Eco-friendly Living Tips for Summer
Summer is heating up, but that doesn’t mean that the earth has to! Beat the heat while being a good steward of our planet’s increasingly fragile environment with these simple, sustainable swaps.
Biodegradable Sunglasses
Fashion trends can foster sustainability too! Swap your plastic sunglasses that always seem to either break or go missing for a biodegradable pair that’s both fashion-forward and long-lasting.
Invest in a Cooler
If this isn’t already on your road trip packing list, it should be! Convenient for holding snacks, fruit, or leftovers, coolers are a fantastic way to decrease your wastefulness while on the road while encouraging a healthy diet.
Herb & Vegetable Gardens
While flowers and foliage certainly are beautiful additions to your garden, there’s nothing like growing your food. Vegetable and herb gardens add an abundance of color to your garden! They also offer an opportunity to decrease your footprint by reducing your need to shop, decreasing the miles your food has to travel to get to your plate, and encouraging a healthy and sustainable diet!
Reusable Water Bottle & Travel Mug
It may be second nature at this point, but if you haven’t already, invest in a set of travel mugs and reusable water bottles you adore. Not only are they convenient to have on hand, but they also offer an opportunity to decrease your impact on the environment.
Burgers
Ready to grill? Swap your traditional beef burger for an impossible burger! Unlike veggie burgers, impossible burgers offer an uncanny taste with a comparably low impact on the environment.
Recycled Pots & Planters
A plentiful garden no doubt has a positive impact on the environment, but the planters for your foliage may not. Search for options that are made from recycled materials rather than single-use plastic. Not only are they a long-lasting, durable option, but they can also often be recycled again at the end of their lifetime.
Pollinator Friendly Seed Bombs
Summertime wouldn’t be complete without watching the bees and butterflies pass through your garden. Create an even more welcoming space for them with the addition of pollinator-friendly seed bombs. These fun additions can be planted in your garden and will encourage wildlife to stop by.
Natural Sunscreen
Your average drugstore sunscreen is likely made with a plethora of chemicals. While that may in and of itself be concerning to you, it also harms the environment by washing off into our water systems and negatively impacting marine habitats and sea life. Natural sunscreens are zinc-based, making them a safer alternative that offers the same sun protection you need.
Bamboo Cutlery
While plastic cutlery offers plenty of conveniences for your summer soiree, it boasts a long-lasting impact on the environment. Bamboo offers a solution that not only breaks down naturally, but is also quick growing, and sturdy under pressure!
Zero Waste Picnic Basket
Who doesn’t love a good picnic in the sun? The typical picnic basket is filled with fantastic treats that offer plenty of satisfaction for your taste buds, but little good for the environment with packaging that is comprised of aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Ditch the disposable containers and opt for reusable options that double as tasteful serving dishes. Don’t forget to level up your picnic game with ceramic plates and bamboo cutlery.
Heat Pumps
Swap your air conditioner and fans for a heat pump! Unlike air conditioning, heat pumps extract energy from the cooler environment outside your home and circular it back indoors.
