SUSTAINABLE SWAPS
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
― Maya Angelou
Sustainability is really becoming the most important talking point right now with businesses starting to realise the necessity of their social and environmental responsibility, or responding to pressure from us, the consumers. My own background in sustainability research wouldn’t let me start this article without adding the caveat of how we should all remember that corporations, governments and systems should be tackled and addressed if we’re truly going to come up with a comprehensive, inclusive and progressive response to climate change. My academic background is also basically zero craic at parties.
Our individual choices, however, do play a part in the process and if we make little swaps when we are able these can have a real impact. With that in mind, I’ve decided to create a short list of my sustainable swaps for you to explore and see if there are choices here you would like to make in your own little world. Also, many of these items could make nice gifts for others and seem casual even though what you’re really saying is, ‘there’s a climate crisis, and everybody’s invited’.
OUT AND ABOUT
What once would have made you look weird, is now a mark of sustainable stylish sense and something that many coffee shops are more than happy to cater to. Covid got in the way a bit with the reusable coffee cup revolution, but in Galway both Little Lane and Temple Cafe can make your drink in a safe manner so there’s still ways in which you can keep that trend going.
My favourites over the years are Keepcup, Chillys which you can find in Tree Bark Store, or Cheeki and while writing this post I stumbled across an Irish brand, Monkey Cups.
Reusable water bottles are also great, I’ve a Cheeki bottle and they are handy to fill up before you leave the house, Klean Kanteen are also well loved, or get yourself an Urban bottle from Coffeewerk + Press. Luckily Galway along with many cities, operates a refill system where you can check the map, fill your water up and get that sweet hydration straight to your soul. If you’re able and wanting to use your tap water at home you can get a water filter that helps with both cleaning the water and conservation, or maybe one of these jugs for your fridge.
LUNCHES, PACKAGING, UTENSILS & PARTY SUPPLIES
Reusable lunch boxes/bags are really cute because you can even get yourself an adorable kids one. I’ve seen some cute luch bags in The Filling Station here in Galway. If you’re looking for some casual, smart and minimal ones you could try Organico or for a sandwich wrap why not get this Boc n’Roll dinosaur one.
I’ve also come across Tala vegan wax cloths (a vegan alternative to the bees wax) in Homestore & More.
I really enjoy using have a set of bamboo cutlery which includes a fork, spoon and knife and you betcha’ it has pandas on it, there’s also a lovely minimal one available here and if you’re planning a party or event you can make it minimal waste through Planet Sustie. Oh, and let’s not forget one of the most highly contested utensils last year, the straw. You can buy a reusable set from EcoStraws or Little Green Shop and a biodegradable bunch from The Humble Co. here.
HOUSEHOLD
The Eco Egg which has a very cool and slightly futuristic name is a little device that goes in your laundry and saves a substantial amount on washing, they also have a dryer egg. You could also make your own, or buy laundry liquid such as Lilly’s Eco Clean which has refill bags available, or alternatively to these choices, grab a Palm Free Laundry bar – which can be used to clean almost everything. For scrubbing surfaces get yourself a Sonnett eco sponge and glass bottle spray set from Little Green Shop.
Laundry and cleaning products are something we all use quite regularly and the difference in cost of using ecological products is simply something which can make a big difference on a budget, or if you’re in charge of a whole family’s laundry. The good news is that eco products, that are paraben free, non bio, made from plants and vegan are now becoming more regularly available in supermarkets. I’ve found some more ecological alternatives to toilet cleaner, washing up liquid, sprays and detergents in Aldi, Dunnes, Marks and Spencer, and SuperValu, and in some places the ecological version is the same or cheaper in price.
Eco bin bags can be so expensive in supermarkets and it’s just not feasible for many homes to pay high prices, but they have vegetable based ones in Aldi and Mr. Price which are around the two euro mark. A good tip is to keep one of these eco bags on the counter when you’re cooking and pop in the vegetable peels as you go instead of throwing them away with household waste. Biobag have a full set of household essentials here. Also, as much as you possibly and financially can, try to buy products which are loose, or in paper packaging and then opt for biodegradable or recyclable packaging.
Eco Toilet Paper and Kitchen Towels are available in most supermarkets; I’ve spotted them in Aldi, Tesco and Dunnes for reasonable prices, in plastic free packaging and Veganic has recycled kitchen roll which is extra cute and good for the planet.
