Eco-Friendly Swaps for 2021

Hello and Happy Earth Day to everyone living on this beautiful rock we call earth. With all the talk of climate change and what our carbon footprint means, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite products that are sustainable as well as helpful in my daily life. It takes a lot of people doing small things correctly to finally make a change and that's got to start somewhere. Why don't you let it start with you?

Bamboo Toothbrush/ Floss

One of the first swaps I made during my eco-gal transformation was my toothbrush. I have a Habitat Botanicals Bamboo toothbrush and floss that I adore. Using it for the first time was weird because I was used to the feeling of the smooth plastic but now it's made of bamboo so it does feel different. It looks like they took their toothbrush off of the website but I went and found another for you! This one is from Public Goods, a sustainability-focused online market. They have other eco-friendly products and you can get 10% off your first order when you sign up with your email.

Deodorant

There's a couple of different deodorants that are natural and don't contain plastic packaging and I've tried a few of them. My favorite would have to be the Hey Humans version. The stick itself is propylene glycol and paraben-free and it doesn't crumble when you try to put it on. They come in seven different aromas each one crafted with essential oils including Apple Matcha and Cedarwood Sage. I have the Banana Aloe one but my next tester is definitely going to be the Rosewood Ginger. It smells amazing and will stay on and work for me all day. The packaging is made from paper so once you are finished, you can recycle it. Cruelty-free and vegan, I couldn't be happier with this purchase.

Check out some of Hey Humans other products on their website here or pick up their products at your local Target.

Safety Razor

Disposable razors are tough to recycle. There are multiple kinds of materials that go into making a single product. With over 2 billion razors thrown away a year, the decision was easy. I switched to my safety razor about a year and a half ago and it's the best decision I've made for my routine. As opposed to disposable razors, these will give you a closer, smoother shave for every part of your body. The one I use is from Amazon, you can find it here. This one comes with a pack of razors that will last you quite a long time, even if you shave regularly. It also comes in recyclable cardboard packaging. Boom. No waste. Another option that I was looking into was the Rose Gold Saftey Razor from EcoRoots. This one is so pretty and it would look great in any bathroom.

Stainless Steel Straws

If you're one of those people that agrees that drinking something out of a straw is just inherently better, then start bringing your own straw to places as an alternative to their plastic straws. Some places have paper straws and their heart is in the right place, but they crumble in your drink. If you use your straw 150 times, you'll break even on your environmental impact. That means that the amount of energy it takes to make the product would equal the use you got out of it. Because they last longer and as long as you can keep track of them, these will last you quite a few years. I found mine at the local Dollar Tree, but there are millions out there, go find your straw match.

Reusable Jug

Listen, it's 2021. If you don't have a reusable water bottle, I'm sure you have already been publicly shamed so I won't do it to you. I have water bottles for different occasions. My main one is a 16oz Hydroflask. Call it basic, but it's popular because they are so durable, insulated, and come in a ton of fun colors. If there's a more professional event, I have my glass Glacce Crystal Elixir Water Bottle that has a detachable quartz crystal. It's hot, it's sleek, it's energizing. It makes me feel like that crystal bitch.I have a couple of Nalgene water bottles that I usually use for outside adventures and camping. They're lightweight and easy to clean. I love all of my jugs.

This also goes for mugs! If you're a coffee lover to the core, bring your own travel mug to your local stop or better yet, make your own at home. There's a ton of different ways to get your fix without throwing away another clear cup.

Canvas Bags (Homemade)

There are a million canvas bags that people hand out or that are just super cute and you just have to get one, I get it. But in order for them to work, we can't keep buying more. Tote bags made from recycled polypropylene plastic require 26 uses before their environmental impact is equal, and cotton tote bags require 327 uses. A lot of energy goes into producing these kinds of products. I have a lot of canvas bags that were free to me but if I ever need more you won't find me going straight to a website. It's super easy to make your own grocery or produce bags out of old shirts and fabric. The biggest thing to practice with these is consistency. Every time you go to the grocery store, make sure you have your bags with you!

Makeup Eraser Rag

This is one of my favorite items. It's actually a microfiber car shammy from the ye ole Dollar Tree. It's perfect for removing makeup quickly and effectively. I took a makeup class recently and was able to get a full face of costume makeup off with it dry. Once you add some makeup remover, you're as fresh as a daisy. I cut one of them in half for two separate cloths and keep one of them in my makeup bag and the other in the bathroom. I would love to try the Original Makeup Eraser, you can pick one up at Sephora or Ulta or shop their website. Today they have a code for 50% off if you use the code "motherearth".

Menstrual Cup

For all my people with periods, you have got to try a menstrual cup. It's a single cup that is inserted inside the vagina and catches the blood during that time of the month. It's sustainable, it's comfortable, and it's so much cheaper than buying tampons every month. Using this while camping is a lifesaver because you don't have to worry about packing out a used pad or tampon. They don't smell because it doesn't give it time to oxidize the blood. Some people might have a hard time becoming intimate with that part of their body. Know that that is a normal feeling and that there is only one way to familiarize yourself. Other than that, it's super easy to take care of and find the perfect one that works for you. I currently have the Lena Cup in pink. This one was my first one and it's what made me switch in the first place. It's sturdy and has a little bag that it comes with. I highly recommend it. I also have the June cup which I bought as a backup. I like this one a lot too. It's a little thinner, so it may be more comfortable for some. This was $10 for me when I bought it but it looks like they're doing a sale in which you can get one for $6! (Not sponsored just trying to help a friend out)

Now is the best time that you could switch to some of these products in order to help minimize your carbon footprint on this earth. These are just a few products that have helped me this year. Tell us what your favorite Eco-friendly products are in the comments below. You can enjoy these songs that remind me of the earth.

See the World- Caamp

Listen on Youtube or Spotify

Letter to Lady J- Dispatch

Listen on Youtube or Spotify

Funny Feelin'- Langhorne Slim

Listen on Youtube or Spotify

Letting In- Beauville, NoMBe

Listen on Youtube or Spotify