Eco-friendly living often gets a reputation for being expensive and while in some cases it can be true, there are so many versatile and affordable options for you to incorporate into your home while reaping the benefits of being a more eco-friendly family.
With a few simple changes that you can make over a period of time you can make a huge positive impact on the world. When I hear people complain about recycling and believe that it won’t make a difference to the environment if they do, I find it crazy. Habits, morals and values are extremely important and that attitude unfortunately is contagious with their children and others who may look up to them.
If everyone had that same mindset, then nothing positive would get done, and that’s why we have come here today to change. No matter your income, social status or where you live, there are little things you can do every single day that will make an impact. Let’s explore some of the affordable and world-changing eco-friendly solutions for green lovers that you can add to your lifestyle.
Refillable Products
Emerging trends in running a home are choosing companies that offer refillables that come in smaller and recyclable packages. This truly makes the difference in terms of minimising your waste but a small step in the right direction, providing that there is no need for so much packaging with products. These refillables can be for things such as cleaning products, shampoo, and so much more.
As more brands are aiming for a more sustainable product, we will expect to see much more convenient packaging and rewards for bringing in recyclables. For example, Lush, a popular company for their bath bombs and lovely scented products, rewards customers with free products if they bring back all of their empties. It’s little things like that that make a huge impact on the environment. Therefore, by picking brands that have these values, morals and such in place, you will also be doing your part.
DIY Natural Cleaning Products
You will be surprised at how many unnecessary smells and chemicals are added to everyday household cleaning products, which can be harmful to the environment, respiratory systems and your animals. While some products you might just want in the house for general use, there are natural cleaning remedies that are just as effective and multi-useful.
White wine vinegar, baking soda and lemon, just all combined, bring their unique qualities and remove any harsh smells, stains and mess from your surfaces. Vinegar can be used on clothes stains, clean surfaces and even windows, while baking soda is known for similar things but also for removing any odour. Lemon juice is both a natural disinfectant and a degreaser, perfect for the oven. Even removing odours in a fridge, you can cut open a lemon, leave it in there and you will no longer have any unpleasant smells.
By making your own, you are saving on constant waste and more value for money and these three things alone can be used for a multitude of things like cleaning carpets, ovens, fridges and even clothes.
No Waste
There was a New York sustainable fashion artist that I saw on social media who collected all of her trash, from sweet wrappers to those metal lids you get from opening a can and creating new and useful things again. Since when was it unconventional to make use of everything that we have? Make use of everything that you feel could serve some sort of purpose within your home.
An idea could be crafting a table sheet out of other clothing materials you no longer have use for. Unravelling old garments and knitting them into something else. There are so many things you can do with old products that keeping hold of them might inspire you in the future to make the perfect sustainable interior design elements.
Composting at Home
Recycling also means getting rid of your food waste appropriately. Not only does this make it easier for those who graciously take care of our rubbish but it also provides you with the opportunity to do something alternative with your waste.
Composting is a simple and effective way to reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your garden, plants and life all around you. While this, of course, only applies to those who have a garden, it’s never too early to educate yourself on the process for the future.
We would always recommend that you start small with a small bin or pile, preferably away from your kitchen window. Add in any and every bit of food scraps you collect, yard waste and brown materials like leaves and even cardboard in some cases. To speed the process up, consistently turn your pile.
Gardening To Your Benefit
If you are lucky to have an open space instead of filling it with flowers, grass or decking, look into creating a vegetable garden. Choose a spot that gets the most sunlight; this way you can create some amazing, delicious, free food that not only saves you money but also reduces the amount of plastic and waste that you are piling into your bins.
You can also bring a mini garden indoors; growing little herbs such as basil, mint or rosemary is very easy to do and works perfectly indoors all year round. When it comes to cooking, you merely need to walk over to the window and pick a few leaves. This is not only very cost effective but you are enriching your food with so many fresh ingredients with no harmful chemicals or pesticides.
Alternatively, you can support local farmers and producers, which not only reduces the amount of plastic waste but also invests in your local community and gets much more taste for your money.
Energy Efficient Appliances
Upgrades in your lifestyle aren’t the only alternative and affordable option for you to take part in, but whether you are looking to switch out your appliances or you are moving somewhere, you’ll need some new ones. This is the perfect opportunity to opt for energy-efficient appliances. Not only is this more environmentally friendly but they are much more cost-effective in the long run.
Look for appliances with Energy Star certifications and make sure it’s products such as refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers and air conditioning in Yorkshire units.
Final Thoughts
The list of ways to be more sustainable and eco-friendly grows constantly and if your desired lifestyle allows you the means to do it, I would always recommend it. It’s so much more fulfilling and truly connects you back to the environment. Not every eco-change involves thousands of pounds or loads of effort. Just little changes will set you up on your journey and at some point, you won’t ever look back.