Tag: sustainable

bookmark_borderMy Favorite Books About Sustainability

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Hey earth muffins! It is no secret that I absolutely love to read. πŸ€“ I’ve written many Recent Reads & Movie Review posts in the past; now, I share my thoughts on the latest books I’ve read on my Instagram! If you are looking for some new book suggestions, I am here to save the day… This post is a list of my favorite books about sustainability. I’ll link each of them to used copies on Amazon, but you could also see if they are in your local library! Let’s jump right into it.

My Top 3 Sustainable Books

1. No Impact Man by Colin Beavan (affiliate link)

A picture of the cover of No Impact Man by Colin Beavan

This was the book that started it all for me. After reading it in May of 2018, I decided to start on my sustainable journey. 🌎 Rebranding my blog to Life of an Earth Muffin soon followed, and here we are today! This book follows Colin and his family on their journey to live with zero impact for a full year. Instead of easing themselves in (which I would highly recommend to any newbie earth muffins!), they decided to just take the plunge and see how they would do. The book is an honest “diary” explaining their successes and failures on this adventure. I think it is an awesome book to show the ups and downs of living eco-friendly; it is definitely full of great tips and information as well!

2. Plastic Free by Beth Terry (affiliate link)

A picture of the book Plastic Free by Beth Terry

This is another book I read in the beginning of my journey, but it is still a favorite to this day! 😊 If you have never taken an earth science class and/or are new to the whole environmentalist thing, Beth has you covered! She explains the ins and outs of plastic, including helpful tips and guides for recycling, identifying the correct plastic type, etc. On top of that, she provides personal stories about her own journey to give up plastics, which are relatable and make the book worth reading. I’d highly recommend it!

3. Zero Waste: Simple Life Hacks to Drastically Reduce Your Trash by Shia Su (affiliate link)

A picture of the book Zero Waste by Shia Su

If you are a visual learner, this one is for you! Shia does such a great job explaining the zero waste lifestyle. Instead of sticking to one thing, she covers simple tips for every area of your home. It is definitely an essential guide if you are trying to be low waste! The book is absolutely stunning in terms of visuals as well. There are many pictures, diagrams, and bright pops of color that makes the read exciting yet informational. 😍 I randomly stumbled upon this one in my local library last year, and I’m so happy I checked it out!

2 More Great Books About Sustainability

4. Garbology by Edward Humes (affiliate link)

A picture of Garbology by Edward Humes

This book focuses on one thing: what we throw away. But, it isn’t all just facts about our garbage (even though there are definitely plenty of facts to go round!). For each topic that he discusses, Edward highlights people who are solving this problem in a unique way. Instead of leaving the reader scared about the future (like many environmental books do), he offers solutions and suggestions for turning our trash into a better future for the planet. Trash is something that each individual can personally impact; the book left me inspired to do my part! I definitely enjoyed reading it, so I suggest you give it a read as well!

5. Overdressed by Elizabeth Cline (affiliate link)

A picture of Overdressed by Elizabeth Cline

While this book is definitely more niche, I thought I would include it anyway. Elizabeth investigates the true costs of fast fashion companies in this read; it is definitely very eye opening! There is no doubt about the fact that fast fashion is absolutely terrible for the planet; but, it is another to read first hand accounts of just how (and who) is impacted by these companies. While I was already buying my clothes secondhand before reading this book, it solidified my decision to thrift instead of shop new. And I have absolutely no regrets! 😊

In sum, there are plenty of books about sustainability out there. These are my personal faves, but I’ve loved many more that are not mentioned in this post! Some books about the planet can leave you feeling overwhelmed about the future; these ones leave you will action items and the inspiration to make a difference in the world! 🌎❀️ What books have you been reading lately?

A Pinterest pin about the top 5 books about sustainability
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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bookmark_borderHow to Live with Someone Who Isn’t As Eco Friendly

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Hey earth muffins! When my boyfriend and I moved in together back in July, we knew that it would be a huge step in our relationship. We had been doing long distance for 5ish years, so going from not seeing each other very often to seeing each other every single day was an adjustment. The fact that I live a more sustainable lifestyle was another thing we had to worry about. But, so far it has been great! 😍 Living with someone who isn’t as eco-friendly might seem like a challenge, so I thought I would share my personal tips to keep the household at peace. Let’s jump right into it!

A picture of two people looking out over a lake

Tips 1-3 for Living with a Less Eco-Conscious Person

The first thing I recommend doing is thinking about your relationship with who you are living with. It is important to classify them as a stranger/roommate, friend, partner, parent, etc. Now that the relationship is defined, you can think about what household things can be done separately and what must be done together. An example: if I was living with my parents they would be buying most of the groceries which could increase the amount of plastic I would want from the grocery store. But, if I was living with a friend at college we might buy our groceries separately, which would help my eco journey! Even if there is a possibility of doing everything separate, make sure you keep the economic feasibility in the back of your mind. It might be better to save some money and just create a bit more waste until you get your own place or live with someone who is willing to live more eco friendly!

