Someone once said to me that what one person does won’t change the world, but I strongly disagree. With all the negative change in the environment and climate, I try to do my best to contribute in creating less waste, and you can do this too! :) Every little thing you do counts.

Things you can use/do to be green:

Reusable bag: When I go grocery shopping, I always bring a few reusable bags so that I don’t have to use plastic bags.

Metal straw: This comes in handy when I’m out and about drinking beverages. I always ask for no straws and use my own. You can buy these on Amazon, Winners, Canadian Superstore, and any other stores.

Reusable ziplock bag: I just purchased a few from Winners recently and am very happy about it! They are dishwasher safe too. You can buy some silicone ones from Amazon.

Reusable produce bag: I am planning to buy some from Amazon or make my own! Here is an instruction on how to make your own reusable produce bags: https://closetcasepatterns.com/zero-waste-reusable-produce-bags-sewing-tutorial/.

Reusable makeup remover pads: I just came across this product on Amazon and I think it’s a really great idea to have reusable makeup remover pads instead of buying tons of cotton pads.

Furoshiki: Furoshiki is a Japanese wrapping cloth that people use to wrap items for transport. All you need is a strong square fabric and know how to tie the fabric to keep the items secure. You can use this method to wrap gifts instead of using gift wrapping paper, wrap your lunch box, wrap books, etc. Here is a video tutorial on how to make furoshiki wrap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTrip8N9GR4.

K cups: For those who loves their Keurig machine, you can use a K cup to make your coffee instead of buying coffee in pods.

Crochet coffee sleeve: You can crochet a coffee sleeve instead of using paper coffee sleeves from coffee shops. It’s very easy to make. Here is a tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTP-JDeyi4o. I have made one for my husband and he loves it.

Water bottles: Avoid buying water in bottles and bring your own water bottle everywhere.

Recycle your clothes: You may have clothes that are not wearable anymore. Don’t put them in the garbage! There are many organizations that accepts fabric in any conditions. H&M has a recycling program where you can donate your old clothes from any brand and any condition and they will give you $5 off a $30 purchase in exchange (see details here: https://www2.hm.com/en_ca/women/shop-by-feature/16r-garment-collecting.html).

These are just 10 little things that you can do to be more eco-friendly. As you can see, there are several things on the list that involve making your own reusable items rather than buying temporary ones, so I encourage you all to look up additional DIY tutorials for items you often purchase and dispose of. Some people can live without waste and I hope I can do this in the future!