Jan 28 2022 - Written By Emily Camargo
3 Innovative Ways to Keep Your Eco-Friendly Resolution This Year
What is it about the start of a new year? We’re excited about the possibilities and feel a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
We set ambitious health, finances, relationships, and personal development goals. Everything seems within our reach, and there’s nothing we can’t accomplish. We got this!
But this year, instead of focusing on the usual things, let’s set goals related to our environmental impact. Success is often found in the small, easy-to-do habits that we don’t even think about. I’m excited about the eco-friendly resolutions I made this year. And I want to share my plan to keep them. It doesn’t have to be a daunting task – it’s just a matter of perspective.
Like our promises to eat cleaner – you can choose to see them as limiting things you enjoy – or as an opportunity to try new things.Are you determined to follow a more eco-friendly path this year? Let’s talk about ways to stick to our goals and make a real difference.
Disclaimer –- I don’t have affiliate links with any of the companies listed below. I simply want to share some interesting eco-friendly products that I’m excited about.
For all of the chemical-filled junk that comes in toxic packaging, there are just as many amazing eco-friendly products. Exploring sustainable alternatives to the products you already use has a lot of benefits. You may notice:
When you take a good hard look at where most of your household trash comes from, it’s in your bathroom. That’s why one of my faves is the Package Free Shop. They have an impressive collection of plastic-free, sustainable, eco-friendly products.
They carry everything from shampoo bars to toothbrushes. And most of their products are made to be reusable, so you’re not constantly restocking items like you would with disposables.
Another huge source of waste is toilet paper – sorry, I couldn’t resist. There is no denying that toilet paper is an inevitable part of life, since we all need it. But new eco-friendly products are revolutionizing the way we’ve always done things.
Many people love supporting brands like Reel. It’s a subscription-based service that delivers sustainably sourced tree-free paper without any dyes or fragrances. And they never use plastic packaging, not even the tape.
While we’re worrying about single-handedly taking down forests with our tp consumption, billions of people are forced to use the bathroom outside. So part of the proceeds from reel provides clean toilets in areas of need. Not only are you reducing your carbon footprint, but you’re also helping others in need.
Another brand that’s taking us out of the box is Tushy. They remove the paper from the equation altogether with their easy-to-install bidet. Every year 15 million trees are sacrificed to provide toilet paper for Americans alone. Through smarter consumer choices we can work together to change that.
The clothing we purchase has a profound impact on the environment. The good news is that there are plenty of eco-friendly clothing options. Let's check out a few:
Brands like VETTA take sustainable fashion to the next level with 5-piece capsule collections. You get 5 staple pieces that can be mixed and matched into 30 statement-making outfits. They only use sustainable fabrics and responsible manufacturing. Their emphasis is on minimalism and multi-use pieces that last.
Another business creating innovative fashion is Girlfriend Collective. I just love their motto: “Because old water bottles look better on you than they do polluting the planet.” To date, they’ve recycled over 10 million plastic bottles and turned them into high fashion. Their website is a breath of fresh air and shows off their eco-friendly clothes on models of all shapes and ages.
Ready to uplevel your fashion game with minimal impact on the environment? Then check out companies like thredUP. They’re a leader in fashion sustainability because their entire focus is on resale. They have redistributed over 100 million garments. Every single one of them enjoys a new life instead of being thrown in the trash.
Living a sustainable lifestyle is often thought of as a very personal decision. But your eco-friendly choices don’t have to stop for special occasions. We all have to shop for someone else at least once or twice throughout the year, so let’s check out some cool gift ideas.
One of my favorite eco-friendly gifts is a compostable phone case from Pela. Their designs are absolutely stunning and, of course, better for the environment than traditional throwaway cases. Their customers have collectively prevented 48 million plastic bags from entering the ocean, and their goal is to reach 1 billion. That’s incredible!
What about sustainable drinkware? Over 500 billion plastic bottles and 16 billion disposable coffee cups go in the trash each year. Help a loved one reduce their carbon footprint with eco-friendly gifts from Sustainable Tomorrow. They have everything from bamboo coffee cups to stainless steel water bottles. You’ll probably want to pick one up for yourself while you’re at it.
Have a green thumb on your eco-friendly gift list? They would love a Subpod! Gone are the days of stinky compost piles attracting an army of rodents. Ew! Subpods go in-ground where worms and microbes are happier. They’re perfect for small yards or urban spaces, and the lid doubles as a comfy seat. And if you have any questions, they’ve created free courses and built an online support community.
Making resolutions always brings a mix of optimism and fear of failure. I get it because I’m cautiously optimistic about most of mine. But eco-friendly goals are different.
Sustainable change depends on all of us as a world community rather than any one person’s level of discipline. And you’re not alone because success depends on all of us working together.
Support eco-friendly and sustainable businesses both big and small. Share your ideas with friends and family. Join an online community or follow eco-friendly superheroes on social media for inspiration.
If you have an eco-friendly brand, I’d love to help you reach a broader audience. People are looking for the types of products and services you offer. Check out my website to start growing your business organically. Together we can accomplish amazing things!