New year, new you? More like new you, anytime, everytime! What’s important is you decide to take that step to be better and to do better when in comes to living a more sustainable, waste-free (less) life. Don’t know where to start? Here are some simple, easy steps to get started or to set yourself up for further eco-success:

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – in this order.

Less purchase, less waste. Practice mindful shopping and only buy the essentials. Instead of buying new all the time, explore other options like reusing or repurposing what you have.

• Say no to plastic bags.

Easiest swap in the world. And no, you don’t need to buy that Erewhon or highly in-demand Trader Joe’s bag, just use what you have. Extra tip – always keep a bag in your car, no excuses.

• Have a reusable water bottle with you always.

Yes to staying hydrated but no to always having to buy a small plastic bottle each time. It might seem little but it accumulated through time… check the landfills.

• Opt for day to day reusables.

Choose to refuse single-use plastic and invest on reusables (tableware, straws, containers, paper towels, etc). The ideal scenario is creating less waste as possible on a daily.

• Go digital.

Save paper, subscribe to online bills, subscriptions, etc. It saves shipping carbon emissions too. And let’s face it, it’s easier to delete an email vs. shredding that credit card bill..

• Learn about composting.

Composting can be daunting but you can start small, set aside food scraps and drop them off at your local compost station, usually in the farmer’s market. When you start setting aside scraps, you’ll realize how much waste you actually make on a weekly. Hot tip – freeze your scraps to avoid the smells.

You can also opt for composting bins to make the process easy and convenient. A few of our favorites are Mill (with pick-ups included) and Lomi. But it doesn’t have to be fancy, all you need is a bucket with a cover like this one from Home Depot. 

• Shop at your local farmer’s market.

For the freshest, in-season produce your local farmer’s market is your go-to. Support our local farmers so they stay in business for longer.

• Support local businesses.

Shipping involves a ton of packaging and transporting it releases carbon emissions. Expedited shipping is worse! So shop local when you can and support small businesses. 

• Join local, eco-organizations.

Join or even create a community that you can engage with and learn from. The environmental laws, regulations have been dynamic and active the past years, make learning fun and start the conversation.

• Stay informed and start sharing.

You’re here! And if you’re new, welcome. Spread the knowledge and share with your friends and loved ones. Let’s all make the world a better place to live in, together.

And finally remember to give yourself grace, we believe that progress is better than perfection. So stay humble and take that step towards living your truly green life. Be part of our growing HEI community online and follow us at @humbleearthinitiative 🌿