6 sustainable swaps that will save money and the planet from excessive waste
Creating a cleaner home environment is easier than you think.
Working while looking after a family is the ultimate juggle, so it’s no surprise that many families put a sustainable lifestyle in the ‘too hard’ basket When life gets busy, it can seem like an overwhelming task to create a cleaner home environment – one that you probably don’t have the time (or patience) for.
However, making sustainable swaps is a simpler task than once thought, and Nourished Life founder, Irene Falcone, explains how.
“Making small sustainable swaps is far easier than many people think, it’s just about replacing things as you need them – simply swap them out as you run out so it doesn’t seem like a momentous task. It also works out to be cheaper, as all these sustainable products are designed to be used over and over again.”
Help make your family’s little world cleaner and waste free.
The following six swaps are not only simple to make, but will save you money, time and steer you and your family away from excessive waste and potentially harmful chemicals.
1. Look for waterless concentrated products
In Australia, the cleaning industry alone ships the equivalent of 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools (60 million litres of water) from around the world every year to reach supermarket shelves.
What does this all mean for your wallet? Well, you’re paying for it – paying more for products that are up to 95% water and are harmful to the environment.
One way to instantly get what you’re paying for is to look for concentrated products that offer ingredients that actually do the work instead of paying for products that are predominately water.
re.stor have recently launched a range of Laundry Detergent Sheets, a hardworking concentrate that is not only water-free, mess-free, plastic-free and family-friendly due to its hypoallergenic, natural ingredients, but it’s also super affordable for just $14 for box of 60 sheets (with two boxes set to last you nearly a year depending on family size). Each sheet is equivalent to 1 scoop of powder or cap of liquid, so in some cases you’re doubling the amount of washes you get in one box!
re.stor Laundry Detergent Sheets are available at Woolworths.
2. Bars of soap
As old-fashioned as this sounds, bars of soap are actually a really fantastic way of reducing plastic waste in your household They’ve also come a long way in terms of efficacy. You can now get shampoo, conditioner, body wash, laundry stain remover all in bar form and they work brilliantly.
While some traditional bars of soap still come packaged in plastic wrapping, there are many fantastic eco alternatives in the market using cardboard, paper or biodegradable coverings. We love Dr Bronner’s Castile Bar Soap, for a product that ticks all of the natural, sustainable and cleansing boxes for you and your family.
3. Compost bins
Who knew food scraps could save our planet!? While it can be tempting to throw scraps in the general rubbish, composting is a fantastic way of putting scraps to good use, alongside a number of environmental benefits. Organic waste can be used to improve soil quality in your garden, as well as reduce the amount of emissions released from waste in landfill.
Although the concept of having decomposing waste in your kitchen may seem unsavoury, an option like the Nourished Life Compost Bin is not only aesthetically pleasing, but has built-in carbon filters to ensure it doesn’t attract any nasty smells or bugs. Plus, they’re super simple to use and you’ll be surprised by the amount of waste you can actually compost.
A stylish compost bin that will look good on your kitchen countertop.
4. Naturally based multipurpose spray & reusable cloths
Anyone with children will know just how much mess is created on a daily basis. Although convenient, conventional cleaning tools like paper towel and multipurpose sprays can create excessive waste and a buildup of toxic chemicals in the home. The next time your spray bottle runs out or you get to the end of the paper towel roll, simply purchase a naturally based multipurpose spray with reusable cloths instead to break the habit of using single-use items.
We love Resparkle – and not just because of the gorgeous packaging and the amount of money you’ll save, but because everything about this brand is sustainable. You simply empty the sachet of ‘clean’ cleaning goodness into the bottle, add water and you have a toxin-free multipurpose spray that you can reuse over and over again.
5. Lunch bowls and containers
Whether it’s school lunches for the kids, or a lunch on the go for you, it can be easy to give in to single-use packaging like plastic take away containers or wrappers. A fantastic swap to consider is the use of reusable containers and bowls. This includes stainless steel bento boxes and ceramic bowls with lids that transform your lunch time experience and simultaneously avoid waste.
As a stainless steel lunch box is recyclable at the end of its life, it is zero waste.
6. Alternative sanitary items
Trust us when we say that everyone who has made the switch to period cups or period underwear will tell you that these swaps are absolute game-changers, not only for the planet but for sheer convenience and comfort. Menstrual cups and undies can be used instead of traditional sanitary items, and better yet can be used time and time again.
Sanitary items equate for over 200,000 tonnes of waste every year, meaning small swaps like this will make a huge difference in reducing global waste. For those hesitant to try something new, rest easy knowing that it’s incredibly empowering and less intimidating than it seems.
