A Beginner’s Guide: Top 15 Sustainable Swaps
Check out my Garden E-Book!
Did you know I wrote an e-book? It’s perfect for beginner gardeners in their first 3 years of gardening. Check it out and purchase my e-book here!
If there’s one thing I’m a passionate believer in, it’s making small choices in our daily routines to gradually lead more purposeful lives. I firmly stand by slowly, thoughtfully forming new habits instead of putting so much pressure on ourselves to transform everything overnight. It’s about intention, not perfection. The more of us who embrace being imperfectly sustainable, the higher impact we can have — and the better we can build a culture that will make healthier, low waste living accessible for everyone.
In my opinion, finding sustainable swaps that save money AND waste is a great place for all of us to start! You can make this your year of small sustainable changes. Remember — one step at a time! Using what you have is always the most sustainable thing you can do. But for some items like plastic cling wrap- I believe we can elimate by changing our products we buy to reusables/compostable products!
Keep reading for some inspiration on how to get started. I find that the kitchen and bathroom are where most of the opportunities are for lowering my environmental footprint, so I’ve divided this list into those two areas.
My 15 favourite sustainable swaps:
In the kitchen
1. Beeswax wraps: No more Saran/cling wrap! Not only is it disposable plastic, it’s also just plain annoying. Might I introduce you to an easier way? My family loves using Nature Bee Wraps to cover avocados, cheese, lemons and limes. Use code THEPURPOSEFULYOU at checkout for 10% off!
2. Swedish cloths: I honestly haven’t had to buy paper towel in over a year now — one Swedish cloth replaces 15+ rolls of paper towel! Goldilocks makes beautiful, colourful cloths, and you can find them in the TPY shop. I keep one at the sink at all times to wipe counters. Our followers get 15% off Goldilocks products using code THEPURPOSEFULYOU.
3. Reusable organic cotton bags: This can be your new go-to in bulk or produce sections. Who needs single-use plastic grocery bags in 2022? I love The Market Bags use code THEPURPOSEFULYOU10 for 10% off. Stock up to keep on hand for future shopping missions or grab a market bag for the farmers markets this year!
4. Wooden dish brush: Your plastic dish brush and sponges have had their moment. No matter what dish brush you use, it’s only going to last so long, so it’s best to choose a product that’s compostable and biodegradable to keep our drains and oceans happy. Here’s some by Millstone Organics.
5. Solid dish soap: Liquid soap is mostly water, but solid soap lasts longer and reduces your recycling. Make Nice Company also makes this sustainable swap! It’s been so nice to have a simple kitchen sink setup that’s plastic free.
6. Silicone bags: Skip the Ziploc bags when storing food. This is a game-changing way to lower your waste. Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with Stasher Bags at home and on the go — they come in so many sizes and can even be frozen or go in the microwave.
7. Reusable to-go coffee cup: Coffee addicts, fret not! There’s no need to quit your coffee-on-the-go habit. Just keep a cup in your bag — I’m a big KeepCup fan — so you’ve always got it on hand when you need to fuel up!
8. Reusable cloth napkins: I feel like this one is underappreciated. If and when making the investment is available to you, there are only perks when it comes to having cloth napkins at home: they’re elegant, they’re washable and they’ll always be around. My favourites are by Ten and Co!
If you know, you know! I am a devoted Stasher Bags fan.
In the bathroom
9. Reusable facial makeup rounds: About those cotton facial pads — it takes a huge amount of water to produce cotton, all for a pad that will be used once and then tossed out (plus most are full of microplastics). On top of that, there’s all the packaging. Opt for something more lasting, made of 100% cotton or bamboo — I love Cheeks Ahoy!
10. Reusable Q-tips: You might not have thought there would be a sustainable equivalent for Q-tips, but there is and you can find it by Last Object! This is such a smart design. Between this and my reusable rounds, my makeup removal routine is handled.
11. Safety razor with refillable blades: Again, there are only perks once you’re able to make the switch (it does cost more upfront, but it’s more than worthwhile in the end). Safety razors reduce skin irritation, shave bumps and ingrown hairs, and they’re plastic free! Check out this one I use by Albatross.
12. Shampoo and conditioner bars: Raise the bar for your shower routine and save plastic from the landfill! Good Juju, which I’m excited to have added to my shop, makes my favourite solid shampoo and conditioner bars. Tip: Find the one that works best for your hair (it may take several tries).
13. Soap bars: Yet another opportunity to ditch the plastic bottles. You won’t look back! Wychbury Ave makes a vegan exfoliating bar soap that’s so dreamy — find it in the TPY shop.
14. Skincare in glass bottles: Choose what you can reuse! I love Wild Skincare — their bottles are all glass and can be recycled or given a second life. (I love repurposing them as small vases!). Use my discount code PURPOSEFUL10 for 10% off.
15. Jojoba Oil: Use this on your hair instead of detangler or leave-in conditioner that’s full of chemicals. I highly recommend this spray by Goldilocks — I’m already on my second refill!
Thanks so much for reading! If there’s one takeaway I want you to leave with, it’s that you have the power to make small choices that align with a vision for a more sustainable world. Make one change at a time, and before you know it, it will all become easier and more second-nature. DM me on Instagram if you ever have any questions!
P.S. I created the TPY (The Purposeful You) shop to provide a one-stop shop for you to see what I use and have switched to over the years. Most participating companies are female-founded and almost all of them give TPY followers a discount, so check out the full shop here.
* Note: Some links featured in the above post are commissionable/affiliate links.