Today I’m sharing my tips to help you save money, your health AND the environment at the same time.
Saving the Environment
Let’s start with plastic…
The discovery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and knowing that plastic is breaking down into harmful microplastics in our oceans and rivers has been fueling a massive wake up call about our use of plastic, especially single-use sources (think plastic baggies, straws, produce bags, coffee cups, six pack rings, plastic water bottles…).
I’m sure you’ve seen photos of turtles getting caught in six pack rings or plastic rings lodging in the beaks of birds. If not, I’ve shared them here because this is the harsh reality of what our plastic consumption is doing to our ecosystem.
Our water is contaminated with toxins that are leeching from plastic (along with chemicals, pesticides, chlorine, and pharmaceuticals). The fish we eat are consuming the toxins released by plastic floating in the ocean - then we consume them, further adding to our toxic load that our body needs to detoxify. Animals are getting trapped in nets, six pack rings, plastic bags and becoming deformed and often dying as a result.
Using less plastic and single-use items when you’re away from home cuts down on waste and is also cost efficient. Protect the environment by using these products as often as you can. It’s not about perfection, but your intention to reduce how much plastic and single-use items you use.
Safer Single-Use Options
Healthy Human- water bottle
Klean Kanteen- water bottle
Envirogen- reusable storage bags
Stasher - reusable storage bags
Green house gas emission is another hot topic that scientists around the world agree is a massive issue. Factory + industrial farming is a major contributor to the rising rates of green house gasses. I'm specifically talking about CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations) and GMO production.
““Indirectly, factory farms contribute to climate disruption by their impact on deforestation and draining of wetlands, and because of the nitrous oxide emissions from huge amounts of pesticides used to grow the genetically engineered corn and soy fed to animals raised in CAFOs. Nitrous oxide pollution is even worse than methane—200 times more damaging per ton than CO2. And just as animal waste leaches antibiotics and hormones into ground and water, pesticides and fertilizers also eventually find their way into our waterways, further damaging the environment” ”
Organic + locally grown produce, pasture raised chicken and eggs, and grass-fed meats are safer for environment and have more nutrition than conventionally grown produce (pesticides!) or farm factory animals (antibiotics, hormones, unnatural diets).
Yes, this style of raising animals actually helps the environment. Do your research. Polyface Farms is a great place to start!
Broad Street Market, Harrisburg, PA
Use your money as a form of voting. Buying from your local organic farmer is more cost effective and environmentally friendly than buying conventional produce that traveled weeks from across the world from a chain supermarket. You can also purchase sustainably raised meats from Corner Post Meats.
Use these guides to find local + organic produce and sustainably raised animal products in your area:
Go organic as often as you can. Follow the Dirty Dozen list (showed below) created by the Environmental Working Group and always make sure you buy these products organic if you can't afford all organic as these are the most heavily sprayed crops.
Created by @brenna_quinlan
Speaking of toxins, conventional cleaning products are filled with them. Ever walk down the cleaning aisle in the grocery store and get a whiff of all of those chemicals? Dishwasher liquid, cleaning sprays, toilet bowl cleaner, wipes, laundry detergent, aerosol sprays, Windex, etc.
Where do these chemicals go when we're done using them?
In the environment. In the water, air, and soil. These chemicals are also detrimental to our health. Switch to cleaning products that aren’t filled with toxic chemicals.
Non-toxic Cleaning Products:
Branch Basics - use this code to get $10 off all products
One bottle of concentrate is used to create multiple cleaning products (different ratios of water and concentrate) and you keep the original cleaning bottles and only buy new bottles of concentrate. So cool!
**This is my absolute favorite natural cleaning product company. I actually use this in my home and it's so powerful but safe for you and the environment. Just a disclaimer, if you use the code, I get $10 through their referral program (you can join too!). I wouldn't recommend a product I don't love and use myself.
One bottle of concentrate is used to create multiple cleaning products (different ratios of water and concentrate) and you keep the original cleaning bottles and only buy new bottles of concentrate. So cool!
