Tips for a Sustainable Summer

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The summer is about to begin, and that means more sustainable tips from the Enviro Junkies. Like any season, the summer has positives and negatives when it comes to sustainability. We will show you the advantages and find solutions for the challenges.  

1- Stay hydrated with a reusable water bottle 

During the summer, the temperature rises, and people consume more water. Having a sustainable water bottle is only suitable for the environment and saves money in the long run. In addition, there are water bottles that can keep the water cold no matter the temperature outside, such as a thermos which is what we believe that everybody needs in the summer, especially if you live in Texas. 

2- Do outdoor activities

 Try to take advantage of the summer by doing your favorite activities during the day wherever you are. Sometimes, it could be hard to walk, hike, and run around noon if you live in Texas. However, you could do them in the early morning, evening, or at night. Also, don’t forget to try swimming and kayaking because they are fantastic activities during the summer. Fortunately, we have a river and lake in Austin -Texas.

3- Eat locally

Choose to eat seasonal food products in your hometown. When we eat locally, we reduce the carbon footprint in enormous amounts because we don’t require food to be shipped from different states or countries. Many cities and towns offer things such as  Sunday farmers’ market events, so this is a great way to take advantage and support your local farmers and remain sustainable. 

4- Open your windows. 

During the day in summer, the temperature is high, and surely you will use the AC to cool down the heat inside your house. However, the weather tends to get cooler at night, so turn the AC off and open the window for fresh cool air and then go ahead and close them in the morning. This way, you save money and have more sustainable energy, which is what we want. 

5- Plant a garden

The summer is a perfect opportunity to plant a garden in your back or front yard. There are so many plants that grow in the summer. It only takes you minutes to google and learns what is best for you and your garden. Growing plants are fun and help you to reduce carbon dioxide and reduce the heat in your area. 

Enviro Junkies hope you all have a great, sustainable summer!

 

Affordable Sustainable Home Guide

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How to Make Your Home More Sustainable & Eco-Friendly

Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start when wanting to make some changes in your home. Whether it’s redesigning your living room or cleaning out your closet, sometimes you need some help with knowing where to start! Fear no more, the Envirojunkies are here to help you make your home more sustainable without feeling overwhelmed and without having to spend a ton of money! 

Kitchen

Your kitchen is one of the most impactful places when it comes to sustainability in the home. There are so many little things that you may not even realize are affecting your carbon footprint in a bad way, but they are easily fixable! Here are some of the top sustainable kitchen tips: 

  1. Do not buy disposables or single-use items. These things include plasticware, throwaway cups/straws, and so on. The best way to keep your kitchen sustainable is to avoid the disposables completely and always use reusable items. Plus, you save money by reusing!
  1. Do not throw away jars or other containers that your food items from the store come in. Hello? Why would you ever throw away jars or other containers that will surely come in handy later?! Always save things like this because they can easily turn into your favorite storage containers! 
  2. Replace your ordinary paper towels with eco-friendly ones. At the end of the day, a paper towel is a paper towel and all kinds do the trick! So, there are plenty of eco-friendly paper towel brands that you can find at your local grocery that will definitely make your kitchen far more sustainable than the ordinary ones ever will! 

Laundry room & Bathroom 

Whether you live alone or live in a  big household, we all feel like doing laundry is such a big part of our routine as we do it so often! This is an obvious reason to make some changes and choose sustainable options when it comes to all things laundry. The same goes for your bathroom, choose the sustainable, eco-friendly products over the others.

  1. Make or use natural laundry detergent. This is so easy to do or find in the store and it really helps to reduce the amount of non-eco-friendly products you use in your home. Plus, natural laundry detergents to the job just as well, if not better! It is also cheaper than buying the fancy detergent so why not?!
  2. Use wool drying balls. These are a great product to use in your laundry room if you are serious about changing things up to be more sustainable! Wool drying balls are better because they do not contain any of the harsh chemicals or toxins that your average dryer sheet does. 
  3. Buy eco-friendly toilet paper and bathroom napkins. Just like the paper towels, eco-friendly toilet paper does the job just as well as the others so why not? 

