Is it just us, or is it pretty difficult to scroll through social media without constantly being reminded that you’re not doing your part for the planet?
Or even worse, you try to make a few sustainable swaps and then get told it’s pointless if you don’t go all the way.
So even when you try, you feel like you’re not trying hard enough.
Well, there’s none of that over here.
We’re all about doing whatever you can with what you have.
But sometimes, it’s super difficult to know where to start.
So, to make it super easy for you, we’ve listed five sustainable swaps you can make today that will have more impact than you can imagine.
1) Question who you bank with
Did you know some banks donate $25,000 per second towards fossil fuels? Yep, you read that right. Per second.
We seriously encourage you to research your bank and determine how much they contribute to fossil fuels.
After all, if you’re working hard to make your money and do your bit for the planet, you deserve to have a say in your bank's investment.
Studies show that switching your bank and pension provider to a more sustainable option could be as impactful as going vegan!
To find out if your bank is investing in fossil fuels, head to bank.green to find out more.
2) Switch to reusable
I know you’ve probably read this before, but making some reusable swaps could make a serious impact.
(It’s also a great excuse to shop for a nice new water bottle or funky tote bags)
By switching to a reusable water bottle, you can save around 150 water bottles from going to waste every year. That’s huge!
And if you swap out plastic bags, you save between 100 and 700 bags from ending up in the ocean.
But they’re the obvious ones. Here are a few other reusable options to consider trying:
- Reusable produce bags: Remember when fruits and veggies used to be in season? Well, that’s a thing of the past for many major supermarkets. Instead, you should consider going to your local farm shop and picking locally grown produce. Oh, and be sure to get your hands on reusable produce bags to ensure that the fruit and veggies stay fresh while avoiding single-use plastic.
- Reusable coffee cup: Look, we know it makes sense to ‘just make your coffee at home’, but like you guys, we enjoy going out for coffee. So, grab a cute reusable coffee cup you love next time you see one and take it with you. Not only do you avoid single-use coffee cups, but you often also get your coffee for a cheaper price. Oh, and one more note, try your local coffee shop before heading to Starbucks. They put a lot of love into a cup of coffee (PS- take a shot every time you read coffee)
- Switch to a better toothbrush: Okay, this technically isn’t reusable (because hygiene is essential, guys), but please consider a better toothbrush option. According to the dentist, you should switch your toothbrush every 3-4 months. That means we’re looking at 3-4 toothbrushes a year. Choosing a biodegradable one makes all the difference!
3) Go plant-based for one day a week
Wait! Before you move on to the next point…
We know there is a lot of negativity and pressure around switching to a plant-based lifestyle. After all, people have been consuming meat as a reliable source of protein for years. Expecting you to make the complete switch is unfair.
However, choosing to go plant-based for one day a week to start is a very realistic starting point.
I know you’ve probably read this before, but there are some yummy plant-based, filling and satisfying options for a day of delicious food. If anything, it’s an entertaining opportunity to cook with your friends and family. It’s even an excellent idea for a date night. Take turns making a veggie meal and see if you feel like you are lacking meat. You’ll be surprised at how easy and tasty some of the meals are.
Top tip: meat alternatives are expensive and are often heavily processed. Focus on other options such as chickpeas, lentils, pulses and beans. Trust us; lentil chili is absolutely delicious.
4) Treat yourself to an Ecoalition bracelet
Don’t worry; this isn’t just any bracelet. This bracelet has more of an impact than you can imagine.
Firstly, your bracelet plants a tree in the Brazilian rainforest- a place suffering from severe deforestation. We’re picky about where we plant our trees and for good reason.
Secondly, we make your bracelet from natural materials found on the ocean and land. Materials such as coconut husk, sea glass and seashell beads make up your Ecoalition bracelet- materials that would otherwise go to waste.
Most importantly, your bracelet changes your mindset and reminds you of your impact. Forming new sustainable habits can be tricky, but carrying a small reminder with an enormous impact everywhere you go will give you that extra boost you need.
5) Last but certainly not least, spread the word… in the right way.
You may be just starting your journey into making better sustainable choices, and for that, you deserve a pat on the back.
Or maybe, you are already a seasoned sustainability expert and are just looking for ways to increase your impact. For that, you also deserve a pat on the back.
Wherever you are on your journey, you’ll learn shocking statistics daily.
We get that it sometimes makes you want to shake some sense into your friends, family, influencers and even strangers. But unfortunately, that can cause more harm than good.
That’s certainly not how we do things here at Ecoalition.
Everything we do is with intention. We intend to inspire, educate and inform our audience to make better decisions.
You must remember that we live in a society that pressures people into thinking they always need more. We’re here to remind people to take it back to the basics and to take small steps towards a brighter future for our planet.
If you want to join us, send your story or connect with us on social media. We love to feel as inspired as much as we love to inspire.
By this point, we hope you feel inspired to begin making some of the changes outlined above. From switching your bank account to chatting about change over coffee with your mom, it all adds up to help heal our planet.
PS- if you want to be the first to hear about our impact, your impact and everything you can do to get involved in the Ecoalition movement, sign up for our newsletter today!