Over the last few years, you may have noticed that there is a lot more coverage of the damage being done to this earth, caused by centuries and decades of bad human habits. We've been naughty and as a result, the earth is suffering for it. Not only is she suffering she is not going to be able to look after us very soon and something needs to be done about it. As Michael Jackson wisely sang, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror". I decided a few years ago that I would do what I could to leave this planet a better place for my children and grandchildren. I care about this planet and the state I leave it in for the next generations. Gone are the days when I thought recycling at home was the best I could do. My interest grew beyond this and led me to do a lot more research about what else I could be doing to live a more sustainable lifestyle. I don't know it all but here's a brief summary of what I have learned so far:
Reusable makeup remover pads: I don't wear heavy makeup anymore (the pandemic took me back to my clean girl makeup days) so I was using fewer cotton pads to remove my makeup. Now, I use reusable cloth pads made from bamboo which are incredible. They come with a washbag so after they're used, I put them in the washing machine to be cleaned and then I can use them again!
Electric toothbrush: I bought an Oral-B electric toothbrush years ago and have not looked back since. The only thing I am still conscious of is the fact that the brush heads are still made from plastic and cannot be recycled. I came across this Suri toothbrush which is a lot more eco-friendly. This is firmly on my wishlist as a future investment.
Use a reusable cup/bottle for your bought drinks: this is a game-changer and I would absolutely recommend you invest in a water bottle and reusable cup if you like a coffee when you're out. I have a SodaStream machine which came with bottles so I use these whilst out and about. I bought a suitably girly cup for my fave Costa drinks and don't regret the extra load in my bag. The bonus with doing this is that my cup is fairly large so even when I order a medium drink, I get quite a generous helping.
Consider longer-term purchases: Fast fashion is headed out fast and I couldn't be happier. I've always been an advocate of quality over quantity and when it comes to the things I wear, I try to follow this principle as much as I can. I don't regret spending more time looking through the fabric composition of clothes before I purchase so I can get the most use out of them. In addition, I like to donate clothes often and after giving away most of my clothes that were bought on impulse and rarely worn, I always give myself more time to think about purchases.
Buy secondhand: there are some serious treasures to be found in charity shops and it can be quite fun to thrift. The main idea is to give something a second life; one man's trash is another's treasure. My favourite thing to buy from and give to charity shops are books. Apart from my Christian books, most of the books that sit in my bookcase are from charity shops. The best thing about it is the old book smell - cannot be beaten!
If you feel like doing all the above is overwhelming, start with one small thing. It's taken a while for me to reach a point where I actively think about my choices and I still have a long way to go. It's better to start late than not at all! Hopefully, some of the things I do will inspire you to make a change for yourself. If you have any tips you'd like to share with me, please let me know in the comments.
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