Overall Household 

These tips apply to places all over your home and they really do make an impact, so get to it! 

  1. Use energy-efficient lighting. Having to replace your lightbulbs in the house is already a pain as they seem to lose their shine so quickly anyway, so why not make the right choice and switch on over to LED lights. They are proven to last longer than other bulbs, making your home way more energy efficient than it would be if you continued to do those switch-outs so often. This is also a great way to save some money! 
  1. Make your own cleaning products or buy eco-friendly ones. Keeping your house tidy certainly requires a lot of product, but why not make your own? Or, another great option is to go ahead and just buy some eco-friendly products. Next time you find yourself in the cleaning aisle of the grocery, grab those eco-friendly products instead of your usual Lysol. Plus, the eco-friendly ones tend to smell better and clean better, so it’s a win-win!
  2. Recycle and reuse. This is obviously a given, but we just wanted to go ahead and remind you just in case! 

Now that you have your easy & affordable guide to a sustainable household, it’s time to get to it! Let us know what tips work for your home and definitely tweet us @envirjunkiess to show us how you’ve made your home more eco-friendly! 

Tags #sustainablehome #greenhomeguide #ecofriendlyhome #sustainabilitytips 

https://thethirty.whowhatwear.com/sustainable-home-tips

https://flygrn.com/blog/sustainable-living-tips

Earth Day 2021: Nature Walk

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Happy 51st Earth Day, Envirojunkies! As we begin to celebrate our beautiful Earth today, let’s take a moment to reflect upon some Earth Day history. Lately our country has felt somewhat divided politically, rarely finding a middle ground on issues. However, Earth Day was conceived as a unified movement made between a Democratic and a Replublican Senator. In 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson (D) and Senator Pete McCloskey (R), worked together to create a globally recognized holiday to raise awareness and celebrate the Earth. April 22nd, a day in between spring break and finals season, was chosen because student involvement would be at its highest. It wasn’t until 1990 that Earth Day became a global event, allowing environmental issues to finally be recognized in governments around the World. Now, in 2021, over a billion people spread out in over 193 countries will join in the celebrate Earth Day Festivities. Here are some cheap and easy ways to celebrate Earth Day while making an impact. 

Turn Off

Since the pandemic, we are now more than ever engulfed by technology. Most weekdays, I spend around 4 hours on Zoom, and then I check my phone during breaks between classes. After class I leave to babysit, which is the only few hours that I get to spend outside without my phone. When I come home, I am usually so exhausted from the day that I turn on the Tv so I can tune out. This type of routine is so typical for people now, that we don’t realize really how out of touch we are becoming to nature. I cherish those few hours I spend outside just listening to the birds, and feeling the sun and wind on my face. 

This Earth Day, I challenge you to turn off your computer, phone, lights, and fan (if possible) and go outside. If you can, try leaving your phone at home so you can pay attention to all that is around you. Look down and notice the hustle and bustle of the ecosystem we have drifted so far from. Look up to notice all the animals that thrive in the trees. Each time you allow yourself to turn off your devices and tune into nature, the more you will notice and appreciate the ecosystem your community supports.

Tune In 

The term meditation might sound overwhelming for some people. However, meditation has numerous health benefits. Meditation can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and have a positive impact on your cardiovascular health. Studies have even shown that daily meditation can even improve your mood as much as an antidepressant. Sometimes breathing meditation can be hard when the mind is so chaotic, but here is a way to incorporate meditation into your Earth Day walk. Being mindful of your surroundings while on a walk around the neighborhood IS meditation, and can further your connectedness with nature.

Pick Up

While you’re enjoying this nature walk by really tuning into the present moment, pick up any trash you might see along the way. Once you tune into all that nature has to offer, you will realize how much you were consumed by technology. As humans, we consume, consume, and consume some more.. So give back to our Earth that gives us so much, and pick up even a few pieces of trash along the way. Once you give yourself some responsibility for the up-keep of our Planet, you won’t want to stop! 

