Want to become more sustainable and eco-friendly ? Stop using disposable items and replace them with these 15 easy zero waste swaps for beginners !
Ever worry about how much trash you make and the impact it has on the world around us? In this post, we'll explore various reusable options that can help you reduce your footprint, even if
We are all creating too much waste. Here are 100 ideas of items that could be reused, compposted, or recycled instead of thrown in the trash.
Living a low waste lifestyle is possible for most people. It takes a little bit of patience and little work, but you'll help the enivornment!
The zero waste lifestyle is becoming more and more popular; so, I wanted to talk about a few of the common myths. It Costs A Lot of Money: MYTH This
For those looking to have a no-waste move, I have some tips on ways to reuse materials, source green packing products and spend less money in the process.
Helpful tips to help you save more food…and money. This post comes from our blog intern, Emily. Food waste is more of an issue than most of us know. I recently read an article in National Geographic (which I highly recommend you read) and was shocked to learn how much food we throw away. I am […]
Wanting to live a greener life? These are the 8 R's of sustainability you should apply in your life to reduce your environmental impact!
Some really clever ideas.
Reduce reuse recycle. Do you resonate with this phrase? You're in the right place! Here are 5 easy ways to reduce waste and go green today!
It's Zero Waste Week this week, and the theme is "re-use". I talked last week about household items I use to generate less waste, particularly packaging waste. That got me thinking about food waste.
A green lifestyle can seem impossible when you have kids. I'm not here to tell you what to buy, or how to live (no eco swaps here). The tips in this post will help you apply the 5 'R's of zero-waste to your parenting so you can create an eco-friendly and sustainable home no matter what your circumst
These delicious, vegan oven-baked latkes utilize brocooli stems, which are usually viewed as scraps and end up being thrown away.
Reduce reuse recycle. Do you resonate with this phrase? You're in the right place! Here are 5 easy ways to reduce waste and go green today!
Reduce reuse recycle. Do you resonate with this phrase? You're in the right place! Here are 5 easy ways to reduce waste and go green today!
Reduce reuse recycle. Do you resonate with this phrase? You're in the right place! Here are 5 easy ways to reduce waste and go green today!
Reduce reuse recycle. Do you resonate with this phrase? You're in the right place! Here are 5 easy ways to reduce waste and go green today!
When it comes to low-waste living tips, it's easy to get bogged down in the details. Use this beginner's guide to successfully start your low-waste lifestyle.
Zero Waste ist nicht teuer: 12 Ideen, die fast nichts kosten zeige ich dir. Einfache Less Waste Alternativen, Omas Gegenstände und Upcycling DIY Ideen.
The holidays tend to be unnecessarily wasteful. Inside: over 50 expert tips to help you be more sustainable at home this holiday season.
Suffering from eco-anxiety ? Learn how to deal with eco-anxiety with these 5 practical tips to apply on your journey to sustainable living.
