Sustainable September. You might not have heard of it until now. I just recently came across the term. Over the last couple of years, I’ve been very slowly changing little parts of my life to become more sustainable and, overall, be a better friend to our planet. I’m just not the type of person to handle one big, giant part of life-changing all of a sudden. Baby steps are my thing.
But, first things first. What is sustainability? From Google:
sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty
/səˌstānəˈbilədē/
noun
the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.
“the sustainability of economic growth”
avoidance of the depletion of natural resources -in order to maintain an ecological balance.
“the pursuit of global environmental sustainability”
We should want to do better for our planet. Our home. The home of our children and future grandchildren. My son’s favorite movie right now happens to be WALL-E, so the future keeps flashing before my eyes of my future great-grandchildren up on The Axiom drinking their meals from a cup. With a straw. At least we don’t have sea turtles in space.
If sustainability and plastic use, in particular, have been weighing heavy on your heart, you’ll want to keep reading. Are you ready to make some little changes towards a more sustainable future? Start with podcasts. It’s the easiest way to get bits of information, ideas, inspiration and motivation for this lifestyle.
Podcasts:
Hippie Haven Podcast hosted by Callee Ackland
Callie has her weekly podcast where she helps people reduce their trash and contribute to saving the planet. Some of their most recent podcasts have been about thrifting, building a clothing library and palm oil issues.
Trash Talking with Eco-Warriors hosted by Barbara Le
This is the ultimate podcast for the feminist entrepreneurs out there. Barbara talks about careers in green business, as well as motivational stories of conservation and sustainability.
Think: Sustainability hosted by Miles Herbert
What makes this podcast different is that they provide interesting tidbits on statistical information that really gets your mind thinking. Miles aims to give you a better understanding of sustainability while giving you practical tips to help you become more sustainable a little at a time.
Sustainababble hosted by Ol and Dave
If humor is your favorite way of learning, this is your podcast. They aim to help you understand complex environmental issues by using humor and reality.
Low Tox Life hosted by Alexx Stuart
This podcast is so much more than sustainability. Alexx talks about all subjects from mind and body to really examining big name brands who wish to become more sustainable in their product production. She doesn’t get overly “science-y” either.
Now you’ve been hooked on the podcasts. So, what can you do at home to start preserving the future for your family? If you’re like me, you’ll start with some small purchases, like these:
Sprout pencils are eco-friendly, lead-free and biodegradable pencils with seeds bear the top, so when your pencil gets too all to write with, you can just plant it, water it and watch it grow!
There isn’t a need anymore for that one-time use plastic wrap that always manages to stick to only itself. Give these all-natural Bee’s Wraps a try!
Bento reusable lunch box (score this one from Amazon)
Shampoo and conditioner bars
I switched to shampoo and conditioner bars earlier this year and I’m honestly shocked by how well they work. There aren’t any more bulky plastic bottles in my shower. Plus, they last so much longer than I ever expected. Here’s a link to my favorite store. Don’t forget to check out their beautiful bath bombs too!
We all know how many batteries our kids’ toys go through. Stop throwing them away and get yourself some rechargeable ones!
If you are more daring than I am, and just want to jump in feet first, you can just buy all the things and more. But you might also want to keep in mind the country of origin, the company’s ethical beliefs, reusability or environmental impact from shipping.
What’s stopping you from making these changes? Better yet, what’s motivating you to make our world a better place?
I hope you take these suggestions and recommendations into consideration the next time you decide to shop for your family!
You can follow along with Claire and all her motherhood adventures on Instagram @daytodayclaire.