Once you have identified areas that you do together, sit down with them and have a nice chat! πŸ˜€ Tell them all about why you are trying to be more sustainable and see if they might be testing out the sustainable waters too. Definitely don’t keep them in the dark about the way you are trying to live, as they won’t understand why you are doing certain things. This could lead to them growing annoyed with you, which could produce some unnecessary roommate drama!

After talking with them, you have probably identified certain things that you both want to improve on. This could be eating meat less or switching the cleaning products to something more “green”. It is important to set goals for the household! Personally, I did this a while ago when I laid out what I wanted for my sustainable apartment. There is a lot of evidence out there that writing down goals helps you achieve them; so, try writing them down and hanging them on the fridge!

Final Tips for Living with Someone Who Isn’t as Eco Friendly

A picture of the words Small Steps are Still Progress

Even though you might have listed multiple goals, try to implement small changes one at a time! Every small change matters and helps the planet; if you try to change too much at once, there is a higher probability that your roommate will get overwhelmed and stop trying. My boyfriend’s first change was to switch from plastic water bottles to his Brita. After a few weeks he has accomplished that! πŸŽ‰ Now we are on to plastic soda bottles…

It is important to note that you will most likely not be able to convert all their habits. That is okay! You can’t force your ideal way of living onto them, which might end up with making compromises. Do not pester them and do not feel guilty if you have to make concessions in certain areas. Remember, every little thing makes a difference, so it’s better to make small progress than none at all!

Lastly, make sure your roommate knows that you are noticing the changes they are making. If you see them opt for a glass container over plastic at the grocery store, call them out on it! 😊 People love being complimented and appreciated; it is important to tell them that their efforts are making a difference.

Overall, it might seem like living with someone with different values means that you can’t continue on your sustainable journey…. But that just isn’t the case! I’ve had plenty of success with my boyfriend so far, and I bet you can too! What are the best ways you have found when living with someone who isn’t as eco friendly?

How to live with someone who isn't eco-friendly
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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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. πŸŽ‰ 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! πŸ˜ƒ

~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 πŸ™ƒ

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 β™₯

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bookmark_borderMy Future Goals for a Sustainable Apartment

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Hey earth muffins! Like I mentioned in my recent graduation post, I will be moving into an apartment with my boyfriend at the end of July! I am SO excited to finally have my own space with him, as we have been an LDR couple for many years. With the search for an apartment underway, I have been doing a lot of thinking on my sustainable apartment goals. Living in my own place with an actual salary will allow me to move forward after grad school set me back on my green journey. If you are planning on moving in the near future, I challenge you to also lay out some goals for yourself. How can you make your own apartment more sustainable?

I have found that writing out my goals (and publishing them on the internet lol!) helps me stay more accountable. From moving during Plastic Free July to moving in with a significant other for the first time, I will be writing many posts about this huge step in my life in the months to come. Laying out some goals for a sustainable apartment is the first step, and I will definitely update you all on them in the future!

A picture of the living room of a sustainable apartment

My Sustainable Apartment Goals:

1. I will declutter before moving into the apartment so that it is full of the items that I really need. While I have been sorting through my possessions often after starting my sustainable journey in 2018, I still feel like there are certain things that I need to just donate and get out of my life.

2. I will get a compost bin and continue recycling! After getting rid of many single use plastics in my life, I find that my trash can is mostly full of food waste… And that could be composted! While I highly doubt I will be able to get a composting service to pick up the waste, I hope to find someone who will allow me to drop off compost for their bin. Fingers crossed!

3. I will shop at the local organic grocery store with bulk bins and reusable bags/jars. This was my favorite place to shop during my two internships! They have a ton of bulk food options, and I heard they recently expanded it even more.

4. I will find local family owned stores/farmers for milk and eggs. While I discovered during Plastic Free July last year that glass milk bottles were hard to find, I hope there are more options now. I no longer eat meat, but my boyfriend does. So, I also hope to find a local deli or butcher too!

5. I will continue to buy everything I can secondhand. This includes clothes (to avoid fast fashion) and furniture/home dΓ©cor. My boyfriend and I have all of the furniture for our apartment except a table and chairs. We will probably utilize Facebook Marketplace to score a good deal!

6. I will keep my overall plastic use at a minimum. My boyfriend loves soda/plastic water bottles, so that is one of the first things we will be weaning off. While I know our apartment will never be fully plastic free, we can definitely use a small amount.

There you have it – my goals for my new apartment! πŸ₯³ This list will most likely change during the moving process; I may update this post from time to time. Again, I challenge you to think about your current living space… Is there anything you can change to make it more sustainable?

A picture of an apartment with the words my goals for a sustainable apartment below it
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Love,
Jenna β™₯

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