simple sustainable switches
Say that three times fast.
Here are a few of the things I’ve done and am actively working on to live a more sustainable and intentional lifestyle.
1. Cut out fast fashion
Everything in this outfit from the shoes to to the bag is thrifted!
My joy-sparker is growth. Improving. Learning. At the start of 2020, before the pandemic, I resolved to cut out fast fashion. Why? Let me tell you a lil story. I’d been creeping these girls online with whom I had zero mutual friends. I’m publicly admitting to social media creeping … but let’s not forget that time you were creeping your ex’s ex’s best friend and accidentally double tapped a photo from 50 weeks ago — I know your secrets, don’t lie to me.
So I was doing that online voyeur thing that we all do, and realized I had a major crush on this group of girls. How were they all so cool? They weren’t wearing your basic trends while promoting discount codes for Fashion Nova - they were wearing oversized pants, corset tops, contrasting patterns and colours, shoes straight out of the 70s. What I realized was that ALL of it was thrifted. Translation: they were pairing clothes from different generations, different time periods to assemble unique, cohesive outfits. They curated their own wardrobes by sifting through Salvation Army racks, deep-diving into local thrift store bins, and scouring consignment shops, all the while making it look effortless. This shit takes talent. The kicker is that hands down, these women were always the best-dressed at the party. Bar none. Forever XXI and Revolve had nothing on ‘em.
I thought, how dope is it that these girls are literally recycling trends from times past and making them new again? That is sustainability. Finding the new in the old. Reworking vintage pieces. Appreciating quality over time.
Enter me cutting out fast fashion. I no longer support brands like H&M, Forever XXI, TopShop, Uniqlo, Urban Outfitters, the list goes on … I can’t get on board with their message anymore. Buy, buy, buy, with no ethics, no lasting quality, and no commitment to do better. And hey, this isn’t to shame anyone who still shops there. Even if you try cutting out just one brand to start, or start thinking about whether or not that $10 shirt is going to last you the next 5, 10 years - it’s all a step in the right direction. Everyone has their own way of contributing to the world and making it a better place! If this isn’t it, I’m not here to tell you it should be. My message is to share ways that I try to do my part, and to inspire you to think differently, if you’re open to it.
2. Reuse and bulk shop
I used to float past the bulk aisle at my local grocery store without a glance or a thought. I didn’t understand how it worked so I thought meh and continued on my plastic-filled produce run. At the end of 2019, I discovered @zerowastewarbler and it honestly changed how I shop for household items. Why am I throwing away a bottle of Tide laundry detergent every month, only to buy a new bottle and then throw that one out? Why am I using single-use Bounce sheets? Why am I buying a 3-pack of bell peppers wrapped in plastic, when there are three individual peppers sitting right in front of me? People be out here buying sets of mason jars for $25 when they literally are chucking an empty spaghetti sauce jar in with their recyclables every week. The amount of waste in our packaging is insane. I’m 1.5 years into being actively aware of my throwaway plastics, and I still can’t quite figure out how to get certain items without creating waste. I am nowhere near where I want to be, but here are some simple household swaps that I’ve done.
Coffee: Keep and rinse out your next spaghetti sauce jar. Run it through the dishwasher if need be, not before peeling off the labels with some hot water. Next time you go for a coffee restock, grab your clean jar. Head to Bulk Barn or your local grocery store (most grocery stores are starting to provide a bulk food aisle) and weigh your jar before filling it. The weight of the jar (called the ‘tare weight’) will then be deducted from the total weight of the jarred coffee. The glass jar will provide an airtight seal for your coffee grounds, and you no longer need to buy a bag to hold it all.
My three coffee jars that I refill on a bi-monthly basis.
Laundry detergent and dryer balls: This was the simplest fix for me because there are many brands out there that sell in bulk. The Unscented Company is top of the list with their biodegradable laundry tabs and refillable bottle options. I also have swapped my Bounce sheets for dryer balls. There are local refill stores where I live in BC, all of which accept bringing your own empty bottles to refill detergents and hand soaps. And say you don’t have your own soap pump bottle, typically these stores sell them as well! Easy peasy, and a money-saver!
