What is it about spring that makes us crave change, growth and personal improvement? This spring, I embraced these emotions head-on and took an honest look at my personal values and daily practices to see how they aligned. The results? Good, not great.
Growing up in Colorado, I lived outside, enjoying nature and all Mother Earth had to offer. I learned that you should leave only footprints and take only pictures. Fast forward 15 years, I live in NYC – the concrete jungle – and have lost that connection to Mother Earth. It’s so easy to get swept up in the conveniences and creature comforts a city like NYC has to offer, that you can lose sight of the impact your actions have on the planet. Our garbage is collected daily, never to be seen again. Food and beverages are consumed on the go out of plastic and paper. And Uber is a way of life.
Enter April’s #cleaneighteen challenge, by far my favorite challenge because it forced me to look at my personal choices and how they impact my carbon footprint. By learning how to live more sustainably, I reconnected with my Colorado roots and paid respect to this beautiful planet we call home.
To celebrate the end of earth month (and the continuation of my sustainable journey!), I’ve compiled my favorite tips from the best in the game – Abby from Abby’s Food Court, Shannon from Mama Eco and Tania from Sustainably Stylish. Read on for all you need to cook low waste and look great, sustainably.
Abby, JD, RD, of Abby’s Food Court
After meeting Abby at an Awake the Space event in February, I was in awe of her knowledge and dedication to living a low waste life (you can read more about her personal pledge here). With April around the corner, I just KNEW we had to collaborate for April’s #CleanEighteen focusing on Earth Month. I learned so much from Abby in April and I hope you did too! Read on for my top 10 favorite tips from Abby that we shared in April.
Abby’s Top 10 Tips from April’s #CleanEighteen Challenge
- Cook root to frond: Use the tops of veggies like carrots and beets to make a pesto; save scraps to make a broth or stock.
- Compost: For any bits and pieces that can’t be used elsewhere, throw them in the compost bin instead of the trash. It can be used as fertilizer for your garden or you can take it to a local compost drop-off point.
- Travel with your own bamboo silverware and re-usable food containers: We love To-Go Ware’s stainless steel food containers and bamboo utensil kits, and Stasher bag reusable silicone bags. If you’re in NYC, hit up Ancolie where all the food comes in gorgeous glass mason jars that you can keep and reuse, or trade in for $1 off your next purchase!
- BYODT: Bring your own dish towel. You can use it as a napkin or tissue, anytime you need to wipe, dab or clean up a spill to decrease your consumption of single-use paper towels and napkins. We love the gorgeous tea towels from Kakaw Designs.
- Cook from scratch as much as possible: It’s better for you and better for the environment when you top eating out of a box. Plus, buying fresh fruits and vegetables and items from the bulk section saves money – score!
- Shop the bulk section: You’ll find everything from nuts and seeds, to grains and legumes here. Just be sure to bring your own mason jars to avoid using a plastic bag.
- Practice a sustainable period: Did you know the average woman uses 11,000 tampons or pads in their lifetime? That’s about 250 – 300lbs of disposable period products going into landfills. Sustainable period practices you can adopt include using a menstrual cup or washable period panties like THINX. And they just came out with a pretty Forest color to celebrate their sustainable mission!
- DIY your own beauty products: Make your own toothpaste using 1 Tbsp baking soda, 2 Tbsp coconut oil and 20 drops of peppermint oil. Store in a small glass container or mason jar.
- Say no to straws: More than 500 million plastic straws are used every day in the US, and then spend a lifetime in a landfill. Say no to straws, or bring your own reusable stainless steel or bamboo straw.
- Talk to people! Spread the word, share your passion with others, educate, and practice what you preach. By talking to people like your local grocer, you let them know you support and encourage change. It has to start somewhere and you can be that change!
Shannon of Mama Eco
I was invited to THINX’s launch event in April for their new Forest colorway (mentioned above!), representing the sustainable choice for us ladies to handle our monthly flows. At the event, I was fortunate enough to meet Shannon, whose yoga mat was near mine during The Class Relieve, one of The Class by Taryn Toomey slasses taught by CJ Frogozo to kick off the THINX event. A fellow Williamsburg resident, Shannon and I immediately hit it off. Her brand and website, Mama Eco is an amazing resource for anyone looking to improve their carbon footprint.
Mama Eco’s 3 Tips for Anyone Just starting their Eco journey
- Choose reusables over single-use whenever possible: Always carry a reusable water bottle or coffee mug for hydration, put a reusable bag in your backpack to avoid plastic shopping bags, and stash a utensil kit and straw in your bag to ditch plastic cutlery.
- Opt for products that come with minimal or no packaging: If you have the choice between two options, opt for the one with less packaging to minimize the waste that ends up in your trashcan. A great place to start is at the grocery where you can choose fruits and veggies without packaging.
- Don’t be hard on yourself: By simply making a few conscious decisions, whether big or small, you can have a positive impact on the planet.
Tania of Sustainably Stylish
Tania and I also met at the THINX event (thanks for bringing us all together!) and I love her fashionable take on living sustainably. This is admittedly one area of my life that I never considered when it comes to cleaning my carbon footprint and it’s one area I hope to tackle this year, thanks to some inspiration and tips from Tania!
When I first decided to become sustainable, I knew I wanted to do it with some style. I would research brands that were sustainable, and at the time, only a few were doing it stylishly while the rest were just basics. So, I created Sustainablystylish to figure out how to add that style, sustainably.
Sustainably Stylish’s 5 Tips for Looking Good, Sustainably
1. Focus on sustainable buying: Do your research & ask questions. You deserve to know how & where something you buy is made.
2. There’s no one-size-fits all solution: Remember that you won’t find an item that checks off everything.
3. Add thrifting: Reusing/recycling is the best way to add stylish pieces.
4. Add renting: Why buy a trend you’ll only wear a few months – rent it!
5. Don’t be so hard on yourself or others: When I first started I would get upset if I made a mistake or didn’t ask questions. We are humane and by just being aware we are creating change.
What steps did you take in April to clean your carbon footprint? I’d love to hear!
xoxo
Anna