But we also need to think about our consumption habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Household consumption is a major contributor<\/a> to emissions, especially in high-income regions like North America, Europe and Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t sustainable. We need to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can do this by consuming less and, when we must consume, doing so in a thoughtful and ethical manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This means only buying what we really need, buying locally when possible and buying sustainable products from low-impact companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important for those of us from wealthy nations with financial means to take our share of responsibility and change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, it would be great for governments to show leadership and mandate climate action and for large corporations to be forced to reduce emissions and pay for polluting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the reality is, this isn\u2019t happening at the scale necessary and we\u2019re running out of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We need to keep in mind that greenhouse gas emissions are cumulative, meaning that every instance of avoided emissions matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each of us with the capacity to act must do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several categories we should consider when looking at sustainability, both with the product itself and the company behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I use and recommend products that meet as many of the following criteria as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have published several sustainable guides listing eco-friendly products for the home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These household products are selected based on personal experience using them or in-depth research about the materials used, packaging and the companies behind the products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I suggest swapping your old product choices for these environmentally friendly alternatives when shopping for essential items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaving food aside, there are countless products that we use on a daily basis in our kitchens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Essentials like dishwasher detergent, sponges, paper towels, tea towels, storage containers, cutting boards, knives, glasses and appliances can all be sustainably sourced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An example of an easy swap is paper towels. You can either go without and use regular organic cotton washcloths for spills instead, or you can buy reusable \u2018paperless\u2019 towels (I don\u2019t see the point of these) or ones that are made from sustainably sourced plant-based materials and are plastic-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I use Who Gives a Crap for paper towels (and toilet rolls). I like them because the product is excellent, it\u2019s plastic-free (except for tape on the boxes), they donate 50% of their products to charity and all shipping is carbon neutral. Also, they continue to make their products better and work at improving the sustainability of their supply chain. I\u2019ve used them for more than 5 years and highly recommend all their products.<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n There are so many opportunities for sustainable swaps in the bathroom. There is a huge range of natural cleaning products, you could choose organic cotton towels, install a hemp shower curtain<\/a> and of course, there is toilet paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I was reading recently about a company that does reusable toilet paper. Sorry but that\u2019s a no from me! But there definitely are sustainable toilet paper options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The loofah is one of the most unusual plants I\u2019ve seen. It\u2019s a type of squash that you grow until full maturity then peel off its skin to reveal a loofah. After a couple of days of drying in the sun, it\u2019s ready to use in the shower. These are a completely natural alternative to the plastic-made sponges we commonly see in the store. This one is made by a small business in Thailand and packaged in recyclable cardboard.<\/p>\n Buy Online*<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Many of the daily hygiene and skin care products we use are essential items. Given that purchase many of these items on a regular basis, it\u2019s worth swapping to a sustainable alternative if it fits within your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few examples you might like to try:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cleaning products are also essential products that we buy often. Some people like to make their own, but I have never had much success with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With natural cleaning products, you\u2019ll want to look for plant-based ingredients that are sustainably or organically sourced. Packaging is also important, with zero waste and refillable options being some of the most popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a bulk foods store near you, these often stock cleaning products too that you can purchase in bulk by filling up your own containers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Support companies that are certified B Corps, carbon neutral or at least provide carbon neutral shipping, socially active, vegan and low waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blueland is one of the best-known brands for eco-friendly cleaning products. The company is B Corp certified, climate neutral certified and certified cradle to cradle (similar to circular economy principles). Blueland specialises in tablet-based products that dissolve into refillable containers so you only need to repurchase the tablets. The refills are packaged in compostable paper-based bags.<\/p>\n Buy Online*<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n One way of reducing waste and resource use is to reuse products repeatedly for as long as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This could mean swapping plastic with a reusable bread bag<\/a> or you might even want to go as far as to make your own reusable tea bags<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can either purchase items for the express use of reusing them or find alternative uses for what you already own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These beeswax food wraps are one of my favourite sustainable kitchen products. They are a perfect replacement for single-use plastic and can be used for food storage, protecting bread or wrapping sandwiches for lunches or picnics. The Bee\u2019s Wrap Store is a certified B Corp and their products are made in Vermont, USA with certified organic cotton, responsibly sourced beeswax and certified organic plant oils. They also now sell vegan wraps that are made with plant-based candelilla wax.<\/p>\n Buy Online*<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n One of our most critical climate actions is making our homes more energy efficient. This reduces our use of fossil fuels (unless you’re using renewable energy) and also saves us money by using less energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unless you have an extremely inefficient appliance, it\u2019s always best to repair your items to extend their life as long as possible. But once you do need to replace them, choose the most energy-efficient model you can afford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that some energy-efficient appliances, like heat pump water heaters, may be eligible for a government rebate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Energy Star is a government back energy rating organisation that was established by the Environmental Protection Agency to provide energy information to consumers and industry. They independently assess and certify products that meet strict standards. You can use it to find products, installers, how-to guides and a list of available rebates.