Sustainable Swaps at Home
For busy working moms, sustainability can often fall to the wayside in favor of convenience. Somedays, pre-packaged lunch and single-use water bottles are the only things getting us out of the door on schedule- and that’s OKAY! Living sustainably doesn’t require perfection, just progress. In the spirit of Earth Week, we’ve rounded up a list of super practical sustainable swaps you can start making in your home.
Paper Towels vs. Cloth Towels
Curb your paper towel usage by encouraging your family to reach for cloth alternatives instead. Dedicate a hook in your kitchen for a handwashing towel to help decipher which towel is destined for dishes vs. cleaning vs. hands.
Single-Use Cleaners vs. Concentrates
Instead of stocking up on cleaning products packaged in single-use spray bottles, switch to cleaning concentrates from brands like Grove Co. and Blueland. These magic elixirs transform tap water into multi-purpose cleaners in the blink of an eye. Plus, their small-but-mighty size will help keep your under-sink-cabinet a little less cluttered.
Traditional vs. LED Light Bulbs
Swapping traditional light bulbs for LEDs is a win-win for the environment and your wallet. Incandescent light bulbs last a mere 1,200 hours in comparison to the 25,000 hour lifespan of an LED light bulb, and cost nearly 3 times as much to operate. In terms of impact, LED light bulbs use 10 times less energy and emit considerably less carbon dioxide than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. In short, swapping your light bulbs might be one of our easiest sustainability tips!
Plastic vs Sustainable, Non-Toxic, and Green
If you are ready to start the sustainability journey and don’t know where to start, or if you are already there but are struggling to stay consistent, Repurpose makes it easy for the busiest of mamas, by offering totally non-toxic, totally sustainable, green products that you need—from trash bags to compostable wine glasses! Our very own HeyMama member Lauren Gropper founded this company 10 years ago with a mission to eliminate plastic pollution. Since launching, Repurpose has kept 3,531,805 lbs of waste out of landfills and counting. Oh, and did we mention that you can just set it and forget it with monthly subscription packages? Can’t get easier than that to help make the world a little greener.
Traditional vs Organic, Eco-Friendly Tampons & Pads
Did you know the average American woman uses more than 12,000 tampons in her lifetime? Have you ever wondered what these products are really made of? And what is the impact of these traditional products on your body and the planet? HeyMama member Denielle Finkelstein offers us a better solution for our bodies and the world through her company, TOP (the organic project). All TOP tampons and pads feature 100% certified organic cotton free from synthetics, toxins, pesticides, dyes and fragrances. TOP tampons feature a plant-based tampon applicator, to replace the traditional plastic design. TOP doesn’t stop there: for every purchase, they donate products to schools, shelters, nonprofits and organizations dedicated to helping women & girls in need. This small change can make a world of difference, every month.
Recycling Program for Beauty Products
Sustainability never looked so good. Not only has HeyMama member Indie Lee created a clean beauty skincare line with the planet in mind, she has also launched a recycling program and clean commitment initiative to clean up packaging and lessen its impact on the planet. This includes the company’s partnership with Pact to collect and properly recycle hard-to-recycle packaging. Send back the bottles and jars (paid by Indie Lee), and earn credit for future purchases! Look good, do good.
Sustainability
What small or big steps are you taking to help make the world a bit more green and a whole lot more sustainable?