would need something for lunches at work. Amazon has a bunch of reusable bags, but I opted for these cloth ones back in 2018 (affiliate link). If I were to buy new ones today (which I definitely won’t be because these are still in great condition!), I might also look at Stasher and other silicone bag options (affiliate links). There are so many choices for not a lot of money; regardless of what brand you buy, having reusable bags around are a game changer when you are trying to be zero waste!

Safety Razor

A picture of a reusable safety razor
Safety razor: 100000/10 (affiliate link)

I recommend buying a safety razor ASAP (affiliate link)! I also talked about this on my sustainable swaps post during Plastic Free July, but I just had to mention it again. This was basically the BEST decision I made when starting my sustainable journey, as I have saved SO many cheap, plastic razors from heading to the landfill. I even bought my mom one for her birthday recently, because I know she would love it as well. Shaving with a safety razor is just as easy as shaving with a “normal” razor… And I have noticed that I cut myself much less! 🎉 For only $17, this is a no brainer (affiliate link)!

When starting a zero waste challenge, it can seem like there are too many swaps to be made… But, I urge you to purchase a few new things (like the things mentioned in this post) and then utilize what you already have for the others! You don’t need to buy the Instagram worthy bamboo cutlery set when you already have silverware in your kitchen… You know what I’m saying? 😊 What product would you most likely buy??

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderA Not-so-Successful Recap of Plastic Free July!

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Hey earth muffins! As I mentioned in my August newsletter, my participation in Plastic Free July wasn’t that successful this year… (Which, sidenote, if you aren’t subscribed to my monthly newsletter, you should!)

My success during the challenge last year (as seen by my waste audit) was pretty incredible, so I think part of my feeling that this year wasn’t the best stems from that. BUT, it is important regardless of the success to challenge yourself to live a more sustainable lifestyle. This blog is dedicated to sharing my passion with you all, so I thought I would share my failures and successes of this Plastic Free July. As Hannah Montana famously said, “Nobody’s perfect, you live and you learn it”. 😉 So, let’s jump right into it!

A picture of the 2020 Plastic Free July Challenge logo

The “Failings” of My Plastic Free July

As I have mentioned previously, my boyfriend and I just moved across the state into a new apartment. With moving comes a lot of plastic, paper, and other waste that I would not normally encounter in my daily life. While there are tips and tricks for avoiding some of this waste when moving, there were still unforeseen instances where I came across plastic this July. This doesn’t just include tape and packing boxes/materials; it also includes having to eat out during the move more than I thought I would have to.

A picture of moving plastic, boxes, and tape

When you are getting settled into a new home you also have to buy things that might result in extra plastic. While I was able to keep my plastic low in the grocery category by buying from the farmer’s market and bulk bins, I ran into some plastic in other places. A big one came from having to buy a Shark Steam Mop; all of our floors are original hardwood and there was a disgusting layer of dirt that we needed to get rid of. While the mop is amazing (and the pad is reusable/can be washed in the laundry), it came with a lot of plastic in tow. We also needed to buy a few things from Home Depot, which resulted in some plastic as well.

Successes and Looking Forward

Even though the move brought a lot of unwanted plastic into my life, it also allowed me to tackle some sustainability goals. Back in June I laid out 6 different things I wanted to achieve for this new apartment to help continue my sustainable journey. I am proud to say we made large strides on all of these during July!! In terms of decluttering, both my boyfriend and myself sold a lot of unwanted things on Facebook Marketplace. We have one box in our coat closet of items we still want to sell/donate; it is SO nice to have only the essentials in our apartment. 🎉

For goal 2, we signed up for a composting service, which I shared on my Instagram a few days ago! The local grocery store I shop at has a great bulk section to stock up our pantry; and for goal number 4, this store actually sells milk in glass. It never did the past two summers I lived here for my internship, so I am excited! With this goal I also wanted to find a local to buy eggs from; but, we might be making our apartment egg free now. My boyfriend is actually allergic to eggs, so I don’t really see the need to have them in our home… Especially since I’m not a super fan of them myself. 🤷‍♀️

In terms of buying secondhand, I have been slowing buying the finishing pieces for our apartment from local thrift stores. Just look at this adorable soap dish I found for our bathroom! 😍

A picture of a white glass soap dish with floral details and gold around the edges
The gold details match the marbled bathroom counter – I’m in love!

Lastly, I have been working on my boyfriend to keep his own plastic at a minimum. He loves to drink plastic water bottles and soda; but, he actually had an old Brita in his apartment. Now he is trying to switch to that instead. Baby steps are still steps in the right direction! 👍

Overall, while I wasn’t extremely successful in avoiding plastic this July, I do think I made a lot of great sustainable steps for my journey towards living low waste. 😀 How did your Plastic Free July go?

