1. Get a reusable water bottle
Always, always, always carry a durable, reusable water bottle (preferably bamboo or stainless steel) with you to cut down on the extremely wasteful practice of buying plastic water bottles from the store.
2. Make your own cleaning products
Many household cleaners are tested on animals, packaged in plastic, and contain harsh chemicals that harm the environment. But you can always make your own cleaning products. For example, mix vegetable oil with coarse sea salt to clean cast-iron pans to a shine, or baking soda and vinegar to unclog a clog or clean a sink.
3. Ask in advance not to give you a straw to drink
While this may seem like a small thing at first, just remember that we use approximately 185 million plastic straws a year. When you order a drink at a cafe, let the waiter know in advance that you don’t need a straw. If you enjoy drinking through a straw, get your own reusable stainless steel or glass straw. Sea turtles will thank you!
4. Buy in bulk and by weight
Try to buy products in the weight department, placing cereals and cookies directly into your container. If you do not have such a department in the supermarket, try to choose large packages.
5. Make your own face masks
Yes, disposable sheet masks look great on Instagram, but they also create a lot of waste. Make your own cleansing mask at home by mixing 1 tablespoon of clay with 1 tablespoon of filtered water. No animal testing, simple ingredients, and easy-to-choose additives like cocoa, turmeric, and tea tree essential oil put this mask on a green pedestal!
6. Swap your pet hygiene products for biodegradable ones
Swap plastic dog sanitary bags and cat bedding for biodegradable ones to easily reduce pet-related waste.
PS Did you know that vegan dog food is a more sustainable alternative to animal varieties?
7. Always carry a reusable bag
To avoid beating yourself up again at the checkout when you remember you forgot your reusable bag again, keep a few in your car and at work for unexpected trips to the grocery store.
8. Replace hygiene products with plastic-free alternatives
Each of us has things that we use daily for basic hygiene procedures: razors, washcloths, combs and toothbrushes. Instead of always buying and using short-term products, look for long-term, cruelty-free, environmentally friendly replacements. Reusable cotton pads have even been invented!
9. Don’t Throw Food – Freeze It
Are bananas getting dark? Instead of wondering if you can eat them before they go bad, peel and freeze them. Later, they will make excellent smoothies. Take a closer look at the withering carrots, even if you don’t cook anything from it tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, don’t rush to throw it away. Freeze carrots to make delicious homemade vegetable broth later.
10. Cook at home
Spend Sunday (or any other day of the week) stocking up on food for the week. This will not only help your wallet when your lunch break hits, but it will also cut down on unnecessary takeout containers. Plus, if you live or work in a place that isn’t very vegan friendly, you’ll always have something to eat.