We now know that our con\u00adsump\u00adtion and waste habits are dis\u00adrupt\u00ading ecosys\u00adtems, killing wildlife and caus\u00ading per\u00adma\u00adnent dam\u00adage to our plan\u00adet. We have a lot of work to do. Thank\u00adful\u00adly, there\u2019s so much we can do to help reverse the dam\u00adage we\u2019ve done\u2014beginning at home. Mak\u00ading small changes to your dai\u00adly rou\u00adtine and shop\u00adping habits is a great way to start. Here, we\u2019re out\u00adlin\u00ading 7 easy ways to live more sus\u00adtain\u00adably. Give them the old col\u00adlege try\u2014we bet you\u2019ll be a pro in just a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
1. Shop pre-owned<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Various](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptdeco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/shutterstock_155696357.jpg?resize=512%2C342&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis isn\u2019t a new con\u00adcept as resale stores and sites have been around for quite awhile. How\u00adev\u00ader, we often over\u00adlook the amount of items we can buy gen\u00adtly used (like fur\u00adni\u00adture) in favor of the new ver\u00adsion. This day and age, you don\u2019t have to sift through a thrift store to find used gems. Resale sites like Apt\u00adDe\u00adco<\/a>, Offer\u00adUp and Posh\u00admark all offer ways to shop pre-owned with the click of a but\u00adton. Next time you go to pur\u00adchase clothes, elec\u00adtron\u00adics or fur\u00adni\u00adture try perus\u00ading some pre-owned sites first.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLook\u00ading to buy used fur\u00adni\u00adture? Try Apt\u00adDe\u00adco. We take the has\u00adsle out of shop\u00adping used by han\u00addling pick\u00adup, deliv\u00adery and assem\u00adbly<\/a>. Pay\u00adments are all online and there\u2019s no hag\u00adgling, so the plat\u00adform oper\u00adates like a retail site. Plus, deliv\u00adery win\u00addows are usu\u00adal\u00adly with\u00adin the week, so you don\u2019t have to wait months for that back\u00ado\u00adrdered sofa<\/a> you\u2019ve been eye\u00ading. The best part? Apt\u00adDe\u00adco offers top brands, like West Elm and CB2, so you can score some high-end finds at low-end prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n2. Switch to reusable kitchen accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Sliced](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptdeco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/shutterstock_1935474229.jpg?resize=512%2C384&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDid you know that half of all plas\u00adtics pro\u00adduced are designed to be used only once? As a result, humans cre\u00adate over 300 mil\u00adlion tonnes<\/a> of plas\u00adtic waste every year. Out of the top 10 items<\/a> found in beach cleanups, over 60% of the items are plas\u00adtic. This is all to say\u2014switching to reusable prod\u00aducts mat\u00adters and is an essen\u00adtial step to liv\u00ading more sustainably.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s also so much eas\u00adi\u00ader and cheap\u00ader in the long run that you\u2019ll look back and won\u00adder why you ever bought sin\u00adgle-use prod\u00aducts in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These reusable ver\u00adsions of pop\u00adu\u00adlar plas\u00adtic items are a great place to start:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Reusable water bot\u00adtles (once you live the reusable-bot\u00adtle-life you\u2019ll nev\u00ader look back.)<\/li>
- Cloth gro\u00adcery and shop\u00adping bags (plus, they look cool!)<\/li>
- Met\u00adal and sil\u00adi\u00adcone drink\u00ading straws (there are even retractable key\u00adchain<\/a> ver\u00adsions for on-the-go)<\/li>
- Soda Stream machine in place of bot\u00adtled sodas (hot tip: add a lit\u00adtle lemon & it\u2019ll taste just like your favorite seltzer brand)<\/li>
- Beeswax wrap in place of saran wrap and tin foil (you can wash and reuse it!)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n
3. Learn how to recycle properly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Various](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptdeco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/shutterstock_731239045.jpg?resize=512%2C303&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWe hate to break it to you, but there\u2019s a good chance you don\u2019t know how to recy\u00adcle prop\u00ader\u00adly. But, it\u2019s not total\u00adly your fault. Over half of Amer\u00adi\u00adcans <\/a>are con\u00adfused about how to recy\u00adcle. And for good reason\u2014it\u2019s per\u00adplex\u00ading and requires a very spe\u00adcif\u00adic set of skills<\/s> rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\nA few items you can\u2019t recy\u00adcle? Card\u00adboard soaked in liq\u00aduid or grease, aerosol cans, plas\u00adtic bags and straws, bub\u00adble wrap and even most books. In some sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtions (like in cer\u00adtain office build\u00adings), your build\u00ading won\u2019t be able to accept a bag of recy\u00adcled mate\u00adri\u00adals if even one<\/em> item isn\u2019t recy\u00adclable, mak\u00ading it extreme\u00adly impor\u00adtant to know how to prop\u00ader\u00adly dis\u00adpose of dif\u00adfer\u00adent mate\u00adri\u00adals. Below are a few resources to get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s a guide of what to recy\u00adcle, and what not<\/em> to recycle <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s how to read recy\u00adcling labels on products<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n4. Incorporate reusable personal and cleaning products <\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Various](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptdeco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/shutterstock_1887421171.jpg?resize=512%2C342&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe need for envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal change is well-known by now, and as a result, a lot of com\u00adpa\u00adnies have made it their mis\u00adsion to cre\u00adate said change. Essen\u00adtial items are being reimag\u00adined into sus\u00adtain\u00adable, reusable ver\u00adsions. Here\u2019s the eas\u00adi\u00adest way to jump in: the next time you\u2019re out of a prod\u00aduct, try switch\u00ading it out for it\u2019s more sus\u00adtain\u00adable cousin. Below is a list of easy switch\u00ades you can make. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Bath prod\u00aducts
