It can be daunting to figure out how to be more eco-conscious, especially if you have limited time and resources. With so many different ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle (some more extreme than others), I get how it may feel overwhelming to know where to begin in a way that is both easy yet also impactful.

Here are 3 easy ways you can be more eco-friendly in your daily life without having to completely change the way you do things:

 

1. Reuseable shopping bags

Many grocery stores and even some retailers are starting to charge customers for plastic bags at check out. At Whole Foods for instance, I save 10 cents for each bag I bring. That may not sound like much, but each week I buy probably 3 bags worth of groceries there. Multiple that by 52 weeks in a year, and you’ve got about $15. Not bad considering that all you have to do is remember to bring your own bags.

Now, I realize that is a task in itself, and the process to make it a habit can be a long one. If you’ve read my mission statement, you know it took me years to make this part of my routine.

And that’s okay. It may take you several weeks or months of forgetting to put the bags in your trunk. And then some more time to remember to bring them into the store with you. But then, as it did for me, one day it will click and become second nature to be more eco-friendly. And in addition to helping to keep plastic bags out of landfills, you may even realize that bringing your own insulated shopping bags is a way better option than the flimsy plastic or paper bags that break easily.

I keep a small B.O.B. (bag of bags) in my trunk, and at least one small foldable one in my diaper bag. That way, I always have a reliable and reusable bag for any kind of shopping.

 

2. Skip The Straws

There is a viral anti-plastic straw campaign going around right now you may have heard of: #stopsucking. On that campaign’s website, they feature this sobering statistic:

By the year 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.

 

I wrote this post about plastic straws that you may have read already. Or perhaps you saw this photo I posted to my Instagram account:

View this post on Instagram

Spotted on the beach this morning. The plastic bag reads: “1 bag. 2 towers. 30 minutes. Make a difference! #cleanupourplanet“ 🌎♻️ . . #beachcleanup #noplastic #stopsucking #reducereuserecycle #cleanupouroceans #cleanupourbeaches #savetheplanet #earthday #ecofriendlymama #ecofriendly #ecoconscious #cleanup #beach #huntingtonbeach #greenmovement #beachcleanup #savetheoceanchangetheworld #savetheocean #savetheoceans🌊

A post shared by Hilary Feldstein Ratner (@ecofriendlymama) on Mar 29, 2018 at 5:00pm PDT

 

One easy way we can reduce the amount of plastic waste from ending up in our oceans is by reducing our use of straws. I mean, would you rather have a straw to drink your water at a restaurant or have fish in the sea?

This is a very easy way you can make a small change to be more eco-friendly without much effort. When your restaurant server starts to pull a plastic straw out of their apron, just smile and say “no thanks.” It’s really as simple as that!

 

3. Think. Look. Ask.

Another very easy way to be more eco-friendly is to just start thinking about it and asking questions. For instance, the next time you’re at your favorite take out spot for dinner, look around. Do they have a recycling bin? Do they use cardboard to-go containers? What kind of disposable cutlery do they offer?

I recently grabbed lunch from a local salad/sandwich spot by the beach. After receiving a delicious sample in a plastic cup with a plastic fork, I politely asked if they recycle. The answer was no. And so, still with a smile on my face, I said I’d take the cup and fork home to put in my recycling bin.

You may not want to go that far, or be able to do so in the moment. And that’s fine for now. The important thing is that you’re conscious about how your consuming habits are affecting the earth.

If you do decide to politely say something, the person on the other side of the counter may look at you like you’re nuts. And that’s okay. New ideas that run counter to the current norm are usually met with trepidation. But who knows, maybe by showing that one person that you care about whether they have recycling bins or are using compostable forks will have an effect. Maybe that one person will think about doing this in their own personal lives, or suggest to their manager that this change be made in their establishment. By simply asking, you are planting a seed, both in yourself and in others.

After all, permanent change is about forming new habits to replace the old. And the new habit you’re learning here is taking better care of the planet. It requires time to make a lasting change. But doesn’t it feel good to take the first step towards a cleaner earth?

 

So there you have it: 3 easy ways to be more eco-friendly without much effort, money, or change to your routine.

 

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