A picture of a zero waste bag with the words Recap of 2020 Plastic Free July above it

Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Stock a (New) Pantry ft. Bulk Food

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Hey muffins! One of the first things you do when you move into a new place is stock your pantry and fridge… Or at least that’s what I did when my boyfriend and I moved in. 😆 Food is important to me because, well, I love to eat. While it is crucial to make your new space feel like home, it is also important to take care of your body so that it is well energized as you get settled. For today’s post I want to share my recommendations for what to stock your pantry with featuring my favorite: the bulk bins! Bulk shopping is a great way to reduce your waste at the grocery store, so I would totally recommend y’all giving it a try. 🥰

A picture of a mason jar pantry

Stock Your Pantry: Baking Supplies

When switching to a more sustainable lifestyle, I have started to cook more things from scratch. I try to avoid most packaged/canned products, so having a lot of baking supplies on hand is uber important! I had a bunch of these things already in my grad school apartment pantry, but I figured I would still include them. 😀

  1. Flour – I have always loved King Arthur flour, as the grocery store where I shop doesn’t have flour in bulk. But, this bag can at least be recycled!
  2. Sugar – Again, my local grocery store doesn’t have sugar in bulk so I choose to buy it in a paper bag that can be recycled.
  3. Baking soda and baking powder – You can usually find both of these in cardboard box packaging.
  4. Oats – I had a mason jar full of oats already, but these are so cheap in the bulk bins (and SO useful for baking).
  5. Jiffy corn muffin mix – I know, I know… I said I try to avoid all packaged foods but I think Jiffy is good to have on hand. Their company is local to Michigan and I love that both the box and the paper (not plastic!) lining on the inside can be recycled.
  6. Various spices – My boyfriend and I already had everything from salt and pepper to mixed seasonings, but check out the bulk spices available in your bulk bins!
A picture of bulk spices in mason jars

Bulk Grains and Protein

There are SO many grain and protein options at my local grocery store, but I always stock up on what I eat a lot of:

  1. Rice – My boyfriend isn’t a huge fan of brown rice, so I stocked up on white rice for now…
  2. Quinoa – Quinoa is a great alternative to rice if you feel like you are eating rices too much. Plus, it can cook in less than 20 minutes!
  3. Barley – I LOVE barley. While it does take longer to cook, it is so filling and tasty. It is great for a lot of fall/winter dishes.
  4. Pasta – My boyfriend absolutely loves spaghetti, so he brought multiple boxes of noodles with him from his last apartment. Sadly, the bulk bins here don’t have any pastas (yet) but I’ve heard that a few brands will be taking out that annoying plastic liner in their boxes – yay for a fully recyclable container!
  5. Beans – I had two mason jars full of Great Northern Beans in my grad school pantry, but there are a bunch of options for dried beans. I utilize a lot of beans in my cooking after becoming vegetarian last year; my favorites are chickpeas, pinto, and black beans! After I eat up some of these beans, I plan on trying out some lentil options as well.
A picture of a bag of dry chickpeas from the bulk bins

Lost in the Sauce(s)

Unfortunately my local grocery store has the bulk sauces/liquids closed off due to Mister Corona. Oh well! I bought the biggest sizes I could and opted for glass containers to avoid plastics.

A picture of a jar of peanut butter
  1. Olive oil – A MUST for roasting all my fresh veggies!
  2. Vinegar/Apple Cider Vinegar – I actually forgot to buy this when I first went shopping, but it is on the list for the next time I’m at the store.
  3. Soy sauce – Because the bulk bins were closed, I went to a local Asian market to support local business. While the soy sauce was a tiny bit more expensive, it is important to help out family run shops!
  4. Honey – Honey is a great sweetner for everything from teas to homemade granola to greek yogurt bowls.
  5. Peanut butter – I eat a peanut butter sandwich almost every day for lunch, so I bought a massive 5 pound jar of JIF. This comes in a can instead of a plastic container, so it was a win win for me!
  6. Nutritional Yeast – Such a good staple for any vegetarian; I love to throw it into any dish.

Other Things to Stock Your Pantry With!

  1. SNACKS – Some of my favorite bulk snacks include unsweetened banana chips and toasted corn. Unsweetened banana chips tastes very much like any potato chip, but the texture is a bit different. Toasted corn tastes EXACTLY like a Frito, and I love that it just corn that is cooked and salted.
  2. Tea (or coffee) – Even though it is summer, a good cup of tea is still nice in the morning. I’m not a coffee drinker, but many bins allow you to buy coffee beans in bulk. I had a bunch of loose leaf tea containers from my old apartment; but, I will definitely be stocking up when I run low.