Grocery bags and mesh produce bags: I have been gifted many reusable bags over the last few years, so thankfully switching from plastic bags was simple enough. I keep them handy in the trunk of my car or near the door of my apartment so I remember to bring them. The harder part was switching from those tearable produce bags provided at the grocery store. I invested in a pack of mesh bags by Norwex, which drastically reduces the amount of plastic for my produce. It does take some time rewiring your brain to grab your own bag for produce, so don’t beat yourself up if you forget the first dozen times. I would recommend buying non-bleached bags (mine are unfortunately bleached) and start counting how many bags you use on a typical grocery run so that you buy enough for your fresh produce.
3. Bidayyyyyy
That is, bidet. This might be — well, it definitely is — a weird one for some. But actually, Western countries are some of the last to adopt this water-saving invention. Water-saving, you say? Well, yes. It requires 37 gallons of water to make one single roll of toilet paper. Let me ask you: when you step barefoot in dog shit, do you just take a few dry napkins to wipe it off? No. You would probably wash it off with water. So goes the same with bidet-users. Instead of smearing your shit with bleached paper, why not take a mini shower down there? It actually made a lot of sense to me once I got over my initial “yuck” response. Bidets are becoming more accessible than ever - I got mine for $40, no plumbing required. You simply need to hook the gadget up to the water, and voilà! You’re on your way to a cleaner bum. Check out Tushy for some bidets that might suit your needs. And sorry, no photo of my bidet for this bullet point. It ain’t worth a photo.
4. Razors
I cannot tell you how heated I was in my adolescent years spending $30 FOR FOUR RAZOR BLADES. That shit is bananas, Gwen. Let’s not forget the hassle and awkwardness of asking the pharmacist to unlock the damn FBI-sealed glass containers that protect the honorary — wait for it — fucking razor blades. No wonder you need to lock them up, they’re illegally high in price (ha. ha.). Last year I said nah b, I’m done with this. I switched to a pivoting-head safety razor and never looked back. I recommend a Rockwell safety razor. I have a Leaf razor, but I will warn that this razor is American so I got dinged with duty charges. The thing to wrap your head around with safety razors is that there is a higher upfront cost, but the blades are dirt cheap so it pays itself off. Plus the actual razor contraption itself will last you much longer than the shitty plastic Venus ones. Ah, safety razors. Despite their name, they don’t always feel very safe because there is most definitely a learning curve. That’s why the pivoting-head razor was my pick. Now, here’s how cheap razor blades are to make: I now pay $4 for 10 blades. Whereas I used to pay $30 for 4. AKA 40 cents versus $7.50 per blade. Venus, y’all are not easy breezy. NEVER AGAIN, SUCKAS.
5. Snatch a reusable coffee mug for those morning coffee runs
First off, I realize that because of the pandemic most coffee shops aren’t accepting reusable mugs or containers. But when things return to normal, I plan on keeping a clean reusable thermos in my grocery bag (the same bag I keep in the car) so that I always have one while on the go. I would also recommend making coffee at home. It’s a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a $4 cup o’ joe every morning. What I really want to share is my coffee mug, made by a Nova Scotian artist, which comes with a silicone lid. This is my GO-TO every morning, and I’ll tell you why. Oftentimes life happens while I’m leisurely sipping on my morning cup and I need to make a mad dash out the door, leaving that freshly brewed coffee to sit for hours. Now when duty calls, I just pop the silicone lid onto my ceramic mug and take it to-go. Game changer.
It took me some time to implement all of these changes, but as they say — we are creatures of habit. Once we’ve embedded a new habit into our routine, it requires less brain power. Starting a new habit is of course the hardest part.
Let me know in the comments some other ideas for sustainable switches you’ve done or are working on!
Stay real,
— K. JO
