Small, everyday actions create the foundation for personal sustainability. Still, if you’re like us, most of your daily habits probably run on autopilot, much to the detriment of our precious biosphere. Coffee cups, paper towels, takeout containers; single-use waste is baked into the modern routine. The good news? Breaking the cycle doesn’t require a major lifestyle overhaul. These nine easy swaps reduce waste, cut down on toxins, and make sustainable choices second nature.
1. Swap Plastic Wrap for Beeswax Wraps or Silicone Covers
Plastic wrap is a one-and-done disaster. It can’t be recycled, it clogs landfills, and microplastics from degraded film end up literally everywhere (like, even in our brains level-of-everywhere). Beeswax wraps and silicone covers do the same job without waste. They seal tightly, rinse clean, and last for months.
Some of our favorites:
Bee’s Wrap: Made from organic cotton and beeswax, these wraps mold easily to food or containers and last up to a year.
SuperBee: A similar beeswax-based option, handmade and compostable.
2. Ditch Paper Towels for Reusable Cloths
Paper towels are expensive, wasteful, and do not source their component fibers sustainably, which means they contribute to massive deforestation. That’s not to mention that a single roll takes somewhere around 17 gallons of water to produce. Cloth rags, Swedish dishcloths, and reusable paper towels absorb better, last longer, and eliminate the constant buy, use, and toss cycle.
Papaya Reusables: Quick-drying, durable, and machine-washable for months of reuse.
Use code SHIFTINGGAIA for 15% off
3. Bring Your Own Coffee Cup
Contrary to popular belief, disposable coffee cups aren’t just made out of paper. In reality, most have a plastic lining that makes them nearly impossible to recycle. Around 50 billion cups are thrown away each year in the U.S. alone. A stainless steel or glass coffee cup keeps your drink hot or iced, eliminates waste, and saves money since many cafés offer discounts for bringing your own. And after the not-so-long-ago Stanley Cup mania crisis, we think it’s important to mention you really only need one.
4. Use Bar Soap and Solid Haircare Instead of Bottled Products
Liquid soap and shampoo require more packaging, water, and energy to produce than solid bars. Most bottles are made of single-use plastic, adding to the over 300 million tons of plastic waste generated annually. A simple bar of soap or shampoo lasts longer, works just as well, and skips the plastic.
Some of our recent favorites offering palm oil-free shampoo, bar soaps, and sustainable haircare:
Little Seed Farm (Use code W5G39D62K for 10% off)
5. Switch to a Safety Razor
Disposable razors and plastic cartridge refills create millions of pounds of plastic waste annually. A safety razor with recyclable stainless steel blades lasts a lifetime and gives a smoother shave.
Leaf Shave Co. offers a modern take on a traditional safety razor with a pivoting head and replaceable blades.
6. Try Refillable Cleaning Products
Most cleaning sprays and dish soaps are 90% water, meaning you’re paying for liquid in plastic bottles that just get tossed when empty. Refillable cleaning tablets, concentrates, or bulk refills cut down on waste and work just as well.
Some of our best refillable and eco-friendly cleaning products:
Green Llama: Non-toxic and plant-based cleaners in refillable glass bottles. (Use code ShiftingGaia15 for 15% off)
Blueland: Cleaning tablets that dissolve in water to reduce packaging waste.
Cleancult: Refillable cartons for dish soap, laundry detergent, and all-purpose cleaners.
Attitude: Offers biodegradable cleaning refills and eco-friendly packaging.
7. Bring Reusable Produce Bags to the Store
Plastic produce bags are flimsy and unnecessary. A reusable mesh or cloth bag is sturdier, lasts for years, and stops that ever-growing stash of plastic bags under your sink from multiplying. These bags are in such abundance and are so easy to find that we’re not even going to put a link here. Grab one next time you head to the store, and you’re set.
8. Switch to Reusable Cotton Rounds for Skincare
Makeup wipes and disposable cotton rounds create 7.6 billion pounds of waste annually. A set of reusable cotton rounds works exactly the same, washes easily, and keeps single-use cotton out of the trash.
Package Free offers reusable organic cotton rounds that can be washed and reused for years.
9. Switch to Plastic-Free Deodorant
Most deodorants come in plastic tubes that aren’t easily recyclable, and many contain aluminum or harsh chemicals. Plastic-free deodorants cut waste dramatically and often feature cleaner, non-toxic ingredients.
Some of our best zero-waste deodorant brands:
J&L Naturals: Handmade, non-toxic, and packaged in compostable tubes.
Butter Me Up Organics: Organic, cruelty-free, and housed in biodegradable packaging.
Attitude: Vegan, plastic-free deodorant, available in FSC-certified paper tubes.
Paper Cosmetics: Minimalist, refillable deodorant made with clean ingredients.
Sustainability Without the Gimmicks
A sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Really, most eco-swaps are about breaking small habits that rely on waste and finding better, longer-lasting alternatives. The easiest way to get started is to swap what you run out of first. There is no need to throw anything away or buy a full set of replacements overnight. Make simple changes as you go, and before long, sustainability will become second nature. Good luck 🙂
As always, any brand we recommend has been researched, evaluated, and rated Conscious or Top Choice in our Directory.
Related Posts
