By now, we’re all aware of the crucial importance of choosing brands and products that promote sustainability — we feel it's our responsibility to do the best thing for our planet, and know you do, too. Sustainable isn’t just a buzzword: products that are refillable, recyclable and compostable care for you as much as they care for our world. We’re mad for discovering new sustainable brands and products, but it can be difficult to kickstart your household’s sustainability efforts! Here, we’ve outlined 6 easy things you can do to become greener and more sustainable.
1. Stock your kitchen with reusable baggies + food saversMost kitchens are stocked with single-use items that could be easily swapped for their more sustainable counterparts! Here are a few of our faves:
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Swap Beeswax wraps for plastic baggies: We love the Bee’s Wrap brand! They infuse cotton with beeswax and jojoba oil to create a natural food wrap that is washable, reusable and compostable — a serious triple-threat! Plus, they make tons of different sizes —for sandwiches, cheese, loaves of bread, on-the-go snacks and more. If you’re extra crafty, you can also make reusable bees wrap on your own— DIY project, here we come.
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Swap reusable foods savers like Food Huggers for cling wrap: Got half an avocado to save for later? Shops brands that make silicone and reusable food savers — we love Food Huggers, which come in a wide variety sizes.
2. Start composting in your household The EPA estimates that 28% of all landfill material is food scraps and yard waste! Cut down your household’s contribution by composting your odds and ends from cooking and baking! If you have a yard or a garden out back, you should definitely start — all those decomposing scraps are a perfect addition to your soil (and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers). Invest in a cute countertop compost bin, where you can store any food scraps (banana peels, ends of onions and garlic, fruit cores, the list goes on and on). Once it’s full, either use it in your own backyard or garden, drop it off at a local farmer’s market, or arrange for compost pickup!
Food 52 and Bamboozle both make chic, space-saving countertop compost pails. Composting is one of our favorite ways to be kind to Mother Earth — plus, it keeps smelly food scraps out of your trash bin. Win-win, luv.
3. Switch to refillable natural hand sanitizer
We know that the best natural hand sanitizer is one that is also refillable. When we developed OLIKA moisturizing hand sanitizer, we knew that sustainability was a top concern, which is why we made all our products refillable — what’s the point of a single-use plastic these days? Smart, conscious consumers want a product they can feel good about, so we made refillable, recyclable non-toxic hand sanitizers that are a delight to use and moisturizing for your hands. Both our OLIKA Spray and OLIKA Clip-On are super easy to refill, and with our new OLIKA Refill, you’ll never be short on hand sani.
Hand sanitizer is no longer a nice to have — when you’re out and about, you deserve to know that you and your family are as safe as possible. Check out our core collection to make sure you are stocked, sanitizing, and ready to take on the world (while caring for it):
4. Experiment with sustainable and zero-waste makeup brandsSustainable, organic makeup has arrived on the scene in a big, impactful way — you should always consider what you put on your skin! Sustainable and zero-waste makeup is gaining a lot of traction, and you should be able to find these brands at big department stores and small boutiques alike. Here are some of our faves:
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RMS Beauty: In addition to being totally organic, RMS products come in stylish recycled glass pots and are packaged in 80% post-consumer recycled fiber (that’s also manufactured with 100% wind power). They make a cult-fave concealer and luminizer — check them out!
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Kjaer Weis: Founded by makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis, this eco-friendly brand is blazing the trail with refillable products — their “intelligent refill system” includes compacts, lipstick, and even mascaras!
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ILIA: Packaged in recycled aluminum, glass, and responsibly-sources paper, Ilia Cosmetics totally walks the walk on sustainability. Don’t skip the Limitless Lash Mascara — it’s won awards from Allure and Glamour!
These days, thrifting has gotten quite an upgrade. Between rentable clothing brands, thrifting and resale websites, and eco-conscious fashion brands, there are endless options for sustainable fashion. Here are a few of our favorites:
• Resellers:
Poshmark, the
Real Real, and
ThredUp are amazing resale and consignment services for finding luxury goods at a bargain. ThredUp has tons of awesome kids clothes, too, so you can keep the whole family looking stylish.
• Sustainable + eco-conscious fashion brands: Brands like
Everlane,
Eileen Fisher,
Reformation have made it their mission to produce clothing ethically and sustainably, taking into consideration everything from water usage, elimination of hazardous chemicals, and creating clothing made to last.
You already carry reusable totes so take it one step further and simply store reusable produce bags in your grocery bags to avoid using those little plastic bags the store offers - when grocery stores allow using reusable bags again, of course. Our favorites are
Flip and Tumble and
IKEA’s mesh bag options. They’re reusable and washable, and infinitely chicer than their cheap, plastic-y counterparts at the store.