You don't normally think of grocery shopping as intimidating, but the first time you decide to go bulk shopping using your own bags it can be! I know I was certainly nervous: What do I bring? How do I do it? What if I do it wrong and they all laugh and point? Ok, my insecurities aside I hope that some of the knowledge will make you feel more confident to SkipTheBag and do your own bulk shopping. What is bulk shopping? There are many different things that technically qualify as bulk shopping. Buying large amounts of food would be bulk shopping. For example, getting a 10 pound bag of rice rather than buying 10 one-pound bags of rice. You may find that food is cheaper when purchased in larger amounts. Also it can create less waste. However this article is focused on bulk shopping by finding bulk bins where there are package-free foods. Hopefully you live somewhere that has an abundance of package free options, but if you are like me, you may have to hunt a little bit. This blog uses affiliate links. If you click on an Amazon link, I may receive a commission which is used to help fund this blog. The price to you remains unchanged. What are the benefits of bulk shopping? There are so many benefits to bulk shopping. You can get food without packaging. Eliminating packaging has a huge environmental impact. Not only is there less packaging to make, there is less to ship and store. It also leaves you without trash to worry about which is perfect for those trying to go zero waste. You can get the amount you need. Say you are making a dinner that calls for a tablespoon of some spice you don't own. Rather than purchasing an entire container of that spice you can just buy a tablespoon! No more partially used containers of things you don't like or won't use. It may be cheaper. Purchasing just what you need may mean your cost is lower, but also the price per ounce might be less than the package on the shelf. After all you aren't paying for that packaging. Now some people have found the cost per pound to be higher (which is so silly!), so if cost is important to you, do the comparison. What do you need for bulk shopping? Containers I primarily reuse containers. I have several mason jars in different sizes, I have some glass jars which I have repurposed, and I have some plastic containers I purchased with rice. When reusing old containers be sure to remove the barcode. I had an issue once where I marked out of the barcode, but it still rang up on the register. Apparently the store sells that brand! Mason jars make long term storage easy Cloth Bags If you get bags without holes you can fill them up with goodies. The nice thing about bags is they don't weight as much as glass so tare is less of an issue. Cloth bags are nice since they are lightweight. Wine bottles with screw caps Unfortunately I don't have any liquids I can buy in bulk, but if you do, you might consider reusing a wine bottle with a screw cap. Other people buy ceramic flip top containers. Screw caps prevent spills Wide Mouth Funnel This helps when the bulk container scoop or output is larger than the neck of your bottle. The one I've got is for canning so it fits perfectly into the mason jars and works alright for my other jars. Wide mouth funnel prevents mess loading into jars. Sharpie You can write things on the containers. I generally say what it is (unless it is abundantly obvious), the code for the cashier to ring it up and the tare of the container. It lasts a long time, but will come off with some rubbing alcohol or soap and water and some scrubbing. Sharpies are nearly permanent, but remove easily off containers with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Wine bottle holder bag or reusable bag You wouldn't forgo all these plastic bags and then put them in a plastic bag to carry home! I really like using a wine bottle holder bag because they allow you to carry at least 6 containers without them clanking together. Some of the smaller jars I can stack on top of one another to hold even more. Wine bottle bags will hold mason jars for easy transportation. How does bulk shopping work? This can vary a little bit by the store, but the general principles are the same. First you weigh your empty container. This is called the "tare" weight. Then fill it up with food and get the code. Take them to the cashier and they will subtract the tare weight, enter the code and charge you for the product. Some cashiers and stores do not have the ability to subtract the tare weight which means you are paying for the weight of the container. In these instances using the lightest container would be most advantageous. Other stores have you weigh the product yourself. In this case you place the container on the scale, tare it, fill it and then print the label. If you cannot write on your container, you can always take a photo of the code with your phone or write it down on your phone. I like the photo because it shows the cashier the product and the price and there is less chance of you writing it down wrong. Ask your local store what their practice is to ensure you can bring your own bags, that they tare, and their process. For example at my local bulk store I can go to any cashier and get my container tared whereas others have you go to customer service. What if they won't let me use my own bag? Well first, talk to managers or corporate headquarters of the store. Often times there isn't a rule against using your own bags, people just don't see it very often so they are unsure. If it is prohibited, make sure you express that you would really like to use your own bag. If enough people do it, they may change the policy. In the mean time see if they offer paper bags rather than the plastic bags. You can write directly on the bag and compost it when you are done. What food can you find in bulk? The possibilities are nearly endless, but it depends where you live. Often times you can find dried goods such as beans, grains, and lentils. Baking supplies like flour and sugar are also available. If you are luck you can find chocolate chips too! Many places serve snacks like nuts, trail mix, yogurt covered pretzels, candy, gummies out of bulk containers even if they don't have the other items. Hopefully this information has put you at ease and you are ready to tackle bulk shopping. And don't worry no one has laughed at me. What bulk buying tricks have you learned? Amazon Affiliate Links. Read Disclosures and Privacy Pin for later: Shared on Healthy Happy Green Natural Hop, Homesteader Hop, Homestead Hop, Home Matters, Pretty Pintastic, Share The Wealth, Pinnable Link Party
Less Stuff: Simple Zero-Waste Steps to a Joyful & Clutter-Free Life by Lindsay Miles: a book about changing our relationship with stuff. Decluttering, zero waste style.
