There’s no doubt that 2020 and 2021 have been rough years. One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that Eco-friendly options are often sustainable, reliable, and cheaper in the long run.
New Year’s is right around the corner, which means it’s time for resolutions. We’ve come up with a handy list of ideas for those looking for eco-friendly New Year’s resolutions.
1. Switch to Reusable Shopping Bags
Each year, Americans throw away roughly 100 billion plastic shopping bags—equivalent to about 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture. These bags often find their way into our water systems, leading to environmental damage. A great eco-friendly resolution for 2022 is to switch to reusable shopping bags. There are a ton of different options on the market these days, from canvas totes to sturdy plastic sacks. You can even get special bags that fold up small enough to fit in your pocket!
There are many other options when it comes to reusing your household items. From glass jars to newspapers, there’s an idea for just about anything.
2. Switch to a Rideshare Service
There’s no doubt that Eco-friendly resolutions are often sustainable, reliable, and cheaper in the long run. One of the best Eco-friendly New Year’s resolutions for 2022 is switching from driving your own car to an Eco-friendly rideshare service.
In 2020, Americans used about 337 million gallons of gasoline each day. Factor in other heavy-driving areas around the world, and you’ve got an astronomical carbon footprint on your hands. Riding with Uber or Lyft means you’re reducing your carbon footprint while you get where you need to go. Plus, it’s often cheaper than owning a car.
3. Learn to Cook
There’s a lot of packaging when it comes to fast food and takeout. Now consider that the average American spends $1200 a year on fast food. That’s a lot of trash. Cooking at home is one Eco-friendly resolution for 2022 that will give you great mealtime satisfaction. If you have children at home, preparing a meal together can be a great way to build relationships and have fun.
By learning to cook, you’ll be able to avoid all the wasteful packaging of processed foods while still enjoying delicious meals. Plus, cooking your own food means more money in your pocket, not to mention healthier meals.
4. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
One Eco-friendly resolution for 2022 that saves you money is washing your clothes in cold water. Did you know that 60% of the energy used to wash clothes goes toward heating the water? That means if we all switched over to doing our laundry with cold water, it would save people about $14 million annually. Cold water is just as effective at removing stains and getting clothes clean, so it’s Eco-friendly for your wallet.
If you’re still unsure, take a look at cold-water-friendly laundry soap options on the market. They’re specifically designed to work well with cold water, which means you’ll never have to worry about your clothes getting clean.
Using cold water is just one way you can be energy-efficient in your home. Homeowners and renters alike can save a lot of money by enlisting some common energy-efficient habits.
5. Recycle Your Things Properly
How do you recycle electronics like your old cell phone or laptop? Ask the average person, and they don’t know. Many people simply put their electronics in the recycling bin, but that’s not proper disposal. An Eco-friendly New Year’s resolution for 2022 is to recycle your things properly—and there are plenty of ways you can do it! For example, choose an Eco-friendly company to responsibly dispose of or refurbish broken electronics so they don’t end up in a landfill.
A quick online search will show you how to recycle everything from batteries to clothes hangers. Once you know how to properly recycle your electronics, it’s easy to do and becomes second nature. Some places will even pay you to recycle your products through them. Win-win!
6. Bring Your Own Water Bottle
Eight to nine million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans each year, and a huge amount of that is plastic water bottles. Think about a garbage truck dumping a full load of plastic bottles into the ocean every minute for a year—that’s how much we’re talking about. By taking a reusable bottle with you, you can help reduce the amount of plastic waste produced every year. And if that’s not Eco-friendly enough for you, consider this: Bottled water costs 2000 times more than tap water!
If you’d like to take an extra eco-friendly step this coming year, consider purchasing a reusable water bottle made of recycled ocean-bound plastic. They’re trendy, make a statement, and show you really care about the environment.
7. Use Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
We all know the dangers of toxic chemicals, but many people still use cleaning products with harsh chemicals in their homes. This Eco-friendly resolution for 2022 is to switch to using non-toxic cleaning supplies. Not only are they better for your home and family’s health, but they’re also Eco-friendly! Many green cleaners work just as well as their toxic counterparts, and they’re better for the environment, too.
Having little kids around the house can be tough to handle for any parent, so having safe cleaning products around is one less stressful thing on a parent’s mind. When children get older, they’ll want (or need) to start helping with household cleaning chores. Using safe cleaning products not only teaches them to be Eco-friendly but also instills responsibility.
One Eco-friendly resolution that can save you money is to purchase green cleaners in bulk at wholesale prices rather than buying the smaller bottles of conventional cleaning supplies. You may even be able to find Eco-friendly coupons online or through your friends and family!
The More You Know
Starting an eco-friendly lifestyle isn’t always the easiest, which is why it’s best to start with a couple of easy, sustainable resolutions this coming year. As you get accustomed to your new habits, start incorporating more of them. Before you know it, your carbon footprint might turn into a green one!
One of the best places to start living a sustainable lifestyle is in your own home. Contact us to start your Eco-friendly New Year’s Resolutions today!