Reach out to us on Twitter or Instagram and let us know what you did Earth Day 2021! 

Earth Health, Why You Should Care

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Who’s ready to kick off Earth Week! Let’s talk about the importance of caring and taking care of our Mother Earth. Whether you live a sustainable life or not, it is always important to understand and appreciate the Earth since it is considered quite an essential part to our survival.

(Cough Cough) Air Pollution, where is it coming from?

Air pollution is a term that refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are bad for human health and bad for the planet as a whole. Pollutants come from the burning of fossil fuels that release gases and other bad chemicals into the air and these pollutants cause air pollution that affects almost everything on this Earth. Starting with humans, long term effects of air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases and other problems. In turn, air pollution can damage Earth’s ozone layer and cause climate change. It’s important that we are cautious about our air quality and one way you can help is by watching how much gasoline you are burning. Instead of driving places, take your bike or walk to your destination a few days out of the week.

Protecting our Ecosystems

The way we treat the Earth has a direct impact on our ecosystems. Pollution such as plastic and waste being thrown everywhere ends up in our oceans and our natural habitats. When plastic ends up in the ocean it hurts not only the quality of the water but hurts species living in the ocean that are looking for food. As for pollution hurting our natural habitats, pollution can cause muddy landscapes, poisonous soils that allow for bad plants to be grown and good plants to be killed and it can also hurt animals that live in that area. How can you help? You can limit pollution by limiting the waste you produce! You can do this by recycling, by composting and by volunteering to pick up trash around the area you live.

Did someone say jobs? Foster Economic Growth and Pave the Way for the Future!

When the environment is protected and taken care of, it paves the way for future jobs that can help keep up with environmental conservation and increase the economic value of local communities. The way we treat the Earth today will affect future generations to come. It is important that you do your part to live a sustainable lifestyle, help volunteer where you can and educate others around you of the importance of taking care of the Earth we live on. By doing all of these things, you will set the positive tone for a greener future and environmental awareness for the public!

CHALLENGE: Let’s Take Bold Steps Forward to Protect Our Planet!

I challenge you to save this checklist by downloading it or taking a screenshot and take 30 days to complete as many tasks on this list as you can! By checking off the tasks on this checklist you are taking bold steps forward to protect our planet! Show us your tasks by tagging us at #Envirojunkiess on Twitter and @Envrojunkies on Insta!

Done!10 Tasks to Help Protect the Earth
Recycle 25 items
Volunteer for a local clean up in your community
Educate at least 3 people on ways they can protect the earth
Conserve water for 2 weeks straight
Invest in a reusable bag for grocery store runs
Only shop at a thrift store for clothes for 30 days straight
Plant a plant (bonus points for a tree!)
Learn About Composting
Take the bike instead of the car at least 5 times
Buy a reusable water bottle and ditch the plastic ones

Check Out This Motivational Video Encouraging You to Take Bold Steps to Protect Our Planet

References

https://www.greenspaces.com/blog/2020/9/30/6-reasons-why-we-should-care-about-the-environment

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollution-everything-you-need-know

Reasons Why We Should Care About the Environment

5 Eco Friendly Products You Can Buy Today

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It is no secret that plastic is one of the leading causes for marine pollution. According to an article posted on OurWorldinData.org, the world now produces more than 380 million tons of plastic every year. Most of that plastic ends up as pollutants entering our natural environment and oceans.