If you’re looking to shop for all your common household products that often come in unnecessary packaging elsewhere, and have the means to do so, you can buy many items like pepper, cinnamon, salt, pasta, flour and pretty much everything else in The Filling Station here in the city. Your groceries could be sourced from an organic farm which delivers as I’ve done with Green Earth Organics, which cuts on waste, gives you great food, and contributes to biodiversity and environmental sustainability. GEO also has lots of vegan and eco products on their website so it’s worth a browse.
If you’re like me and you love a good candle burning to soothe your soul and make you feel like things are going good, then maybe you’d like to buy a beautiful Galway inspired one from Scents of Galway – I love Barna Woods, something clean and fresh from Emmas (I found one in The Natural Way Clarinbridge – which has so many lovely vegan and eco friendly products) or nab yourself a decadent delight from the fabulous Milis.
PERSONAL CARE
Razors are something many of us throw away on a regular basis. Those cheap packets of disposable razors, or replaceable plastic ones can really add up, trust me I know, I use one. A few nice zero waste options which I’m hoping to change to before the year is out are; Bambaw which was shared on Healthy House Cahir, Bulldog , Esrid or Parker.
I’m no stranger to speaking about menstrual health and wellness, period. Having worked in the area for years, been an ambassador for a period tracking app, and written my thesis on it, this topic is something I definitely care about and understand the personal, social, cultural and economic nuances of. For those who have periods and would like to make a sustainable swap, I’ve been a Mooncup user for the last five years and it has positively changed my experience completely. For those who don’t fancy this choice or who want to use a combination of products, you could opt for reusable pads such as Bloom & Nora or grab some from Rosies Eco Store, and there is also period underwear available here. If you still feel more comfortable with disposables there are more ecological organic cotton choices available in most health stores. I was also recently informed by my friend Rachel (thanks gal) about ‘any time of the month’ an initiative where you carry spare products on you if someone gets stuck and for this reason I bought some more ecologically friendly tampons to keep in my bag.
Cleansing your face with disposable wipes means a lot of landfill clogged with unnecessary waste. I have biodegradable wipes from Aldi and Panda in my basket (Panda’s packaging is also biodegradable). Recently in an attempt to cut that waste, I’ve started using reusable cotton rounds instead, and some coconut oil from a glass jar which works so well. If you invest in a large glass jar of organic coconut oil from Viridian or Bunalun Organic you will find yourself using it for so many things around the house, and when you’re finished you can reuse the jar!
For the cotton rounds you just pop them in their little bag and throw them in the wash with your laundry. I bought mine in Evergreen, but you can also get them here from Green Outlook.
Shampoo bars have never really taken off on many ‘sustainable influencer’ platforms from what I can see, but I think that’s because you probably need to find one that suits your hair, which can take time, and you might need to use an astringent like apple cider or a lemon based conditioner to help pull any extra remnants to the surface. I’ve tried a few shampoo bars and being honest with the amount of hair I have, It hasn’t been easy to find one that doesn’t tange my hair. The one which has worked best for me so far is LUSH, but wanting to try a product with much less ingredients which I could get locally in my health shop I’ve now switched to the Palm Free Irish Soap shampoo bar since I’ve started trying their products (thanks to them for gifting me some lovely soaps) and a few people recommended it. I’ve also seen Lamazuna bars get really great reviews. Conditioner bars aren’t something I’ve used yet but I am hoping to try out Kildare based brand Janni.
If you’re looking for deodorants that smell really good, work, and come in minimal packaging then maybe Pit Putty, Warrior, Ben & Anna, Ethique or Wild could keep you feelin’ fresh. For Lip balms how about you pucker up with Ruths lip balm or Flowery Whiff.
Brushin’ your teeth is important but plastic brushes really clog up the planet. I use a Humblebrush, and they also do mouthwash, floss and toothpaste tablets which people are going wild for. Some other toothpaste tabs are Geoorganics, Ecoliving or Lush.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
Here I have included just a short selection of all the amazing swaps you can make in your day to day living. A good idea is to follow some of the eco stores I have shared so you’re up to date with new swaps which become available.
First and foremost work with what you have, use up the products in your home already and don’t force yourself to be ecological beyond your means, it’s more about slowly adjusting your swaps as you can; over time I have made little changes and there are still so many I could be doing (feel free to DM me on Instagram with some of your favourites).
For now, I hope this post gets you started on your journey and remember – going vegan is an excellent way to minimise your environmental impact; one beef burger takes the equivalent of 3 months shower water to produce.
Likewise, it’s important to put pressure on corporations who are causing the world’s waste, and continue fighting for an inter sectional feminist movement towards combating climate change. Let me know what your favourite swaps are and if you found any new ones here, and I hope you have fun taking care of the planet – we’ve only got one home.
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