For a long time, my environmentalism was driven by my efforts to be frugal. But more than ever, I am aware of how waste is such a part of our daily lives, and I feel a much heavier responsibility to all the teens and toddlers I know who will be dealing with the consequences. I am hoping that the number of articles and people speaking up about this, even within the last few weeks, is some indication of meaningful change, but as long as there are convenience foods and gas-powered vehicles, not to mention short-sighted, power-obsessed elected officials, I will be on a mission to keep identifying the ways I'm contributing to the problem in an effort to change my habits.
It's easy to feel helpless but it's good to remind myself of what I am doing to reduce my carbon footprint. I'm listing some here in case any of these are usable ideas or simple reminders for you.
And also a disclaimer that I am aware of the socioeconomic realities of these kinds of efforts. While I haven't researched any data to back up my assumption, my experience is that the most vocal proponents about environmental efforts like the ones I mention below are white middle-class women who can afford (time and money) to switch to alternatives.
And also a disclaimer that I am aware of the socioeconomic realities of these kinds of efforts. While I haven't researched any data to back up my assumption, my experience is that the most vocal proponents about environmental efforts like the ones I mention below are white middle-class women who can afford (time and money) to switch to alternatives.
1. Eat less meat. This article claims this change could be our biggest environmental impact. While I don't plan to go vegan, I consider myself a reducetarian and try to be vegetarian as often as I can. Red meat, especially, is a luxury, and thinking of it that way helps me eat less of it. There are so many good things to eat that aren't meat! I try to remember to share some of these recipes here.
2. Say no to plastic shopping bags. Many of us are getting better about remembering to do this when buying groceries. However, I have been noticing how few of us take them on non-grocery shopping trips. Anytime you head into any retail space (I'm looking at you, Target and Petco shoppers), take a reusable bag or two, or take your cart with your unbagged goods back to the car and load it in.
3. Bring my own produce bags. I realized how silly it was to bring in my own shopping bags only to bag my produce and bulk items with the plastic bags in the store. I now have a stash of reusable and washable mesh bags. They're easy to make but I've also picked some up at Fred Meyer. Sidenote: I also stopped buying most produce at Trader Joe's because the amount of plastic they use to package fruits and vegetables is astounding. And the quality is not that great, anyway. (Though this report sounds promising!)
4. A better packed lunch. I aspired to stop using plastic baggies and started packing everything in reusable containers, but then I got a tiffin for Christmas, and it was a glorious day to have all my lunch in one container! I can't use it for a hot lunch, but it has had the added benefit for me in that I almost always pack a salad and get more vegetables in my diet that way.
5. Keep utensils with me. I purchased a cute bamboo utensil set because I like using them with my tiffin (as opposed to metal, which is clangy and may scratch the stainless steel), but I usually have them with me for any time I have a work potluck or get takeout. Just rinse them off after each use. You could just as easily bring a set with you from home, or purchase one from Goodwill. Wrap it in a cloth napkin in your bag and you'll never have to use plastic utensils.
6. French press and Aeropress and loose-leaf tea: All my essential morning beverages do not require fancy machinery, paper filters or disposable K-cups and honestly do not take that much more effort than pressing a button to dispense water. (OK, Aeropress sometimes requires some muscle.) I've had my French press for 15 years and only had to replace a broken beaker a couple times. For the Aeropress, we bought a reusable metal filter. And for loose-leaf tea, a simple strainer is all that's needed. The only thing you really need is a good kettle, which I think is worth the splurge.
7. Challenge myself to use just one paper napkin or paper towel per use, and use cloth napkins at home. I used to take multiple paper towels and napkins from dispensers until I learned that, in the case of paper towels, if I simply take a couple extra seconds to shake the water off my hands, a single folded paper towel is enough; and in the case of napkins, the only time I need more than one is when I'm out eating barbecue. Try it and see how much you can get away with not using. (You can always bring reusable napkins, too, but I find it's harder to remember to keep clean ones with me.)
