Start the new year by making a few easy sustainable changes to help you look after the environment (and your wallet) better.
1. Carry reusable bags
Single use and plastic bags may be convenient, but we all know how costly they are to the environment. If you haven't already, now is the time to ditch lame, single use plastic and start carrying reusable bags in your handbag or car so you've always got one with you when you need it. They are relatively cheap, and come in a multitude of fashionable prints, colours and styles.
2. Use reusable water bottles and coffee cups
Plastic water bottles and single use coffee cups are still used everywhere. It's scary how many are thrown away each day! Bring your own coffee cup to the café and instead of buying water, fill your own reusable water bottle. Not only is it kinder to the planet - it also saves you money in the longer term.
3. Hang your washing to dry
This is the year to embrace the clothes line! Tumble dryers are expensive to run and use a lot of energy, so it's no surprise they aren't great for the environment. Air drying clothes is more environmentally friendly, saves money, and reduces wrinkles and creases (and ironing). And as it's less harsh on your garments, it also increases the lifespan of your clothes.
4. Reduce your home's standby power use
Many plugged-in appliances still continue to draw electricity even though they are turned off. And if you have a lot of these inefficient appliances in your home, you could be paying hundreds of dollars or more per year for unnecessary power and contributing more than 1,000 kilograms of greenhouse gases to the environment (source: Choice). So to reduce the impact of these voltage vampires, make sure you switch off devices and appliances at the power point when they're not in use.
5. Use natural or eco-friendly cleaning products
Buying eco-friendly cleaning products, or trying natural alternatives, is another change you can make to go easier on the environment. Lemon, vinegar and baking soda are well known natural cleaning agents with endless applications to get your home sparkling. Or there are plenty of options in the supermarket to go greener and eliminate toxic chemicals to make your home safer.
6. Upcycle or donate
Doing a little new year spring cleaning? Instead of throwing away your unwanted items, try giving them a new lease on life! Can that unwanted item be repurposed into a fun craft project for the kids? Or is there a way to get creative and prolong the life of unwanted clothing? Cutting off jeans into shorts, or shortening a dress are ways to give your old garments a new lease on life. If it really is time to say goodbye, you can donate your pre-loved items in good condition. Donating keeps them out of the landfill and can benefit the local community.
7. Buy eco-friendly
If you're keen to cut down your fast fashion consumption and make your wardrobe a little more eco-friendly, there are so many amazing brands offering sustainable clothing and homewares these days. Here at Bamboo Instyle, we offer a range of earth friendly bamboo women's clothing, bamboo men's clothing and bamboo bath towels.
By making these few easy and eco-friendly choices over the course of the year, you could make a real impact to the environment - and save money along the way.