5 Simple Ways to be More Eco-Friendly

Nowadays, it’s more important than ever to start thinking about small ways we can help the planet and look after it. There’s been a huge surge in the beauty industry and a drive towards consumers wanting more ethical or ‘planet-friendly’ products and options. I’m by no means perfect and there are definitely lots more ways I could adapt to help but I thought I’d share a few really simple things you can swap in your life to help just that little bit.

Photo by EcoPanda on Unsplash

 

This is something I’ve swapped to recently and it’s such an easy change to make that I wish I did it sooner. The amount of cotton pads I must’ve gone through over the years is absolutely horrendous to think about and in the long run, these save your bank balance and the planet all in one go. They’re incredibly hassle-free and work in exactly the same way as before with the only difference being you wash them whenever you run out. It’s the type of change that you don’t even notice and it’s such a cheap and easy swap to make that I urge everyone to do it – here are some similar ones to mine!

Again, this is another really easy swap to make that saves you money in the long run too. Instead of constantly buying endless amounts of plastic razors each time they go blunt if you invest in a reusable or electric one that you can use for years and just replace the heads it’s more efficient for you and the planet. There are numerous subscription boxes that offer handles and razors to be delivered to your door however often you like and they make for nice presents too! I recently took out a Friction Free Shaving subscription and got an engraved rose gold razor, a case and 4 blades for £9 which I don’t think is too bad! The top part of the razor also has a smaller blade for the bikini line which I think is genius too! If you’re not a subscription fan there are plenty of alternatives too.

Single-use plastics are one of the worst things for the planet as the amount that is thrown away is shocking. Investing in a simple water bottle and taking it wherever you go instead of buying a bottle is another simple and cost-effective way of making a difference to the planet and your bank balance. I have a simple bottle from IKEA that I’ve had for ages that I take everywhere in the hope of reducing the number of bottles and plastic I go through. It’s definitely worth considering. However, make sure when looking for water bottles to find one that is BPA free as it can interfere with production, secretion and function of essential hormones!

This isn’t necessarily something that instantly feels like you’re switching to something that helps the environment but consuming fewer products, in the long run, most likely means you will get through less plastic and actually make use of the items you own rather than buying the latest trends! It’s something I’ve recently been implementing a lot in lockdown and I’ve found I’ve managed to get through and finish so many more products and ‘shopping my stash’ more to rediscover old favourites and things I’d forgotten about so it feels like trying something new anyway! I used to have such an excess of products and would always like trying out new things. However, this meant I ended up with so many products that I just didn’t get through, so I decided that I can only buy something new if I have finished a product (and even then, only if it’s necessary). Lockdown has been great for this as it’s a lot more difficult to buy new things so I’ve worked my way through a lot of products and finished lots of things which is incredibly satisfying. Again, this is another really simple and easy way to make a small change that helps.

Following on from the last point, shopping with brands that are vegan and cruelty-free is really helpful for the planet. It reduces the number of harmful chemicals entering the planet and is probably better for skin than some random chemical I can’t even pronounce. Being cruelty-free means that fewer animals are being tested on, meaning less pain inflicted which has to be a good thing! It’s worth having a Google to find out some brands that are committed to being cruelty-free especially and I found that a lot of my skincare favourites were cruelty-free which is amazing! Some particular favourites of mine are The Body Shop, Simple and The Ordinary!

Those are some really simple and easy ways to start becoming a bit more eco-friendly. There are so many other ways we can all adapt to help the planet but these are some good places to start if you want to implement some really simple and easy methods. I’ve barely noticed any difference whilst using all of these methods and in the long run, they’re cheaper anyway so it’s a win-win on both fronts! I think it’s so important we all make tiny, little changes so that in the long run, the planet will hopefully be a better place! What sorts of things do you use? I’d love to find some more simple ways to be more eco-friendly!