After shopping at a local farmer’s market too, our fridge is now stocked full. It is nice to be getting all settled into the new place! 🙂 When you move, what do you stock your pantry with??

how to stock a pantry from the bulk bins
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Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderReview: JR Liggett Original Shampoo Bar

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Hey earth muffins! If you have been following my blog for awhile, you will know that I switched from bottled to bar products. One of these first switches was my shampoo where I traded the bottle for a Lush shampoo bar. When quarantine first started I ran into a problem: my shampoo bar was almost gone and the Lush near me was closed…. And the website was behind on orders! YIKES 😬 As my family was already placing an Amazon order, I decided this would be the perfect time to try out a new shampoo bar from JR Liggett.

A picture of the JR Liggett's original shampoo bar

After doing some quick searching on Amazon, I came across JR Liggett. Not only are they highly reviewed but they also make their products in New England, which is where I grew up. I was already sold! This brand makes 6 different scents that have various oils in them. To keep it simple, I decided to try out their original formula shampoo bar. Here are my thoughts! 😊

What I Liked

–The bars are sulfate/detergent free and full of great oils! Switching to bar products is not only good for the environment, but it is also good for your body. I’m quite shocked by the nasty chemicals/additives that find their way into bath products; I love that this brand focuses on simple ingredients. They are also vegan! The original formula includes three types of oils: olive, coconut, and castor. Some of their other bars include more oils and various essential oils as well, which gives a nice variety for all hair types.

–There is not an overwhelming scent. For some reason, many bar products can be heavily scented… Probably the essential oils! But, this shampoo bar has a nice fresh scent to it. I was worried that my hair wouldn’t smell nice after my shower since it was “original formula”, but that was not the case at all.

A picture of bars of soap and shampoo in various colors

–The bars are an affordable price, a bit cheaper than Lush bars. On Amazon they are $10 each; if you buy them on their actual website, they are only $7.50. I don’t really think this couple of dollar difference truly matters because once you switch to bar products you will be saving money regardless. The bars last much longer than a typical bottle = less money spent for you! 💰

–The bar doesn’t have any dyes in it. After using the Lush Jumping Juniper shampoo for awhile now, I have noticed that the purple color leaves a residue in the shower (and on my Ethique soap container) that is difficult to get off… I love that this bar is an off white color, as it doesn’t leave a mess behind! 🙌

What I Disliked about the JR Liggett Shampoo Bar

-The shampoo left residue in my hair. ☹️ I’ve always had an oily scalp, but this shampoo bar left my head feeling almost sticky to the touch. While this could have been due to the low water pressure in my apartment or changing water after traveling home to quaratine with my family, this was a huge negative for me. When switching to natural shampoo there is a period of time where your hair will have to adjust (similar to an armpit detox when switching to natural deodorant)… But my head STILL has residue leftover even after weeks of using the product and taking extra care to rinse it all out. Not to mention the fact that I have been using bar products for over two years now!

–The bar doesn’t lather as well as Lush bars. I don’t like to have to rub the actual bar on my hair, as I find that wastes some of the product. But, it was extremely difficult to lather the bar in my hands, so I had to use the bar this way. Definitely a downside for me, but that might just be a personal preference!

–It made my hair look greasy (probably due to the residue). After finding shampoo bars that were able to not make my hair look greasy, I was disappointed that this product isn’t one of them. Now maybe I should have tried a different “flavor” or something, but the bar just did not work for my hair type. Oh well!

Overall, I don’t think I will be trying out any JR Liggett shampoo bars any time soon. Now that Lush stores have opened again, I decided to try out their Honey I Washed my Hair bar. The white color of this bar will help with the whole staining my tub situation I mentioned above; I hope my hair likes it just as much as Jumping Juniper. I will definitely write a review of this new shampoo in the future! What shampoo bar are you currently trying out? 😁

A picture of JR Liggett's original shampoo bar
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Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderHow to Have an Eco-Friendly, “Green” Move

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Hey earth muffins! As many of you know, I am currently in the process of moving across the state. My boyfriend and I are (finally) moving in together! 😍 I will officially be moving out of my Ann Arbor apartment this weekend, so this week has been full of packing. All of this moving excitement has inspired me, so I wanted to write a post today all about how you can have an eco-friendly move. This fits perfectly with the spirit of Plastic Free July!

A picture of an apartment with moving boxes in the living room

Tips for Staying Green When Packing

The number one thing I would recommend is to use boxes you already have. I was lucky enough to have a lot of extra closet space in my current apartment (as well as a storage bin in the basement of the complex); when I moved in last summer, I just kept all of the boxes! If you end up collecting more things throughout the year, I suggest saving the boxes from anything you get in the mail. You can also ask family and friends to save some boxes for you!