Looking for inspiration to live more with less? Here is our list of documentaries about minimalism, simple living, and less waste.
With plastic bag bans increasing, and the awareness around the issue of plastic pollution growing, it seems that plastic bags are on the decline. Which is great news, once we figure out a good alternative line the rubbish bin? Here's 5 solutions...
The joy of using things up is important in our journey of frugal minimalism (frugality pairs exceptionally well with minimalism). Using items until they have nothing left to give allows us the opportunity to fully experience each item. Because if we tire of an item quickly or buy new things frequently, would we still be able to experience the benefits of each item and fully use them? Probably not.
Reduce reuse recycle. Do you resonate with this phrase? You're in the right place! Here are 5 easy ways to reduce waste and go green today!
This piece is an open edition custom print reproduction. Select your style (paper or canvas), print size, and framing preferences.
Constantly wasting food? Learn how to reduce food waste by using eco-friendly products, composting and much more, allowing you to save money and reduce pollution by keeping food out of landfills!
Tips to how to have a more sustainable kitchen with fewer chemicals, more natural materials, and locally sourced food. 1. Stop buying sponges and chemical cleaners You will need two things to replace your sponges: soft dish cloths and then something scrubby for pots and pans. Keep spare dish cloths right by the sink so
With all movements, there always seems to be something missing.Something to be improved. Here's why the zero waste movement isn't sustainable
Every year, Americans throw away $165 billion of food. Happy Earth Day. Let's do better.
Plastic shampoo bottles, plastic razors, plastic toothbrushes, plastic, plastic, plastic. As I was started on my journey I realized how much waste was created in the bathroom. It can be a little overwhelming to figure out where to get started, but I realized there were some easy swaps that could be done. 1. Shampoo and Conditioner Bars I'll admit, I never thought twice about throwing my empty shampoo and conditioner bottles in the trash. Most of them are recyclable, but who has a separate recycling can in their bathroom? Not me, so into the trash they went. Now that I've been using shampoo bar for months, I'm really surprised how easy the transition has been. I can't even call it more work, it's just a slightly different routine and you have eliminated a source of plastic from your life. Read my review and tips for using a shampoo bar here. I highly recommend you check it out. And commit to using it for a while, a whole month or even the while bar. I've heard different brands can have different experiences (especially if homemade), but I've been happy with J.R. Liggett's. I also have been trying out a conditioner bar and that seems to be working well too (review here). Update: I also recently found out about Plaine Products. They have shampoo, conditioner and body wash in aluminum containers. Their products are organic, vegan and sulfate free, so good products, but their packaging is awesome. They try to avoid plastic at every step. You can even order the containers with or without a pump! Their goal is to refill the containers which saves a ton of resources. If the container is too damaged then they recycle it back into more containers! They also pay for the return shipping! You really should check them out. Read my review of their conditioner here. Plus for a limited time they are offering my readers a 15% discount when you use the coupon code: skipthebag. 2. Safety Razor This is another switch I wish I'd made earlier. Hubby has used a safety razor for years, but I always just used disposables. I would use them forever, far longer than I probably should, but at the end of the day it was still plastic trash. Don't know much about safety razors? Check out my post All About Safety Razors. I'll admit I was really nervous about using a safety razor. I thought I would have to find a different way to hold the blade and move it up and down my leg. I watched several videos about shaving legs and armpits with a safety razor. And my actual experience? So easy! I haven't had to change my shaving process. I'm maybe a little more careful around the knees, but really it's been no different. In full disclosure I did get a small cut the front of my shin once. I have no idea how it happened or what caused it, but it was very small and healed quickly. Read my tips for how to use a safety razor and not get cut! Hubby has always used a Merkur classic safety razor. I used it once when I was trying to decide what I want and realized immediately that I wanted a longer handle so I got a Merkur Long Handled Razor. Update: I've found a razor I like even better! Read my review here. We use the Astra brand razor blades and have been really happy. 