8. If I must use a plastic bag, bottle or other container, try to use it at least twice. It happens, and I won't beat myself up over it.
9. Compost. We have a compost pail next to the sink. Though we don't compost for our own use, we are able to place our compost in the green bin for curbside pick up. Someday I'd like to have my very own compost pile, but for now, I'm happy to have less waste go in the trash and therefore reduce the number of garbage bags going to the dump.
10. Rethink my beauty routines. I love my products, but I stopped using cotton rounds when I found a reusable option for my toner application.
11. Make my own dish soap. It's great because the ingredients that go into making this are ingredients I use to clean everything else in my home. I used to make my own laundry detergent, too, but I was having trouble with making the soap flakes dissolve in cold water, so I'm back to liquid detergent.
12. Rely less on my car. We've gotten by for about 10 years with just one car between the two of us. I know this is not feasible for most people - and sometimes it's a real pain for us. But the truth is that in general, I appreciate the ways we don't always have to rely on a car to get around (and not have a car payment). Some keys to our success is an employer-provided bus pass (this is saving me serious money), the ability to work from home, a passion for bikes, living in a walkable neighborhood near public transit, grocery stores, downtown attractions, parks and hiking trails, and wearing good shoes I can walk a mile (or more) in for all seasons. (We are also not over-scheduled. That would probably kill us.) I hope Spokane continues to work toward becoming a better commute-alternative city.
13. Use a hanky. I'm adding this in because I have some really cute hankies and they're softer than Kleenex, but I'm not exclusively using them yet.
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| Produce bags I made for Mom. Easy pattern here. |
3. Bring my own produce bags. I realized how silly it was to bring in my own shopping bags only to bag my produce and bulk items with the plastic bags in the store. I now have a stash of reusable and washable mesh bags. They're easy to make but I've also picked some up at Fred Meyer. Sidenote: I also stopped buying most produce at Trader Joe's because the amount of plastic they use to package fruits and vegetables is astounding. And the quality is not that great, anyway. (Though this report sounds promising!)
4. A better packed lunch. I aspired to stop using plastic baggies and started packing everything in reusable containers, but then I got a tiffin for Christmas, and it was a glorious day to have all my lunch in one container! I can't use it for a hot lunch, but it has had the added benefit for me in that I almost always pack a salad and get more vegetables in my diet that way.
5. Keep utensils with me. I purchased a cute bamboo utensil set because I like using them with my tiffin (as opposed to metal, which is clangy and may scratch the stainless steel), but I usually have them with me for any time I have a work potluck or get takeout. Just rinse them off after each use. You could just as easily bring a set with you from home, or purchase one from Goodwill. Wrap it in a cloth napkin in your bag and you'll never have to use plastic utensils.
6. French press and Aeropress and loose-leaf tea: All my essential morning beverages do not require fancy machinery, paper filters or disposable K-cups and honestly do not take that much more effort than pressing a button to dispense water. (OK, Aeropress sometimes requires some muscle.) I've had my French press for 15 years and only had to replace a broken beaker a couple times. For the Aeropress, we bought a reusable metal filter. And for loose-leaf tea, a simple strainer is all that's needed. The only thing you really need is a good kettle, which I think is worth the splurge.
7. Challenge myself to use just one paper napkin or paper towel per use, and use cloth napkins at home. I used to take multiple paper towels and napkins from dispensers until I learned that, in the case of paper towels, if I simply take a couple extra seconds to shake the water off my hands, a single folded paper towel is enough; and in the case of napkins, the only time I need more than one is when I'm out eating barbecue. Try it and see how much you can get away with not using. (You can always bring reusable napkins, too, but I find it's harder to remember to keep clean ones with me.)
8. If I must use a plastic bag, bottle or other container, try to use it at least twice. It happens, and I won't beat myself up over it.
9. Compost. We have a compost pail next to the sink. Though we don't compost for our own use, we are able to place our compost in the green bin for curbside pick up. Someday I'd like to have my very own compost pile, but for now, I'm happy to have less waste go in the trash and therefore reduce the number of garbage bags going to the dump.