This is why it is important to use eco-friendly and reusable products to help slow down the flow of plastic waste. Here is a list of 5 eco-friendly products you can buy today:

Bamboo Cleaning Cloth

LUCKISS bamboo cleaning cloth is a sustainable alternative to using paper towels or cotton cleaning cloths. The cloth is 100% made of bamboo and is naturally absorbent because of the bamboo. You can purchase this cost effective reusable bamboo cleaning cloth here:

Glass Food Storage Containers 

Glass food storage containers are a great way to slow down your plastic usage. These glass containers are microwave friendly, so you won’t have to worry about chemicals with a plastic container. You can purchase a set here:

Reusable Shopping Bag

It is important to own a reusable shopping bag. Reusable shopping bags are more sturdy than the plastic bags you get at the grocery store. You can purchase this special HEB reusable grocery bag of Austin made by a local artist here:

https://www.heb.com/product-detail/h-e-b-austin-artist-reusable-shopping-bag/1965368

Stainless Steel Water Bottle

If you own a reusable metal water bottle you won’t have the need to use as many plastic water bottles. The Hydro Flask will keep your drinks cold or hot for hours. This is a great alternative to drinking plastic water bottles everyday. You can purchase your own Hydro Flask here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QNTYQL9?tag=bfabby-20&ascsubtag=5300880%2C18%2C29%2Cd%2C0%2C0%2Cgoogle%2C962%3A1%3B901%3A2%3B900%3A2%3B974%3A2%3B975%3A2%3B982%3A4%2C40508%2C0

Bamboo Toothbrush

Another product made of bamboo, these toothbrushes are made of 100% natural sustainable bamboo.It is important to make the switch from a plastic toothbrush to a bamboo one. Over 3.5 million plastic toothbrushes are sold around the world every year. Which is just one part of the dilemma.These toothbrushes are degradable, recyclable and can be reused. Most toothbrushes are made out of plastic, these bamboo toothbrushes are a green way to keep your teeth clean. You can purchase a bamboo toothbrush here: 

These products are all great sustainable and cost effective alternatives to everyday products that otherwise are made of plastic or aren’t reusable. Owning these products truly makes a difference. Small changes to habits lead to big results!

Links

https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution

Why You Should Switch From a Plastic to a Bamboo Toothbrush?

5 Tips to Help You Create a Sustainable Garden

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Sustainable living is a lifestyle that helps better the planet we live on and there are so many different ways to live sustainable. On this blog, we hope you have learned more about going paperless, learned more about composting basics and ways to repurpose items. But there is still so much more! Today, to continue this journey of giving you ways to live a more sustainable life, I am going to teach you how to create your own sustainable garden!

Tip 1: Create a Garden Design

In creating a sustainable garden it is important that you take some extra things into consideration. The main factor is to take into consideration how your garden is going to help the environment and not hurt it. So starting with the design of your garden, you’ll to want to put some thought into what you want from the garden. Maybe you are wanting a garden for more shade, a garden to grow fruits and vegetables or even just wanting a garden for a pretty landscape. Start planning on where you are going to put what and make sure you leave about 6-12 inches for small plants, 12-18 inches for 2-3 foot plants and 18-36 inches for taller plants.

Tip 2: Eco-Friendly Resources

Consider using rain barrels that can be used for watering your garden. Rain barrels are helpful because they use natural resources such as rainwater that way you don’t have to use drinking water that comes from your home. Another resource would be to fertilize your plants with manure. I know that manure isn’t one of the best smelling fertilizers but it is actually great for your plants! If you don’t have livestock at home, try getting manure from a farmer or farmer’s market in your local area. By using these two eco-friendly resources you are to promote a sustainable garden by using natural resources and saving money!

Tip 3: Let Nature Do Their Thing!

Beneficial insects are nature’s ways of controlling pests that could be found on your plants. By letting beneficial bugs do their thing you are saving yourself money and helping the environment by not buying harmful chemicals such as pesticides and other things. (However, please be aware of the difference between beneficial bugs and harmful bugs, link below this paragraph for details) Another way to benefit from nature is to let your plants produce seeds and collect them. By saving the seeds your plants produce you are able to use the seeds to grow more plants next year.

https://www.gardentech.com/blog/pest-id-and-prevention/identifying-good-and-bad-bugs-in-your-garden-infographic

Tip 4: Compost and Do Your Own Mulching

Instead of throwing away your dead leaves and plants try composting them instead! You can compost your dead leaves and plants into your fertilizers that will make your soil much richer and healthier. Another way to compost your dead plants and leaves is by mulching. Mulching is a technique done when you take dead leaves and plants, grass cuttings or even sticks and chop them up into what is called mulch. That mulch is then used for a protective layer that goes on top of the soil and around your plants to keep moisture for the soil and to overall help your garden (minimizes weeds too!).

