Celebrate Earth Day: Be Kinder to the Earth with These 5 Eco-Friendly Swaps

It's Earth Day today, and it may have you wondering how you can do your part to live a more sustainable lifestyle and be kinder to the environment. Celebrated around the world annually on April 22nd as a way to support environmental protection, this year will mark the 50-year anniversary! There are a number of ways to get involved in this year‚s Earth Day initiatives ‚ from attending a climate strike to joining a local event in your community. Ready to take action now? Here are five eco-friendly swaps you can make at home to be kinder to the earth.

Be Kinder to the Earth with These 5 Eco-Friendly Swaps

1. Cut Back on Plastic Wrap and Throwaway Containers
2. Drink Sustainably On-The-Go
3. Look into Composting at Home
4. Trade Dryer Sheets for Dryer Balls
5. Eat Local & in-Season When Possible

Cut Back on Plastic Wrap and Throwaway Containers

Do you rely on plastic for food storage? One simple way to be kinder to the environment is taking stock of the products you use in the kitchen, and cutting back on your plastic use! Stasher makes it easy to do so with their reusable, non-toxic, eco-friendly silicone bags. Not only are they super sturdy, convenient, and freezer-friendly, they also provide an environmentally safe alternative to plastic. If you‚re someone who goes through plastic wrap by the week, New England based brand Bee‚s Wrap is a more sustainable option for you! Made with cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin, Bee‚s wrap makes it easy to wrap up leftover produce, bread, snacks, or that half a lemon you never finished. Plus it‚s washable, reusable, and compostable to boot. Win, win, win!

Drink Sustainably On-The-Go

Without even realizing it, many of us go through loads of plastic cups, straws, and utensils every week ‚ which can do quite the damage to our environment. That‚s why many states are now implementing bans on single-use plastic ‚ from grocery bags to straws! Your daily iced coffee order alone adds up! Make a simple switch by making your own coffee at home or bringing a reusable mug with you to your favorite local coffee shop. Also, be mindful of bottled water, and instead fill up your own H2O in a reusable water bottle to take to work. Pick up some reusable eco-friendly straws while you‚re at it, like this 5-piece stainless steel set by Klean Kanteen.

Look into Composting at Home

Have you been curious about composting for a while, but the thought of it is overwhelming for you? For starters, for under $20 you can purchase a sleek Compost Bin to collect kitchen scraps ‚ small enough to store on your countertop! You‚ll then want to create a compost pile outside. According to the team at HGTV, it‚s best to choose a spot close enough to your home (since you‚ll be running the scraps over), away from tree roots, and in an area that gets a few hours of sunshine each day. Learn more composting best practices over here!

Trade Dryer Sheets for Dryer Balls

While you love that fresh smell of your clothes right out of the dryer, it‚s also important to consider the impacts of single-use dryer sheets ‚ many of which contain potentially harmful chemicals. Keep your clothes wrinkle-free and smelling lovely by switching to reusable dryer balls! Made with wool, dryer balls are a perfect addition to your laundry day routine. You can add a drop of your favorite essential oil to give your laundry a fresh, natural scent too! Buy a 3-pack of dryer balls online, or consider making your own.

Eat Local & in-Season When Possible

Support your local farmers, vendors, and markets by shopping local! Not only will you support local, but according to the Food Revolution Network, it can also be better for the environment ‚ by cutting back on the distance your food travels, in turn reducing CO2 emissions. This spring, shake up your usual supermarket haul by heading to a local farmer‚s market in your area to stock up on seasonal produce! Let us know how you‚re celebrating Earth Day by tagging us @VibrantHealth