- Bar sham\u00adpoo<\/a>, con\u00addi\u00adtion\u00ader, body wash & face wash (sur\u00adpris\u00ading\u00adly easy to get used to!)<\/li>
- Nat\u00adur\u00adal loofah sponges (did you know loofah, or loofa, is actu\u00adal\u00adly a plant?)<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Per\u00adson\u00adal hygiene products
- Tab tooth\u00adpaste<\/a> and mouthwash <\/li>
- Reusable floss con\u00adtain\u00aders<\/a> or restring-able floss picks<\/a> (yes, they exist!)<\/li>
- Refill\u00adable deodorant <\/a><\/li>
- Tablet<\/a> or con\u00adcen\u00adtrat\u00aded hand soap<\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Clean\u00ading products
- Clean\u00ading sprays<\/a> for all purposes<\/li>
- Reusable clean\u00ading cloths<\/a> to reduce paper tow\u00adel waste<\/li>
- Dish\u00adwash\u00ader & laun\u00addry detergent<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can also read up on our favorite sus\u00adtain\u00adable brands, then do your own research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Buy in bulk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Grocery](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptdeco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/shutterstock_1129897376.jpg?resize=512%2C342&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis one\u2019s simple\u2014start buy\u00ading your prod\u00aducts in bulk when\u00adev\u00ader pos\u00adsi\u00adble to reduce waste. This could mean get\u00adting a whole\u00adsale mem\u00adber\u00adship, or sim\u00adply buy\u00ading your grains, beans and nuts from the bulk foods aisle<\/a> at the gro\u00adcery store. It\u2019s cheap\u00ader, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\nPlus, you can store them in fun con\u00adtain\u00aders that make your pantry look extra organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Buy grocery items without plastic containers whenever possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Example](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptdeco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/shutterstock_1482053741.jpg?resize=512%2C342&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnoth\u00ader gro\u00adcery shop\u00adping tip\u2014be cog\u00adnizant of what you\u2019re putting in your cart. Does your let\u00adtuce need to come in a plas\u00adtic case or can you buy it loose? Is there an option to buy eggs in a card\u00adboard car\u00adton? These changes add up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bonus: skip the pro\u00adduce bags, you\u2019ll wash it when you get home anyways!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Limit the waste you create <\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"White](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.aptdeco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/shutterstock_1802144629.jpg?resize=512%2C342&ssl=1\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFood waste is a lead\u00ading cre\u00adator of green\u00adhouse gas\u00ades. In fact, when food waste ends up in land\u00adfills it pro\u00adduces a large amount of methane, which has 21 times the glob\u00adal warm\u00ading poten\u00adtial of C02. On top of that, over 40% of food gets wast\u00aded in America! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Feel\u00ading bad about toss\u00ading last night\u2019s left\u00adovers yet? Us too. Here\u2019s what you can do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Only buy what you know you\u2019ll eat\u2014what\u2019s anoth\u00ader trip to the gro\u00adcery store if not a few extra steps?<\/li>
- Donate or give it away\u2014find a local food dona\u00adtion site. In big\u00adger cities, free food fridges<\/a> are pop\u00adping up where you can give away extras to those in need.<\/li>
- Be cog\u00adnizant of what you\u2019re throw\u00ading away\u2014take stock of what you have in the fridge every few days. Is some\u00adthing going bad soon? Freeze it or work it into that night\u2019s din\u00adner. If you plan ahead, you\u2019ll save a huge amount of food.<\/li>
- Com\u00adpost\u00ading. The moth\u00ader of all sus\u00adtain\u00adable prac\u00adtices. Com\u00adpost\u00ading can be easy giv\u00aden the right mate\u00adri\u00adals and prac\u00adtices, but it\u2019s still the most daunt\u00ading task on this list. We rec\u00adom\u00admend work\u00ading up to it, but when you\u2019re ready to get start\u00aded here\u2019s a guide.