My Top 10 Favorite Eco-Friendly Swaps That Save Me Money and Limit My Plastic Waste
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You don’t have to be a minimalist or practice simple living to make eco-friendly swaps. There seems to be a misconception that you can only be sustainable if you’re a minimalist. This isn’t the case. Anyone can make eco-friendly swaps and continue to live the way they want.
No one is saying you need to completely overhaul your way of life. But if you make a few small changes, you can make an impact.
That’s what I did when I made these 10 eco-friendly swaps. Small steps equal big progress. The best part? Making these changes actually saves me money as well as limits my plastic waste. Win-win.
Here are 10 eco-friendly swaps that I made
#1 — Shampoo & conditioner bars
One of the first eco-friendly swaps I made was ditching bottled shampoo and conditioner. As a curly-haired girl, I need to be careful with the ingredients that are in everyday shampoos. And I learned a lot of what’s on the shelves today isn’t good for any hair type.
I tried a few shampoo and conditioners bars from different companies. But my absolute favorite comes from The Earthling Co. They are a company dedicated to plastic-free shipping and clean personal care products. Plus, their shampoo and conditioner bars work.
They offer a ton of scents that aren’t overpowering and my hair feels soft to the touch after each use. One shampoo bar lasts 3x as long as your average bottled shampoo.
#2 — Bar soap
Another quick and easy eco-friendly swap was changing from bottled body wash to good old-fashioned bar soap.
Like shampoo and conditioners bars, bar soap lasts 3x as long as a bottle and it often costs less. If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin like me there’s a bar soap out there for you.
I personally love the handmade soap from Garden Path Soap. They are a small business in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Whenever my family takes a long weekend trip, I buy a few bars to hold me over for the year. The Earthling Co. also has a few that are just as good.
#3 — DIY cleaning products
There seems to be a cleaning product for everything in your home. Before you know it, the space under your sink is overflowing with products you’re lucky if you use once, maybe twice. When, in reality, you only need a few household staples to keep your home clean and toxic-free.
Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon are a magical trifecta. Together, they can clean pretty much anything in your home. From glass to linoleum to those tough water stains on your faucets. You can even use them to do your laundry.
All you need is a glass spray bottle, a microfiber cloth, and some elbow grease.
#4 — Reusable bags
In May 2022, my state of New Jersey is no longer going to have plastic bags available in grocery stores or shops. About time! Even before this announcement, I was using reusable grocery bags.
And no, you don’t need to buy fancy ones. The ones I use are old tote bags or free bags I got elsewhere. The only thing I did buy was mesh bags for produce. The Earthling Co. to the rescue again. Their mesh canvas bags are perfect for produce but they can be used for so much more.
Use them to carry your stuff to the beach or if you need an extra bag for regular shopping. The beauty of reusable bags lies in their versatility.
#5 — DIY face moisturizer
I mentioned before that I have sensitive, acne-prone skin. That meant I searched high and low for a face moisturizer that didn’t cause unwanted breakouts. For the longest time, I used Neutrogena. Until I read an article about jojoba oil.
Jojoba oil is a natural oil that contains a ton of Vitamin E. It can be used as a carrier oil or on its own. Many people use it on their face, body, hair, and nails.
While the bottle I purchased does come in plastic, I use a smaller glass dropper bottle. I mix in three drops of Tea Tree, Lavender, and Frankincense oil, all from Young Living. Ever since using this combination, my skin has not once broken out. The occasional under the skin zit does pop up, but only during my period. Can’t always fight against those hormones.
But using this oil has saved me from buying the overly expensive Neutrogena moisturizer that often lasted me 3 months. I’m on month 4 of my jojoba/essential oil combo and I haven’t refilled it yet.
#6 — Clean hair products
Another issue I run into is finding clean and affordable hair products. Again, as a curly-haired girl, I need to be careful with certain ingredients as some are harmful to my natural curl pattern. I was using over-the-counter products until I learned about A Simple Planet.
It’s a company that makes clean, organic hair care products specifically for curly-haired girls. They can be used on other hair types, but they were designed for curls. They offer shampoo, conditioner, gel, protein elixirs, and more.
The best part? Their products come in aluminum bottles that you refill using their reusable pouches. Need more conditioner? Instead of buying another bottle, you buy a refillable pouch. Once you’re done, you send the pouch back. They clean and sanitize it and send it to another customer.
Not only does their gel do wonders for my hair — making it smooth and holding the curls— their mission had me sold.
#7 — Reusable notebook
As a writer, my laptop is my main source of getting work done. But I do still love the feel of pen to paper. Still, I was curious to see if there was a way for me to limit my paper recycling. I have a reMarkable and love it, but I also wanted an actual notebook.
Enter Rocketbook. When I first heard about them on Instagram, I was skeptical. You’re telling me you can write on a page and then erase it with water? I asked for one for Christmas and got it from my sister. I gave it a shot and was hooked.
Rocketbook has truly created the last notebook you’ll ever need. And they have more than notebooks. They have planners, notecards, and are always improving their products. While I still use a regular notebook for my bullet journal, my Rocketbook has become my go-to for everything else.
#8 — Toothpaste bites
When I first heard about my Bite, I couldn’t imagine a toothpaste that comes in tablet form. How do you not swallow it? But I was sick of squeezing as much out of my toothpaste bottle as I could and feel like I was throwing a ton of product away when switching to a new one.
I’m still on my first order of Bite and let me tell you, they’re amazing! Definitely a learning curve. It is odd to bit a tablet that then foams when water touches it, but I got used to it pretty quickly.
They offer a full bottle of a 4-month supply or you can order a test bottle that comes with less. The company has also branched out, making a plastic-free deodorant, whitening gel, and more.
#9 — French press
K-cups are expensive! Don’t get me wrong, the convenience of a Keurig or Nespresso is amazing. Coffee in seconds. But those coffee pods are horrible for the planet and I cringed every time I used one.
But I’m not the biggest fan of coffee filters either, even if they’re starting to make biodegradable ones. Instead, I opted for a French Press. That paired with my electric tea kettle makes magic. Does my coffee grounds come in a plastic container? Yes, but I buy a large one that lasts me a while.
In my experience, a French Press makes coffee that tastes just as good. While I understand the convenience and simplicity of a Keurig, there are better, more sustainable ways to drink coffee.
#10 — Secondhand high-quality clothes
After switching to bar soap, the next eco-friendly swap I made was buying high-quality clothing. Most of which I bought secondhand. When I’m in the market for a new shirt, sweater, or bag, I search Poshmark, thredUp, and other online consignment shops first.
Why? Because I can buy high-quality brands like Everlane, Madewell, and more at a quarter of the price. Fast fashion is one of the worst culprits when it comes to overpacked landfills.
As a minimalist, I aim to buy timeless pieces that will last rather than trendy pieces that will go out of style in a few months. If trendy is your thing you can still buy secondhand and save money. I prefer comfort over style.
You might think these eco-friendly swaps will be more expensive with inflation. But the truth is, you spend less on eco-friendly items because they’re designed to last. So the next time you’re considering making an eco-friendly swap, go for it. If you don’t like it, I know there’s a friend or family member who would take it off your hands.
What eco-friendly swaps have you done or are interested in trying? Have any questions about the ones I mentioned above? Let me know in the comments below if you want me to elaborate more on any of them. And don’t forget to sign up for my email list so you never miss a post.