Saving Your Health
I've briefly talked about the impact of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides on our health above. Here I'm going to talk more specifically about plastic and why we should switch to other materials from an overall health perspective.
Did you know that researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood?
There is so much research coming out about the negative effects of chemicals like Bisphenol-A (BPA), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), parabens, and phthalates on the endocrine system. These chemicals are found in beauty products, plastic, certain cooking materials, cleaning products, and pretty much anything that is manufactured with toxic materials. They're literally everywhere and they are known endocrine disruptors.
The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood. This system keeps our body in homeostasis. It’s heavily involved in reproduction and energy levels, so it needs to be functioning properly for our body to achieve overall health.
Endocrine disruptors are naturally occurring compounds man-made substances that may mimic or interfere with the function of hormones in the body. These chemicals mimic naturally occurring hormones and can block natural hormones from binding to the hormone receptor within the cell.
We know that when you heat up leftovers in a plastic container, chemicals transfer from the plastic into your food. The same thing happens when you consume plastic water bottles, especially if the bottle has been exposed to heat and sunlight – like the water bottle sitting in your car.
Avoid plastic at all costs when it comes to your food and beverages, especially when heat is involved. Think the lids on your hot coffee + tea, heating up leftovers in plastic containers, and cooking with plastic utensils. Also avoid storing or buying any acidic food items in plastic, the acid will erode the plastic. Things like vinegar and lemon juice should always be bought/stored in glass containers.
Cooking + Food Storage:
Pyrex- glass food storage
Pyrex - glass baking dish
If You Care- baking, storage, cleaning products
Bees Wrap- plastic wrap alternative
PlanetBox- stainless steel lunch box
GreenLunch- stainless steel bento box
Saving You Money
Invest in a high quality water filter so you don't have to rely on plastic water bottles (also saving your health + environment). My favorite is the Berkey filter. It costs $230-$450 initially, depending on the size you pick, but each filter lasts about 2 years depending on how often you use it! Think about how often you replace a Brita filter... Read my post on water to learn more about filtering options and the importance of hydration.
You can make your own nut milk, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut at home. It's cheaper and it cuts down on plastic use.
Most grocery stores offer a small discount for people who bring their own reusable bags for their items and some coffee chains offer discounts if you bring your own reusable container.
Reusing glass jars and bottles saves you from having to buy brand new storage containers.
[Shoutout to Little Amps Coffee Roaster in Harrisburg - you can get iced drinks to go in your own mason jar for $1!]
Buying reusable products and repurposing items will cut down on how often you need to buy single-use items.
Turn used candles into succulent pots or bathroom storage containers
Turn straws into necklace holders - saves the tangled mess when traveling!
Take jars to a grocery store that has a bulk section. All you need to do is get them to weigh the jars before you put anything in and they’ll subtract the jar weight at check out
Use old condiment jars as food storage containers
Other Ways You Can Help
Recycle everything you use
Do NOT throw your plastic bottles in the trash. Seriously, it doesn’t take much energy to find a recycling bin. Do your part. Donate items that are still usable instead of throwing them in the trash.
Prioritize reducing instead of relying just on recycling
Unfortunately, not everything you put in a recycling bin gets recycled. It's better to reduce the amount you purchase in the first place so we don't have to worry about whether or not it gets recycled.
Buy in bulk
This cuts down on plastic packaging and as mentioned before, you can use your own containers in stores to cut down on plastic use. You can order organic products in bulk online from these companies:
Support companies that are protecting the environment
Package Free Shop — waste free shopping
Four Athletics — athletic clothing
Seed Phytonutrients — personal care products
Weleda — personal care products
Pela — eco-friendly phone cases
Corner Post Meats — grass-fed meats
Where to Start
My advice is to start small.
Start with the products you use every single day (plastic storage containers, water bottles, straws, plastic utensils) and go from there. You don't have to make all of these changes at once and it's not about perfection. Do the best you can!
Our environment is precious and we rely on it for so many life sustaining gifts. Let's do what we can to ensure our future generations have the best life possible.