<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n I would say it\u2019s extremely difficult to be sustainable from a fitness product and gym perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, sustainable activewear seems to be heavy on greenwashing, supplements are usually packaged in plastic and gym equipment often uses unsustainable materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But things are changing. For example, you can now find carbon neutral, sustainable yoga mats<\/a> and accessories and I\u2019ve seen a few carbon neutral gyms pop up in my area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re fitting out your own gym, second-hand equipment is a great way to do so and it\u2019s often easy to find as-new equipment on online marketplaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have cardio equipment in your home like treadmills or elliptical trainers, turn them off at the power point after each use to minimise wasted energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A good alternative for cardio machines is to not buy them at all and workout outdoors, although this is weather dependent, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My physio introduced me to the benefits of foam rolling or in this case a cork roller alternative. Cork is the perfect material for a massage roller because it naturally has a little bit of give while still being firm. I use my cork roller daily to work on my hip flexors because I work sitting in front of a computer for most of the day.<\/p>\n Buy Online*<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n I admit that sustainable clothing is not my area of expertise. I\u2019m not interested in fashion and rarely buy clothes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But I\u2019m aware the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters and least sustainable industries. There is an incredible amount of waste and pollution from the production and distribution of clothing, shoes, bags and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, I want to reiterate that we should only buy what we really need. We can often manage with the clothes we have for longer than you think. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Take care of your clothes and repair or alter them to extend their useful life. Buy secondhand when you can and support sustainable brands if you can afford it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why not choose the original sustainable brand, Patagonia. Their carbon neutral tees include the carbon emissions from their supply chain, as well as the processing of the material. They are made in factors run by solar energy from fabric ends and scraps as well as recycled polyester. Carbon emissions are offset through a mangrove restoration program. Mangroves are an important source of carbon stores and these ecosystems are at risk around the world. Patagonia works with 1% for the Planet where donations go towards environmental protection and restoration.<\/p>\n View Online<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Creating a sustainable household with eco-friendly furniture and home decor should be a slow process, given that many of us already have a home full of stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where it\u2019s really important only to replace damaged items that can\u2019t be repaired and not buy new things just because they\u2019re \u2018eco friendly\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you do need to buy something, choose the best quality you can afford so it will last for years. Look for sustainably sourced timber products, metal, glass, recycled and recyclable materials and organic and natural fibres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buy local where possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then there are other items that we buy more regularly. For example, you can find sustainable candles<\/a> and you might want to decorate with plants rather than manufactured items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is especially important when decorating for parties and events when things like biodegradable balloons<\/a> should be avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cork is a natural and beautiful product that can be made into many sustainable products including these cork plant pots from Wild Pact. A small Australian business, Wild Pact manufactures its products in China and sells them via Amazon. This might not be appealing to everyone but if you purchase their products, they donate a percentage of their sales to the Pollinator Partnership, although they don\u2019t state how much exactly.<\/p>\n Buy Online*<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Our pets are part of the family and while we do our best to provide for them and treat them well, we can do so in a sustainable way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To start with, we can purchase sustainable pet food and treats for them. This can actually be quite difficult but there is an increasing number of natural and organic products we can choose for our pets and sometimes from carbon neutral companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then we have toys, bedding, collars, cleaning products, litter and pet health care. There\u2019s a lot to think about but unfortunately, there are very few zero waste pet brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not just us humans who want clean, shiny hair. Our dog friends want sweet smelling, itch-free, healthy skin and hair. I love using Ethique shampoo bars for myself but they now have zero waste dog shampoo bars that are completely plastic free, palm oil free and 100% compostable. The Bow Wow bar uses tea tree oil, oatmeal and coconut oil as its main ingredients. They also sell a dog conditioner if you need it.<\/p>\n Buy Online*<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Home composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions in two main ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, there is reduced demand for transport and the subsequent emissions that come with delivering waste to landfill centres. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Secondly, when waste decomposes in landfills, it releases methane into the atmosphere, a highly potent greenhouse gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike with landfills, home composting creates fewer emissions<\/a> because the compost materials decompose with oxygen, a process that doesn\u2019t create methane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once composted, the final product stores carbon and can be used in the garden, eliminating the need for fertilisers if applied regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t have to have a large garden to compost your paper and food scraps. There are compost bins that are suitable for use in relatively small spaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I live in a small apartment and use a worm farm for composting my scraps or you could use an indoor bokashi composter*<\/a>. This is a compost bin that uses fermentation to break down food scraps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"List](\"https:\/\/sustainabilitycubed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sustainable-Products.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSustainable Products<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Makes a Product Sustainable?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Eco-Friendly Products for the Home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Sustainable Kitchen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\nEco-Friendly Paper Towels<\/a>\n
2. Sustainable Bathroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\nNatural Loofah Sponge*<\/a>\n
3. Low Impact Beauty and Hygiene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Natural Cleaning Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\n Blueland*<\/a>\n
5. Reusable Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\nReusable Beeswax Food Wrap*<\/a>\n
6. Energy Efficient Appliances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\nEnergy Star<\/a>\n
6. Health and Fitness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\nCork Massage Roller*<\/a>\n
8. Clothing, Shoes, Bags and Accessories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\nCarbon Neutral T-Shirts<\/a>\n
9. Home Decor and Furniture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\nCork Plant Pots*<\/a>\n
10. Sustainable Pet Products<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top Pick<\/h5>\nEco Friendly Dog Shampoo*<\/a>\n
11. Home Composting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n