Current Favorite Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Swaps
- Kirsten Stavast
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Happy Earth Day! To celebrate, I wanted to go back to my roots and share some of my current favorite eco-friendly and sustainable 'swaps'. Creating a sustainable lifestyle is overwhelming -- I've spent the last 4+ years learning about things like fast fashion, food waste, recycling, and single-use plastics -- and I feel like I still have so much more to learn and change. To save you the time, energy, and money that I've put into trying different products, habits, and brands, I decided to share a few things I've been loving (and some things I didn't end up loving) to help you if you are hoping to find some small ways to do more for the planet and the people on it.
Trashie Take Back Bags
Something that has become a staple in my life is Trashie's Take Back Bags, which is a service where you can send textile and fabric waste to be recycled! I have used these over the past couple years and just barely resubscribed to get one every couple of months now that my inventory of it was gone. If you're cleaning out your closet or if you do a lot of sewing, this can be a great option to limiting your waste!
They also recently introduced a Take Back Box where you can send in e-waste (think old electronics, chargers, headphones, etc.). I was recently in the market for e-waste recycling and found an electronic recycling option I liked a bit better for my circumstance, but this is still a great option!
You also get points once you send bags back in that can be redeemed for gift cards or coupons to other brands and you can also see stats on your profile, like how much waste you've saved from going to landfills.
Homeboy Electronics Recycling
Homeboy Electronics Recycling is the electronic recycling option that I went with. Their list of accepted items was more inclusive, and it was the same price as Trashie's. I also liked that they didn't send you a box to use, you are just expected to use one you already have, limiting the carbon-footprint that's created. If you have a variety of e-waste, I would recommend Homeboy Electronics Recycling over other options I looked at.
Oil Spray Bottle
One of the first eco 'swaps' I made in the kitchen was getting a refillable oil spray bottle to help avoid waste from packaging. However, the one that I previously recommended ended up breaking and not being my favorite. This year, we got a different oil spray bottle that I LOVE so much more and that is, in my opinion, more aesthetic. I definitely recommend buying this type of product (even if it's not the one I recommend) to limit the number of food packaging you buy.
Blueland Multi-Purpose Cleaner
I recently tried out Blueland's Multi-Purpose Cleaner and I LOVE it. Cleaning products are an area where I get nervous to swap because I want to find something that not only has 'clean' ingredients and minimal packaging, but that also still.... cleans. I love Blueland's dissolvable tablets, and am planning on switching over to all their products via subscription once the other products that I already have run out.
Kitchen Scrubber
Another plastic free swap that we've made in the past year that we're going to stick to is using a bamboo kitchen scrubber with a replaceable head. We stick it in the dishwasher every now and then as well. I am very happy to have switched!
FB Marketplace for Party Supplies
This may feel like a bit of a random 'swap', but I'm kicking myself for not using this more before! I have been planning several parties where I have been able to find decorations on Facebook Marketplace from people who just hosted similar events and no longer have a need for the decorations -- literally, I was needing to find purple butterfly bridal shower decor and I found a lady who had just had a purple butterfly baby shower. If you have enough time leading up to the party to do this, I cannot recommend it enough!
Local Buy Nothing Group
Another Facebook favorite these past couple of years has been my local Buy Nothing Groups! These groups are a way to give and receive free items from others in your community. I have loved it as a way to snag decor, clothes, and more, and definitely use it to give as well! When I'm decluttering, there's sometimes items that I know that just wouldn't fare well in a thrift store, but they can be a big hit on the Buy Nothing Group! It's a great way to get rid of items in a way that supports your community and that prevent waste. Definitely join yours if haven't already!
Canning
This one requires more money upfront, but if you have the space in your home and time to learn how to preserve your own food, this is a great way to swap out a lot of food packaging waste! I got an electric pressure canner at the beginning of this year and have already canned bone broth, black beans, and applesauce! One, it's been nice to start reducing the items I need to buy that come in plastic (think applesauce containers), but it's also been a way that I've been able to use up food that either isn't getting used that I already bought (dried beans), use up food scraps (broth), or use food others were going to toss because it wasn't perfect, but that was definitely still usable (apples). You can start a lot smaller than I did with a more simple water-bath or pressure canner and you can find mason jars at thrift stores or on Facebook marketplace!
These 'swaps', and others, have been helping make a big difference in my life - not only in the environmental impact aspect, but also financially and health-wise. Since I began trying to make my lifestyle as eco-friendly as possible, I've become more conscious about how the products I consume and the choices I make impact the planet and the people on it.
I'm sure some may find a 'more' eco option than some of the swaps I've listed above, but I think taking baby steps does make a difference and hopefully you felt inspired to explore some new options for your shopping and life!
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