<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis isn\u2019t a new con\u00adcept as resale stores and sites have been around for quite awhile. How\u00adev\u00ader, we often over\u00adlook the amount of items we can buy gen\u00adtly used (like fur\u00adni\u00adture) in favor of the new ver\u00adsion. This day and age, you don\u2019t have to sift through a thrift store to find used gems. Resale sites like Apt\u00adDe\u00adco<\/a>, Offer\u00adUp and Posh\u00admark all offer ways to shop pre-owned with the click of a but\u00adton. Next time you go to pur\u00adchase clothes, elec\u00adtron\u00adics or fur\u00adni\u00adture try perus\u00ading some pre-owned sites first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look\u00ading to buy used fur\u00adni\u00adture? Try Apt\u00adDe\u00adco. We take the has\u00adsle out of shop\u00adping used by han\u00addling pick\u00adup, deliv\u00adery and assem\u00adbly<\/a>. Pay\u00adments are all online and there\u2019s no hag\u00adgling, so the plat\u00adform oper\u00adates like a retail site. Plus, deliv\u00adery win\u00addows are usu\u00adal\u00adly with\u00adin the week, so you don\u2019t have to wait months for that back\u00ado\u00adrdered sofa<\/a> you\u2019ve been eye\u00ading. The best part? Apt\u00adDe\u00adco offers top brands, like West Elm and CB2, so you can score some high-end finds at low-end prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Did you know that half of all plas\u00adtics pro\u00adduced are designed to be used only once? As a result, humans cre\u00adate over 300 mil\u00adlion tonnes<\/a> of plas\u00adtic waste every year. Out of the top 10 items<\/a> found in beach cleanups, over 60% of the items are plas\u00adtic. This is all to say\u2014switching to reusable prod\u00aducts mat\u00adters and is an essen\u00adtial step to liv\u00ading more sustainably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also so much eas\u00adi\u00ader and cheap\u00ader in the long run that you\u2019ll look back and won\u00adder why you ever bought sin\u00adgle-use prod\u00aducts in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These reusable ver\u00adsions of pop\u00adu\u00adlar plas\u00adtic items are a great place to start:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We hate to break it to you, but there\u2019s a good chance you don\u2019t know how to recy\u00adcle prop\u00ader\u00adly. But, it\u2019s not total\u00adly your fault. Over half of Amer\u00adi\u00adcans <\/a>are con\u00adfused about how to recy\u00adcle. And for good reason\u2014it\u2019s per\u00adplex\u00ading and requires a very spe\u00adcif\u00adic set of A few items you can\u2019t recy\u00adcle? Card\u00adboard soaked in liq\u00aduid or grease, aerosol cans, plas\u00adtic bags and straws, bub\u00adble wrap and even most books. In some sit\u00adu\u00ada\u00adtions (like in cer\u00adtain office build\u00adings), your build\u00ading won\u2019t be able to accept a bag of recy\u00adcled mate\u00adri\u00adals if even one<\/em> item isn\u2019t recy\u00adclable, mak\u00ading it extreme\u00adly impor\u00adtant to know how to prop\u00ader\u00adly dis\u00adpose of dif\u00adfer\u00adent mate\u00adri\u00adals. Below are a few resources to get you started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a guide of what to recy\u00adcle, and what not<\/em> to recycle <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how to read recy\u00adcling labels on products<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n The need for envi\u00adron\u00admen\u00adtal change is well-known by now, and as a result, a lot of com\u00adpa\u00adnies have made it their mis\u00adsion to cre\u00adate said change. Essen\u00adtial items are being reimag\u00adined into sus\u00adtain\u00adable, reusable ver\u00adsions. Here\u2019s the eas\u00adi\u00adest way to jump in: the next time you\u2019re out of a prod\u00aduct, try switch\u00ading it out for it\u2019s more sus\u00adtain\u00adable cousin. Below is a list of easy switch\u00ades you can make. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also read up on our favorite sus\u00adtain\u00adable brands, then do your own research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n This one\u2019s simple\u2014start buy\u00ading your prod\u00aducts in bulk when\u00adev\u00ader pos\u00adsi\u00adble to reduce waste. This could mean get\u00adting a whole\u00adsale mem\u00adber\u00adship, or sim\u00adply buy\u00ading your grains, beans and nuts from the bulk foods aisle<\/a> at the gro\u00adcery store. It\u2019s cheap\u00ader, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, you can store them in fun con\u00adtain\u00aders that make your pantry look extra organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Anoth\u00ader gro\u00adcery shop\u00adping tip\u2014be cog\u00adnizant of what you\u2019re putting in your cart. Does your let\u00adtuce need to come in a plas\u00adtic case or can you buy it loose? Is there an option to buy eggs in a card\u00adboard car\u00adton? These changes add up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bonus: skip the pro\u00adduce bags, you\u2019ll wash it when you get home anyways!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n Food waste is a lead\u00ading cre\u00adator of green\u00adhouse gas\u00ades. In fact, when food waste ends up in land\u00adfills it pro\u00adduces a large amount of methane, which has 21 times the glob\u00adal warm\u00ading poten\u00adtial of C02. On top of that, over 40% of food gets wast\u00aded in America! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Feel\u00ading bad about toss\u00ading last night\u2019s left\u00adovers yet? Us too. Here\u2019s what you can do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Switch to reusable kitchen accessories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n3. Learn how to recycle properly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nskills<\/s> rules. <\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Incorporate reusable personal and cleaning products <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n5. Buy in bulk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n6. Buy grocery items without plastic containers whenever possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n7. Limit the waste you create <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n