Sustainable swaps to make to be more eco friendly

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Disclaimer!! You don’t have to buy things to start being eco friendly!!! If you already have these things on hand, it’s better to use what you have and only buy these eco friendly options when you need them. HOWEVER, if you are in the market for any of these things, these products are some really good eco friendly options. 🙂

Okay, now that we’ve got that cleared up, here are some good options of things to buy if you’re looking for more eco friendly options.

School supplies

Eco Friendly Pencils

Image result for sprout pencil
Sprout plantable graphite pencils- $14.95 Shop here

These pencils are rad because you can literally plant it when you get done using it. The end of the pencil has seeds in it!! I bought my sister some of these as a gift and they were so cool!

Eco friendly highlighters

Image result for LYRA dry highlighters pencils
Lyra dry highlighter pencils- $12.97 Shop here

These are a good alternative to traditional highlighters because they are wood instead of plastic.

Eco friendly pens

Image result for TRUEGRASSES BALL PEN
Truegrasses ball pen- Shop here

These pens are super awesome because they’re made out of natural grass/ straw and recycled plastic. I’m also in love with how they look??? Eco friendly and a good design? It’s a yes from me!

Composition notebooks over spiral notebooks

This tip is via my sister (who is a sustainability major). One of her professors told her that it’s better to buy composition notebooks than spirals to avoid the extra plastic that is normally in spiral notebooks.

Meals

Metal Straws

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Hiware 12 Pack Stainless Steel Metal Straws- $6.99 Shop here

I’m sure you’ve heard of metal straws already because these days they’re all the rage. I made the switch to metal straws about 2 years ago. I take one with me wherever I go!!! Stop using plastic straws!! This is one of the most low maintenance switches you can make. Save the turtles!!!

Reusable sandwich bags

Image result for EXTRA THICK Reusable Storage Bags (8 Pack) Silicone and Plastic Free Ziplock for Food, Lunch Sandwich
Extra thick reusable storage bags-$12.97 Shop here

Buying ziplock bags is a pain in the BUTT. Not only are reusable sandwich bags better for the environment, but they’re a lot more convenient and will save you money in the long run.

Reusable cling wrap

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Bees Wrap 3 pack- $18 Shop here

Have you ever tried tearing off a piece of cling wrap??? Yeah, it’s annoying as hell. Getting some reusable cling wrap is better for the environment AND you’ll never have to deal with tearing off cling wrap again.

You definitely don’t have to buy these. You could easily make some at home with some beeswax and a cloth. There are loads of tutorials online!

Reusable bottle

Image result for Contigo Autospout Ashland Water Bottle, 24oz , Monaco
Contigo water bottle- $11.96 Shop here

Similar to the metal straws, reusable bottles are a popular way to cut down on waste. I keep mine with me wherever I go! (Also helps a loooooot with staying hydrated).

Hygiene

Toothpaste tabs

I personally haven’t tried toothpaste tabs, but i’s a switch that I plan to make in the near future. If you have a favorite brand of toothpaste tabs pls let me know in the comments!

Bamboo toothbrush

Image result for mit buy bamboo toothbrush
Mit Buty Bamboo Toothbrush 8 pack- $11.99 Shop here

Bamboo toothbrushes are a good alternative to regular toothbrushes because they don’t contain plastic!

Shampoo bars

Image result for ethique pinkalicious
Ethique pinkalicious shampoo bar- $15.20 Shop here

Menstrual cups

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Duchess Menstrual Cup 2 Pack- $15.99 Shop here

MENSTRUAL CUPS ARE SO SUPERIOR TO TAMPONS AND PADS!!! Buying a cup was literally one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. They’re more comfortable (once you learn to put them in correctly), they’re so much more convenient, they save you money, AND they’re more eco friendly!!!!

DIY hygiene options

There are so many DIY hygiene options out there! You can make your own deodorant, chapstick, shampoo, lotion, and so much more to cut back on your plastic consumption and waste!

Okay, those are all of the sustainable swaps that I have for now! If you enjoyed this post don’t forget to subscribe to see more like it!

Thank you for reading! See you next time 🙂