This week I'm breaking down the stereotypes of living the 'perfect' sustainable lifestyle, by highlighting the different products that are advertised to us as 'must have' eco products, which we don't usually need.
If you Googled "eco swaps" you would get hundreds of articles and links promoting the best swaps to make to live a sustainable lifestyle. When you're starting your eco journey, it's easy to fall into the trap of buying new sustainable products. It makes you feel like you're actually doing something to help the planet.
But I've got a hard truth for you...
Buying new products (even if they're eco-friendly!) just for the sake of it, is not sustainable.
If you're wanting to make positive, sustainable choices for the planet, then buying all the eco products you see is not the way. Instead you should use what you already have at home, before borrowing or buying second-hand.
It took me a while to learn that the most sustainable option is the thing you already own or didn't buy.
For example, one of the first eco products I bought was a reusable bamboo cutlery set. It was an easy, affordable swap that I could make and I was so excited when it arrived in the post! I truly believed that it was going to make a huge difference and help me be more sustainable. The reality is a little different though...
If I lived a lifestyle where I was eating out frequently and having takeaways, then having my own personal cutlery set would make sense. But that's not my lifestyle, so it would have made more sense for me to just bring cutlery from home if I was planning to eat out. That way I save the materials needed to create that bamboo cutlery set and ensure I use items I already own. That's the more sustainable option!
Swipe through the below images to find out what other sustainable swaps other eco creators regret making:
Credit: Glass Mason Jars - @earthmommatrainee / Menstrual Cups - @sustainably.sop
That's not to say using these products are bad (because they're not!), just consider whether you're actually need them in your everyday life before buying. Some of these swaps may be useful to you, but for the majority of us simple lifestyle changes like taking shorter showers, or taking part in Meatless Monday's, can have an equally important impact.
If you can live without the unsustainable option, you don't need the sustainable alternative.
By cutting out the unnecessary stuff you buy in life, you are also helping the planet. Try and be more minimalist in your everyday life and make sustainable swaps that make sense. Things like shampoo bars, plastic-free cleaning, second hand/sustainable fashion are items that you will use frequently so begin there.
I hope that All Things Green shows you that simple, everyday changes are just as important to living a sustainable lifestyle as buying eco products 💚
Join the conversation on Instagram and let us know your thoughts on this topic!
Take a look at Eco Discounts page to find some great green discounts to help you make affordable, sustainable swaps! Or head to our Depop for some second-hand gems!
If you have a sustainable everyday product you would like to share with the All Things Green community, find out how to partner with us here.
Hi, thank you for reading the All Things Green blog! 💚
We share simple eco friendly tips to help you lead an imperfect sustainable lifestyle. We believe that "small steps are still steps" and that we can all have a positive impact on the planet - no matter how small.
Have a flick through our website to find out more about our story, take advantage of some exciting eco discounts or read our previous blog posts.
- Naomi x
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