Tips to Live More Sustainably in 2020
My 2020 Sustainability Goals
Taking a look back
I honestly can’t believe we’re already at 2020! This past year flew by in a whirlwind and now I’m already seeing everyone’s 2019 accomplishments, decade in reviews, and goals for the year ahead. Since my blog is where I share about my sustainability journey, I thought it’d be most fitting to share a bit about the “sustainable” things that I’ve been proud of this past year and also look ahead at some new goals and changes I’m hoping to make in 2020.
Low Waste Period
One of the things that I’m most excited and proud of was reducing my period routine to zero waste with the help of a menstrual cup, period underwear, and reusable cloth pads! It has been a long time coming and literally took me about a year to come to this point…though to be honest, I probably spent half the year convincing myself to finally take the plunge and try out a menstrual cup. I’ve received many comments from some of you guys saying you love menstrual cups and the other half of you saying you’re too afraid to try it. Let me tell you, I’ve definitely been there and at the beginning was REAL intimidated by the thought of a menstrual cup. If I can reduce the waste of my period routine, I’m sure you can as well! (Stay tuned for a full length post coming soon!)
Going Paper Towel-less
In 2019, my husband and I didn’t buy a single roll of paper towel. This was such a challenge at first, because any kind of spill or mess, I instinctively would reach for paper towel. We’ve since switched to Swedish dish cloths and old rags which I know isn’t a perfect solution and doesn’t work for all kinds of spills, but it has worked for our family so far. Swedish dish cloths are super absorbent and last quite a long time. I’ve also found that after a cloth has lived its time in the kitchen, they can then be transferred over to the bathroom or for the floor which gives them another life.
Totes for On-the-go
And finally, reusable totes! These have been a total lifesaver and are honestly the easiest swap for someone to make! They’re great for groceries, shopping, or when you’re on the run and need an extra hand to carry some things. Although I have some free cloth ones that I’ve been using, I also purchased a BAGGU tote this past year, which I carry around with me in my purse. I love that it’s foldable and compact and literally fits in any of my purses.
Now that we’ve taken a peek at some of the sustainable changes I’ve made in 2019, I hope they inspire you to set some new goals and challenges for yourself this upcoming year.
3 Steps to take when setting your sustainability goal:
First take a look at the different areas of your life and how much waste each category produces. For example, if you take a look at your beauty routine, do you purchase a ton of makeup in plastic containers or maybe don’t recycle empty products properly? Or maybe the most wasteful area of your life is in the kitchen. You see yourself using a ton of plastic wrap or wasting food. Think about what areas you want to implement change.
Next think about what small steps you can take to reduce your waste. It’s not about going completely zero waste, but just about learning to be more mindful with consumption and reducing where you can.
Finally, choose one of the steps and go for it! Maybe you need to purchase a zero waste swap, or maybe you need to declutter and sell some items. Whatever it is, now is the time to work at the goal!
Looking Forward
I’ve taken some time to think through where I’m at and what I’d like to improve on this year. Some of my goals are just being better at something I had already started doing in 2019 and some are new.
Produce Bags
Plastic bags are definitely a problem that I’m still learning how to work around. I purchased some produce bags last year hoping I would get a lot of use out of them and reduce the number of plastic produce bags I used. I’ve definitely slacked in this area mainly because where I live, reusable produce bags are really only accepted at Whole Foods (which can be pricey for groceries). The other grocery stores that I usually go to are not familiar with how to tare my reusable produce bags and although it starts conversation, I always find myself creating frustration and holding up the cash. I want to use my produce bags more this upcoming year so I will have to find some other solutions to use them. Maybe this will mean going to self-checkout or doing groceries at a different time when there are fewer people.
Another reason why reducing plastic bags has been a challenge is because in my municipality, we are still required to line our compost bins. Although some would suggest compostable or biodegradable liners, I recently emailed our city and found out that my city actually doesn’t have the right machines with the capability to break down compostable plastic bags, essentially bringing these specialty plastic bags back to square one.
So yes, plastic bags are still a real challenge for me that I will continue to work towards reducing this year. My long term goal is to have a backyard compost bin.
Reducing Food Waste
This year I’d like to learn more about reducing food waste and reusing food scraps. I’ve already dabbled in this a bit with re-growing green onion and reusing citrus peels for cleaning. If anyone has anymore tips for reducing food waste or how you creatively reuse food scraps, I’d love to learn more!
0 Takeaway Cups
Let’s face it, living a low waste lifestyle is inconvenient. The more I’ve been on this sustainable living journey, the more I realize how much planning and preparation it takes. Even something as simple as a takeaway cup, if you’re not one to normally carry around a reusable cup with you, it can require a bit of planning to get used to a new routine. This year, my husband and I have decided to set a goal of 0 takeaway coffee cups. We love our coffee and so this year, we’re either having it for here or to go in our own cups. We have some exceptions of course, for example, if someone decides to buy us a coffee and it’s in a takeaway cup, then we will still accept it, but other than that, we are working towards this goal!
Now that you’ve read all about my goals for the upcoming year, I hope it’s inspired you to set a few goals or changes for yourself. I’d love to know what small steps you’re planning to take this year. Let me know below! Here’s to a more sustainable year!
P.S. I’ll be sharing a fun giveaway on my Instagram on Monday, Jan 6, so keep your eyes peeled ;)
This post is not sponsored and does not contain affiliate links, but does contain some gifted items.