Tip 5: Be Creative With Your Garden!

Get creative! Make it fun! You can do this by making wooden plant tags that allow you to label what you are growing and where you are growing it. Try using scrap wood and fall branches to create an organic fence around your garden and make your sustainable garden unique to you!

Follow us on Twitter and talk to us! We would love to hear about your sustainable gardens or more tips and tricks about ways you garden!

Resources:

https://sustainabilityx.co/15-sustainable-gardening-ideas-b22be80dfc7f

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/how-far-apart-should-i-plant-my-perennials/#:~:text=If%20you%20can’t%20find,perennials%2018%2D36%20inches%20apart.

Famous Youtuber, Sukkari Gives Tips and Tricks on How to Live a Waste-Free Lifestyle

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Meet Sukkari! Sukkari is an environmentalist and advocate for sustainable living in Riyadh. In her home, she has NO trash! Yes, I said what I said, she has no garbage, and she doesn’t even use a recycling bin. Sukkari lives her life by promoting ways that you can live a more sustainable life at home, and she does this by limiting the amount of plastic usage and composting. 

Sukkari’s home

Compost is essential in Sukkari’s home Sukarri has compost in her bedroom for plant leaves. She has a second compost in the kitchen and the third compost in her garden. Sukkari relies heavily on having composts around her house as an alternative to typical trash bins.  Sukkari strongly believes in living a waste-free life, and throughout her youtube video, she illustrates ways she can do it. 

Clothing 

 When it comes to clothing, she buys used “clothes.” she believes that clothing companies that prioritize ethics are environmentally friendly. She always makes sure there is nothing wasted, and recycling plays a significant role in her life. Her shoes are made of plastic recycled bottles, and when she doesn’t need a piece of cloth, she makes it as wiping instead of paper. Her socks would be reused to clean plants. Even when she cleans the clothes, she uses Indian natural products to clean naturally. The products can be used 5 to 7 times and then, she put them in the compost to be decomposable.  

Food without plastic  

To keep up promoting environmentally friendly living, Sukkari makes her food at home too. And all the spices and other food necessities she buys are in wholescale so she can put them in her own glass jars. She even goes further to make her species and food, if possible. For example, she makes her own yeast and milk.  As for having water, she uses and refills a water filter is essential so that she doesn’t have to go out and buy/use plastic bottles. She has two water filters, one for the fridge and one for regular use. Go Sukkari on limiting plastic usage!

Sukkari outside home

Furthering the idea of limiting plastic usage, every time Sukkari goes out, she brings whatever she may need, so she doesn’t use plastic. Sukkari has a wooden fork, a wooden spoon, and a reusable bottle of water. She also carries around a wooden straw that is made of bamboo and a basket that she uses if she is going to a bakery for bread. Sukkari always makes sure to inform workers in the stores she visits to not give her a plastic bag or copy of her receipt that way, she does not contribute to plastic or paper waste.  

Sukkari does not find her life difficult as many people around her think. She strongly believes that everyone is responsible for the environment, and the more we care about it, the more human we become. So check out Sukkari on youtube and learn about ways you can live a waste-free life too! The link below to Sukkari’s short documentary.

To watch Sukkari’s short documentary.  

Also, talk to us on Twitter! We would love to hear from all our Envirojunkies!

Whatchu’ Drinkin?

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As most of you know, single-use plastic water bottles are a HUGE problem when it comes to sustainability, but let me paint an even better picture for you. It is estimated that over 15 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. SO much plastic is being dumped that scientists are now finding traces of microplastics in the fish we consume. All human life revolves around the health of our oceans, whether we think it or not. Furthermore, 1 million single-use plastic water bottles are bought every minute in the world. However, less than ⅓ of this plastic will be recycled. It is naive that we assume that because we live in places such as Austin, TX, our plastic won’t end up in our oceans. Here is some advice to inspire the change within yourself! 

