10 Eco-Friendly Household Swaps That Make Living "Green" So Much Easier

Dish towels in basket — Photo:
Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images

Americans throw away nearly 5 pounds of trash per person, per day, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency—with only about 30 percent of that waste ending up in the recycling bin or compost pile. But while trimming your own environmental impact can feel overwhelming, it's easy to start small with low-effort swaps in your home that minimize waste and lower your energy usage.

"My key principle is to repurpose what already exists and get creative!" says Sheila M. Morovati, founder of Habits of Waste and author of Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet. "I like to repurpose things that already exist instead of purchasing anything new—that’s the ultimate scenario." Ahead are 10 easy swaps you can make today that will reduce your carbon footprint.

Sheila M. Morovati, founder of Habits of Waste and author of Imperfect Environmentalist: How to Reduce Waste and Create Change for a Better Planet

Reuse Glass Jars Instead of Buying New Food Containers

Glass storage containers with tight-fitting lids are a top choice for storing leftovers or make-ahead meals. Morovati recommends saving the ones that come into your home from the grocery store—filled with pickles, jelly, salsa, or other condiments—instead of buying new.

Swap Packaged Herbs for Fresh

The clamshell packaging that protects cut herbs is an unnecessary addition to the waste stream. Instead, try planting and harvesting your own basil, cilantro, sage, mint, and other flavor-boosting greens in a windowsill garden, says Morovati.

Trade Paper Towels for Cloth

Follow Martha's model and use bar cloths instead of paper towels for kitchen cleanup. Not only do the classic white cloths look better in a neat stack than a roll of paper, but they're also more durable, offer better scrubbing power to lift stains, and save money in the long run.

Change Your Laundry Settings

Washing your clothes in cold water instead of hot is a low-effort swap you can make with (literally) the press of a button. Since American households run an average of 300 loads of laundry each year, says Morovati, the energy saved compounds over time to make a noticeable impact. Decrease your carbon footprint even further by opting to hang clothes instead of using the dryer.

Switch to Homemade Cleaners

Making your own household cleaners with DIY recipes for cleaning paste, laundry detergent, glass spray, and grease removers doesn't just minimize the number of potentially harsh chemicals in your environment—it also cuts down on the number of plastic bottles that end up in your trash can.

Switch Your Single-Serve Coffee Pods

While scientific studies debate which type of coffee-brewing machine produces the fewest greenhouse gas emissions, it's obvious that the plastic waste from single-serve pods adds more to the waste stream than compostable paper filters. If you're hooked on individual cups of coffee or espresso, swap disposable pods for reusable options, or plastic for recyclable aluminum versions.

Pack a Low-Waste Lunch

Trading brown paper bags for an insulated lunch box keeps your midday meal fresher, preventing salads from wilting and leftovers from sitting at room temperature. But don't skip other reusable options, like washable sandwich wraps, silicone snack pouches, and tiny stainless steel condiment cups.

Choose Products With Minimal Packaging

Stock your kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom with minimally packaged products instead of plastic-heavy individual options, says Morovati. This includes toothpaste pellets that let you skip plastic tubes; laundry detergent sheets that replace plastic jugs of liquid cleaners; powdered dishwasher detergent instead of plastic pods; and bars of soap and shampoo wrapped in paper labels.

Change Your Toothbrush

In the United States, more than 1 billion plastic toothbrushes end up in trashcans annually, says Morovati—and they can stay there for 1,000 years before they break down. Instead, opt for a bamboo-handled brush (paired with a refillable glass container of dental floss to replace single-use plastic flossers).

Embrace Cloth Napkins

Swapping paper napkins for pretty sets of cloth elevates your everyday tablescape from so-so to so pretty. Make your own napkins using a simple tutorial or upcycle a set using vintage linens.

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