3. Bar soap For years I have been firmly in the body wash and poof loofah camp. Well once this last bottle of body wash runs out I'm going to be rejoining the bar soap and washcloth camp. Some soaps have left my skin feeling dry afterward, so there may be some experimenting to find one that works. However if I'm remembering correctly I've not had that experience when using Dove soap. Want to Remember these tips? Pin for later! 4. Cardboard Applicators for Tampons I was never exclusively using tampons with plastic applicators, but I also wasn't avoiding them. I typically would buy whatever was on sale. However like many other single use products once I started analyzing my waste it seemed like a no brainer to switch to cardboard applicators. Yes there are other options (no applicator or menstrual cup), but these are SIMPLE swaps. Those will be featured in part two more advanced swaps. 5. Bamboo Toothbrush This is another swap I made in the beginning of my zero waste/plastic free journey and question why I didn't do it earlier. It's a toothbrush...just not a plastic one. Yes, the bristles are still plastic (nylon), but it's a whole lot better than the alternative of an entire plastic toothbrush. I have not found a commercially available toothbrush with natural bristles. If you find one please let me know. I'll try it for you, and the environment, but honestly the thought if putting boar hair in my mouth gives me pause (Although I love it for my hair brush!). I discovered I push too hard while brushing my teeth, but since lightening up on that these Earth's Daughter's toothbrushes work perfectly well. So there you go, 5 simple swaps you could make today to help reduce your plastic use and waste in the bathroom. Want more of a challenge? Try the 5 Advanced Plastic Free Swaps For The Bathroom. Subscribe to SkipTheBag's newsletter: * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name *This post contains affiliate links. See disclosures.
It's officially fall! My absolute favorite season of the year. Give me all the "basic" --- sweaters, pumpkin s
Zero Waste Initiative shop helps you to find and shop for the best reusable, eco-friendly, natural, organic, and plastic or waste-free products so you can start reducing your waste footprint. We plan one tree for every product sold
Zero waste living can seem intimidating, but starting a zero waste lifestyle isn't as difficult as it may seem if you take it step-by-step.
Hi! I'm Danielle.
This post includes affiliate links A zero waste Christmas can - tbh - sound Scrooge like and deadly dull! But it really is possible to enjoy a sustainable Christmas much more. Because the truth is
11 Frugal Ways to Use Kitchen Scraps Save money, reduce food waste and and improve everything from your soil to your gut health with this list of 11 frugal…
These eco-friendly and zero-waste gift-wrapping ideas will reduce so much waste, especially during the Christmas holidays!
Learn how to make the timesless mantra "Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do or Do Without" work in the modern world and in your everyday life!
This list of 30 tips for reducing kitchen waste is full of ideas to help build money-saving, eco-friendly habits for an environmentally conscious lifestyle.
Crochet dishcloths are these special elements that will make your kitchen look fashionable. They are great because they are quick to crochet!
Minimalism and zero waste share several core tenants, one of them being BUY LESS. So, I wanted to round up 50 things that I don't buy anymore. After all
Going zero-waste? These single-use plastic alternatives are the perfect products to help you use less plastic at home and embrace a more eco-friendly lifestyle!
Enjoy all the flavors of Thanksgiving dinner together in one easy dish! Make the most of your leftovers by putting together this freezer meal - then you can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner any time you'd like, without all the work!
Discover creative ways to use less plastic in this post. Here are some methods to reduce your waste and live more sustainably using simple, easy steps!
