Making the move to a more sustainable lifestyle can seem daunting and overwhelming with so many conflicting arguments as to what is correct. The best approach, as with anything, is to take one step at a time and make the swaps which fit around your lifestyle. Be kind to yourself, the eco-friendly lifestyle is a journey, not a destination.
The below article highlights simple and easy swaps you can make to lead a more sustainable, eco-friendly lifestyle without breaking the bank.
Ditch single use, save money
Cutting out single-use plastic bottles and reaching for a reusable water bottle instead is an easy swap we can all make. With thousands of different reusable water bottles on the market, it is easy to find a bottle to suit your style and budget in a matter of minutes. For the average person, switching to a reusable bottle saves around 150 single-use plastic bottles every year, as well as a considerable amount of money.
This poses the next question – is becoming sustainable an expensive alternative? It is often a misconception that being environmentally friendly is expensive but it turns out that sustainable changes can be more cost effective in the long run. If we take reusable coffee cups as an example, you may have the upfront cost of buying the reusable cup, however many of the large coffee chains offer discounted coffee if it is served in your own mug. Depending on the amount of coffee you drink, it is likely to take a short amount of time to repay your initial expense.
Alternatives are all around us
Since the charge for a single-use plastic bag was introduced in 2016, we have all become more aware of the impact of single-use plastics. The majority of shoppers will enter the supermarket with their reusable bags at the ready. However we can always do more in the supermarket.
The organic cotton reusable fruit and vegetable bags are a great alternative to small plastic grocery bags. They are lightweight and cut down the likelihood that shoppers will pick up pre-packaged fruit and veg – which creates yet more packaging and increases the chance of waste food being thrown away. The cotton reusable nets and your pre-bought shopping bags can considerably change your environmental impact in just one trip to the supermarket.
Apart from the supermarket, you might think that most sustainable swaps happen in the kitchen – from plastic bags to reducing food waste and recycling – yet there are actually a number of swaps we can introduce in the bathroom too.
Sustainable health and beauty products are on the rise in the form of traditional soap bars reinventing themselves. Lush is at the forefront of this reinvention and has introduced its own shampoo bars. These work in the exact same way as a soap bar, but create almost zero waste. As it is a relatively new product to the market and not stocked in large discount stores, shampoo bars are still more expensive than the traditional shampoo bottle. However we expect the price to decrease over the next year as more affordable brands introduce their own product range.
The brilliant bathroom swaps don’t stop there, razors are another product which is changing its look. Typically razors have always been a plastic, disposable product, however many eco-friendly companies are looking to change the way we see razors. From bamboo handles and fully recyclable razor blades, to zero-waste packaging and plastic-free brass handles, there’s a considerable number of new products hitting the market. Similar to the shampoo bar, we’re seeing a slight increase in cost, but we’re seeing the introduction of eco-friendly blades by more affordable brands such as men’s skincare phenomenon Bulldog, who are stocked in Boots – making them more accessible for consumers.
Swap what you wear
From the bathroom to the bedroom, second hand clothing has proven an influential part of the fashion sector. For many conscious consumers, an afternoon thrifting through a charity shop for some vintage finds is an exciting day out and arguably something we should all become more familiar with.
Fast fashion can be incredibly harmful to the environment for a number of reasons, whether it be the C02 emissions from manufacturing, the fuel emissions from worldwide shipping or the product waste from only being worn a handful of times. Swapping to second hand clothing or reducing the rate at which we buy new clothes can cut out a significant amount of waste. Unlike some of the sustainable swaps listed above, thrifting and buying second hand is likely to be a surprisingly cheaper and environmentally friendly way to purchase your next new outfit.
With sustainability at the heart of everything we do, we’re ensuring we make all the necessary changes to become more eco-friendly in our home and work life. We believe in positive acts and no one can change the world on their own, it is about working together and minimising destructive behaviour.
To find out more about us, our brands and how we’re helping to shape a sustainable planet, call +44 (0) 115 976 7090 or email info@fsg.uk.com.