If you have to buy extra boxes or other packing materials, try to buy those that can be recycled. Many cardboard boxes can easily be recyled, but plastic tapes and bubble wrap are difficult to recycle. I suggest avoiding all plastic altogether – utilize clothing and linens you need to pack anyway to cushion fragile items! Not only is it more eco-friendly but it also saves space in your packing. 🙂 In terms of tape, there are actually paper tapes you can buy instead of the plastic ones. I personally don’t even use tape to close my boxes, but I would definitely check out the paper options!

A stack of moving boxes

As you pack, declutter!! When will you be going through everything you own again in the near future? It is the perfect opportunity to minimalize and downsize your possessions. But, make sure the items you don’t want anymore are reused in some way: sell them on Facebook Marketplace, donate to your local thrift store, or give to those who need them in your community.

How to Stay Eco-Friendly During the Actual Move

Make sure you take EVERYTHING with you from your old place! It is a common practice in a college town like Ann Arbor for students to just leave everything (even furniture) and buy new at the next place. This is, obviously, terrible for the planet. 🌎 Even if something is a hassle to move, still take it with you! Because you own it, you are responsible for its lifecycle. This also goes for little things: clean your shower rings, save your wall decals, keep the nails you remove from the walls, etc. These will have a use in your new place! 😀

Lastly, try to reduce your trips going back and forth to the new place. Because I am literally moving across the whole state, I hired movers to ensure I would only have to move once. Not only do I drive a tiny Kia Soul, but I will be lugging a queen mattress too – so movers were a must! Taking trips back and forth might seem more budget friendly, but I encourage you to borrow a friend’s van or something to reduce the trips you take!

A picture out of the front window of a moving van, showing the highway in front of the driver

Wish me luck on the move this weekend, I can’t wait to update you all on my new place. 🎉 What do you do to reduce waste when you are moving?

A picture of a stack of moving boxes with the words "how to be green when moving" over top
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Love,
Jenna ♥

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bookmark_borderEasy Sustainable Swaps to Make this Plastic Free July

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Hey earth muffins, I hope everyone has been enjoying the first half of Plastic Free July! It is crazy to think that the challenge is almost 50% over; but don’t worry, that is plenty of time to continue your sustainable journey! 😊 When I became passionate about reducing my impact on the planet, I often got asked what sustainable swaps are “easiest” to make first. As many of you may be starting your own adventure towards living low-waste, I thought I would share the best (and budget-friendly) switches you can make today!

3 Sustainable Swaps Everyone Should Make!

~Buy yourself a safety razor! I cannot recommend one enough. You will save money in the long term by avoiding the need to purchase another razor; plus, you will prevent a ton of disposables from ending up in the landfill. They are easy to use and give such a nice shave! The razor blades can last for quite some time, and you can buy a pack of 100 for only $7.

A picture of a metal safety razor
I bought this razor two years ago and I still LOVE it!

~Invest in some reusable produce bags. I feel like most people come across reusable bags from college events, conferences, etc. but it is nifty to have some for produce or bulk bin shopping. They are cheap, can be thrown in the washing machine, and save you from using those single use plastic bags at the grocery store. 🎉 Click on the images below to check out my favorites!

~Switch to bar bathroom products! I’ve raved about why I use bars over bottles in the past, and I will continue to do so to avoid the plastic that comes with many bath products. It is easy to find bar products now: homemade soaps at the farmer’s market, shampoo bars from Lush or on Amazon, even specialty websites like Ethique! Make sure you use up your plastic bottles before switching.

A picture of a soap container, a great sustainable swap to keep your bars dry
Make sure to protect your bars with a nice soap container like the one I use!

2 Easy Swaps You Can Make!

~Buy reusable cotton swabs. I don’t use Q-tips to clean my ears (I prefer either using water or a metal ear pick). But, I have an acne cream that has to be applied with a cotton swab. I decided to purchase a set of reusable cotton swabs to ensure I wasn’t creating any excess waste! My skin is quite prone to break outs if I’m not careful; I definitely wasn’t about to give up the cream that works! Check out companies like Last Swab or knock off Amazon versions (which do tend to be cheaper!).

A picture of a container with two reusable cotton swabs inside
I bought this one for only $5! 😃

~Find an alternative to saran wrap! I got a comment regarding replacement options for plastic wrap on my post about what to do with old plastics in your home. There are quite a few easy sustainable swaps you can make. My faves are beeswax wrap, silicone covers, reusable Ziploc bags, and reusing containers you already have! If you are interested in any of these, click on the picture below to learn more 🙃

All in all, there are SO many easy sustainable swaps you can make during Plastic Free July! 😁 These were some of the first ones I made, so I highly recommend. I also featured some other swaps on my Instagram account; make sure to check that out as well! What are you doing to stay sustainable this Plastic Free July?

A picture of 5 easy sustainable swaps everyone should make
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Love,
Jenna ♥

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