Tap Water 

Did you know that bottled water costs over 100 times more to produce than tap water? Well, the consumer must be paying for better quality water, right? Wrong! 25% of all bottled water is just tap water that was put into single-use plastic and sold. Essentially, you are just paying for well-advertised tap water which is costing you more than you think. A person who only buys bottled water spends around $1,095 annually, whereas a tap water drinker will only spend a mere $0.48 per YEAR. Who wouldn’t want over a thousand extra dollars in their pocket by making this simple switch? 

Reusable Plastic Water Bottles

If a person drinks around 4 bottles of water per day, they will waste 1460 single-use plastic bottles in a year. Even if that person only purchased 1 single-use plastic bottle every day, they would still be wasting 365 water bottles a year. A person who uses a reusable plastic bottle every day will not have to throw away one single bottle that entire year. Reusable plastic water bottles are the most cost-effective bottle to purchase since they will be quite a bit more affordable than stainless steel bottles. Reusable plastic bottles are easy to clean, especially since you can see through them it will be easy to spot any areas that need special attention. However, since these bottles are still plastic they are still more likely to end up in landfills and our oceans. First, when it comes to picking the perfect plastic water bottle, be sure to look for bottles that are BPA-free and PET-free. These are harmful chemicals that can leech into your water over time, especially when left out in the sun or a hot car. Second, make sure the bottle you buy is dish-washer-friendly so that it doesn’t warp when subjected to high temperatures. 

Stainless Steel Water Bottles

Stainless Steel water bottles are the BEST option for the environment, and here is why! Stainless steel, unlike plastic, is not porous, which means it will not leak any toxic chemicals into your water, even if subjected to high temperatures. Stainless steel makes these bottles resistant to rust, bacteria, corrosion, and mold too. Furthermore, Stainless Steel water bottles are 100% recyclable and are much more likely to stay out of landfills. These water bottles are also more environmentally friendly to produce than other materials. Although stainless steel bottles are more expensive than reusable plastic bottles, they are much more durable. The only downside to stainless steel bottles is that when they are dropped, they can sometimes dent. However, the benefits outweigh the cons. Make sure that when you are purchasing a metal water bottle it is Stainless Steel, rather than aluminum. Researchers have found that BPA can still exist in Aluminum, so it is best to steer clear of them all together. 

Hopefully, this information will inspire you to make a cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly change in your life! Most of the United States has clean and safe tap water to drink, so finding a filling station near you won’t be a problem. Let us know how your journey to switching from single-use water bottles to reusable ones has impacted your life! 

Earth Day 2021: 3 Fun Things to do in & Near ATX

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Get excited about earth day!

Earth day is one of our favorite days over here at Envirojunkies! This holiday is such a great way to really celebrate, show our appreciation for our Earth, and promote living a sustainable lifestyle. Austin, Texas is one of the top green cities in the state, so of course there are plenty of fun, COVID safe, events that are taking place all around the city in celebration of Earth Day! Here are a few that are totally worth participating in: 

Earth Day 2021 Run/Walk Challenge 

This year will be the 3rd annual Earth Day run/walk challenge held right here in ATX! However, unlike years past, this virtual event takes place during the entire month of April. The idea of this challenge is for participants to document their runs/walks throughout the month and once it reaches Earth Day, the goal is to see how many miles collectively add up. Then your miles will be converted to show how many times you made a trip around the Equator! ! SOO cool right?! The Equator is 24,901 miles, and last year’s earth day run/walk challenge total was 51,023.592 miles. Clearly, so many folks in ATX participated in this last year, so it’s time to do it again! For the Earth! Also, at the end of the month you get a finisher T-shirt for finishing the challenge, which is awesome!