10. Rethink my beauty routines. I love my products, but I stopped using cotton rounds when I found a reusable option for my toner application.
 |
| Dish soap recipe here |
12. Rely less on my car. We've gotten by for about 10 years with just one car between the two of us. I know this is not feasible for most people - and sometimes it's a real pain for us. But the truth is that in general, I appreciate the ways we don't always have to rely on a car to get around (and not have a car payment). Some keys to our success is an employer-provided bus pass (this is saving me serious money), the ability to work from home, a passion for bikes, living in a walkable neighborhood near public transit, grocery stores, downtown attractions, parks and hiking trails, and wearing good shoes I can walk a mile (or more) in for all seasons. (We are also not over-scheduled. That would probably kill us.) I hope Spokane continues to work toward becoming a better commute-alternative city.
 |
| The day in 2006 when I bought my car |
Things I'm thinking of next:
1. A shampoo/conditioner solution. Here's a subscription service that sends you refilled bottles and you send back empties. I'm also wary of the proliferation of subscription services.
2. Buying in bulk more frequently. (And I'm not talking about Costco.) I am bad about bringing in my own containers for some of these items, and I'm also dissatisfied with the options at my local grocery stores for doing this. But one step would be to write the tare weight of my containers and have them with me when I shop (which requires better planning when I shop).
3. Clingwrap. This is one of those areas where I'm trying to greatly reduce the need for it - I am storing more stuff in containers, and I've tried those beeswax wraps. But there are certain occasions when clingwrap is hard to substitute and retain freshness. Maybe I need to get over it.
4. Will this be the year I finally grow a vegetable garden?
5. When the pavement is less icy, my goal is to always bike to the grocery store (this will require good planning, too).
Other resources I've found inspiring and helpful:
Zero Waste Home: I read Bea Johnson's book years ago and while her lifestyle feels extreme, there were plenty of good ideas we can adopt into our daily lives. Her "refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot" theme is a good one to remember. She also has some good links to resources on her website (check out the Bulk Finder!).
Litterless: Similar to Zero Waste Home, but more frequently updated with ideas, and more great resources for finding bulk and composting locations.
Grove Collaborative: I buy almost all our home cleaning products here for delivery. Sponges, Sal Suds, toilet cleaner, Bon Ami powder and other random household items (rubber gloves, compost bags). You can set the
delivery date and change what's in your cart. This won't necessarily save you money in the short term, but it gives you better options that do last longer.
1. A shampoo/conditioner solution. Here's a subscription service that sends you refilled bottles and you send back empties. I'm also wary of the proliferation of subscription services.
2. Buying in bulk more frequently. (And I'm not talking about Costco.) I am bad about bringing in my own containers for some of these items, and I'm also dissatisfied with the options at my local grocery stores for doing this. But one step would be to write the tare weight of my containers and have them with me when I shop (which requires better planning when I shop).
3. Clingwrap. This is one of those areas where I'm trying to greatly reduce the need for it - I am storing more stuff in containers, and I've tried those beeswax wraps. But there are certain occasions when clingwrap is hard to substitute and retain freshness. Maybe I need to get over it.
4. Will this be the year I finally grow a vegetable garden?
5. When the pavement is less icy, my goal is to always bike to the grocery store (this will require good planning, too).
Other resources I've found inspiring and helpful:
Zero Waste Home: I read Bea Johnson's book years ago and while her lifestyle feels extreme, there were plenty of good ideas we can adopt into our daily lives. Her "refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot" theme is a good one to remember. She also has some good links to resources on her website (check out the Bulk Finder!).
Litterless: Similar to Zero Waste Home, but more frequently updated with ideas, and more great resources for finding bulk and composting locations.
Grove Collaborative: I buy almost all our home cleaning products here for delivery. Sponges, Sal Suds, toilet cleaner, Bon Ami powder and other random household items (rubber gloves, compost bags). You can set the
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