It’s no secret that sustainability is a hot topic and something many of us are trying to achieve or at least be better about. But how can we really start? Check out this lazy mom’s guide to sustainability.
If you’re worried that I’m going to suggest you make your own butter in a churn à la Laura Ingalls, fear not; I still recommend purchasing your butter at the grocery store (unless you want to make your own butter). These are just a few simple things that we have begun to do or are planning to do in our home to help lead a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly lifestyle.
Reusable Shopping Bags
This is a very easy place to start and one that many of us already implement on a regular basis. I, unfortunately, do forget mine from time to time. One trick that has helped me is to keep them in my trunk and stash a couple of smaller ones in my purse. I have a giant IKEA bag full of them in my trunk.
Start a Compost Pile
Hear me out on this one: It does not have to be hard to compost. We have a pile in a backyard that we add to, and it’s so easy. We keep a bucket for compostable waste by our trashcan and take it out to the pile at least once a day so the house doesn’t smell. Looking for an easier option? This under-the-sink composter might fit the bill. There are also services that will come and collect your compost waste and haul it off for you, if the idea of DIY-ing it is too much. Litterless is a great resource for finding the closest composting program near you.
Buy In Bulk (& Bring Your Own Containers)
There are a lot of places to shop for bulk items in Collin County. Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Central Market are just a few who have bulk bins of spices, beans, nuts, etc. If you bring in your own containers (mason jars, repurposed condiment jars, etc.), you can take them to the front, and they’ll will weigh them for you first so you can subtract that amount from the final weight of your filled containers.
Buy Second Hand
Buying secondhand is a great way to help slow the “fast fashion” trend and can help you keep both your home and your closet unique. I buy almost everything secondhand, with a few exceptions. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to start browsing. Here are a couple of articles about thrifting written by fellow Collin County Moms!
Happy Thriftmas :: Buying Secondhand Gifts this Holiday Season
Use Reusable Food Storage
When it comes to food storage, there are a lot of more sustainable options than plastic bags. Pyrex dishes are a personal favorite of mine. There are also reusable sandwich bags and beeswax wraps for sale at many stores (Trader Joe’s sells some very cute beeswax wrap). You can also make your own beeswax wrap which is a fairly easy process.
Eliminate Paper Products (When Practical)
It’s not as hard as it sounds. We have a drawer of rags in our kitchen to replace the paper towels we used to use, and they are even more absorbent! You can also buy a pretty set of reusable napkins to have on hand for mealtime. I also try to use fewer paper plates in my house and have a large stack of dishes that I rinse off and load in the dishwasher even with fast food.
This is by no means a complete list of things you can do to live a more sustainable lifestyle. It’s also important to note, that as moms we already juggle so many balls and it’s okay to not always have the time or energy to rinse dishes, wash rags, and fold napkins.
If you have any other simple tips for this lazy mom’s guide to sustainability, I would love to hear them!
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