2021 Earth Day 24,901 Mile Challenge

Earth Day Outdoor Yoga

(VUKA – Bouldin Creek, 411 west monroe street, austin TX 78704) 

Release your stress and celebrate Earth Day at this awesome outdoor yoga event! “AdZENtures” has teamed up with the local non-profit, Treefolks, to put on an awesome, fun, and covid safe event to celebrate the Earth! Even better, all proceeds from purchased tickets will be donated directly to Treefolks, so they can continue their great work in saving, preserving, and planting more trees here in ATX! Don’t worry, even if you cannot make it to the event, you can still donate to Treefolks! Get your ticket now!

https://adzenturesyoga.com/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/outdoor-yoga-for-earth-day-tickets-148810039835

 Earth day festival (Round Rock) 

Round Rock is just outside Austin, so it is close and this festival is definitely worth the short drive! This event is free for anyone, and all ages are allowed to go! This Earth Day festival is geared towards coming together as a community to clean up the Old Settlers’ Park creek area, as well as spreading awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy Earth. Not only do you get to help clean up the park creek area, but there are also so many other activities at this festival that will keep the fun going! Plus, the first 400 people to arrive will receive a free T-shirt!!! Do your part by participating in this amazing event for Earth Day, 2021! 

Earth Day Festival 2021

Now that you know what kinds of events are happening in the ATX area in celebration of Earth Day 2021, it is time to PARTICIPATE! These are not the only events taking place either, but at least now you have an idea of a few amazing activities that the ATX community does to highlight our amazing Earth. Sign up ASAP and get excited for Earth Day 2021! 

5 Items to Reuse and Repurpose at Home

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It is common in hispanic culture that most households reuse items to give them a new purpose. Growing up as a hispanic myself, my family and I were practicing sustainable habits without even knowing it!  

More people should adopt this sustainable lifestyle since it is cost effective and at the same time helps the environment. Today, I am here to introduce you to a list of items that my family and I have reused and repurposed so that you can too!

Plastic Bag from the Grocery Store 

(Because you forgot your reusable bag at home, of course)

The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year. Plastic bags are also used for an average of 12 minutes. To extend their time span of use,  they can be used as a trash bag for small trash bins around the house like for your room or restroom. This way, you can refrain from purchasing actual smaller sized trash bags saving you money and cutting back on plastic usage. That is, of course, if you forget a reusable grocery bag. 

Plastic Food Containers

Brace yourself for someone in your family to eventually be deceived by this. Reusing food containers for other food is a great way to avoid paying for more plastic tupperware. The world produces more than 380 million tonnes of plastic every year and this sustainable habit can help cut that number down. Plastic containers can be reused over and over again.

Old Clothes

Old, torn clothes can be repurposed as a cleaning rag to get rid of dusty areas. It is green and also cost effective. According to the World Wildlife Fund, it can take 2,700 liters of water to produce the cotton for a single t-shirt. So might as well make the most of it instead of throwing it away.

Plastic Bottles

Instead of going out to find a pricey pot for your plant, you can reuse a plastic water bottle. Instead of buying a pencil container, use a water bottle. Instead of purchasing a watering can for your plants, use a water bottle. The ways you can reuse a water bottle are bountiful; from making a bird feeder to using the water bottle to suck egg yolk to even making a jewelry stand.

Disposable Razors

Once your razor becomes too dull to use for shaving, you can repurpose it to remove lint from your clothes. Like any sustainable habit, it is cost effective and this one will make your clothes look nice and presentable. 

Extending the usage of items such as the ones mentioned creates a household with sustainable habit and slows down purchases of disposable items. Growing up in a hispanic household there was no such thing as disposable, only reusable. That itself is living sustainably. You do not need to be Greta Thunberg or Leonardo DiCaprio to make a difference. 

Tag us @envirojunkiess on your Instagram/Twitter posts sharing if your family did the same growing up or if you have more items in mind that can be reused or repurposed feel free to share that with us! 

Links:

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html

https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution

A Breakdown of the Environmental Impact of a Cotton T-Shirt