OTHER ITEMS

Your go-to brands for everyday essentials may not be the most environmentally friendly ones. Investigate the products and companies you support: there may be better options available.

Business Practices

Locally, look for businesses that use renewable energy, sustainable packaging, or source their goods regionally. Nationally, look for a certified B-corp company, or one which works toward “reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high quality jobs with dignity and purpose” (BCorporation.net, a good place to learn more).

Household Supplies

Cleaning: “More than 90 percent of a typical bottle of cleaning product is simply water” (“Could Just-Add-Water Products Save Us?).

• Replace plastic jug laundry detergent, soaps and cleaners with just-add-water products (like Blueland) or concentrated, compostable packaged products (like Dropps).

• Make your own DIY cleaners from recipes online.

• Reuse containers from home and fill them with cleaning products from stores like Unpacked Living on Cabot Street.

• Replace plastic sponges, scrub brushes, and microfiber clothes with natural, biodegradable ones made from wood, sisal, bamboo, or coconut (like this bamboo pot scrubber).

Paper Products:

• Replace paper products with reusables like cloth napkins, multi-use “unpaper” towels, and the old-fashioned hanky.

• Buy paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, etc. that are mostly or entirely made from post-consumer recycled materials.

• Reuse old, stained sheets or t-shirts that can’t be donated for future use as rags.
  

Personal Care

Similar to cleaning products, more options are becoming available that have either biodegradable or less packaging.

• Evaluate and pare down on the number of personal care products you use.

• Use products that come in non-plastic or biodegradable containers (like toothpaste tablets).

• Try bar soaps and shampoos instead of bottled.

• Use washable pads/rounds instead of disposable cotton ones.

• Use a washcloth instead of disposable towelettes.

• Avoid one-use feminine hygiene products by switching to an alternative like menstrual cups. For one-use products, look for ones made from cotton or sustainable source materials and that don’t use plastic.

• Use a toothbrush made from bamboo instead of plastic.
  

Appliances and Electronics

• Repair before you replace.

• Use items as long as possible before upgrading.

• If you need to upgrade working items, sell or donate them instead of throwing them away or recycling them.

• Buy used items (if they are Energy Star-rated).

• Buy Energy Star-rated items.
  

Furniture and Decor

• Boston Consignment

• Witch City Consignment & Thrift Store (Salem)

• Grounded Flower Farm (CSA)

• See resources for repairing and buying used in CLOTHES.

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