2024 New Years Sustainable Swap
Happy 2024! It’s crazy to think that 2023 has already come an gone. I hope that everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season. As we settle into the new year, I am happy to share my 2024 New Years Sustainable Swap!
What is a Sustainable Swap?
A sustainable swap is exactly what it sounds like, making a lifestyle swap to live a more sustainable life. A couple of large perceived barriers to sustainable living are cost and effort, but what if I told you that you could live a more sustainable life without sacrificing your budget or bending over backwards to achieve it?
Starting in 2020 I made the commitment to make one feasible sustainable swap with each new year. The swap doesn’t have to be anything crazy, it could be as simple as committing to packing your own lunch for the office instead of buying food in single-use takeout containers. When brainstorming a sustainable swap I like to stick to the criteria of attainable, maintainable, and sustainable to guide me.
2024 New Years Sustainable Swap
For 2024, I have decided to swap my conventional toothpaste for Davids natural toothpaste. In the past few months I have been doing some reflecting to determine a swap for 2024. During this time I came across Davids toothpaste. What’s interesting about this product is not only the fact that it is made from natural ingredients, but that the tube itself is made from metal and is 100% recyclable, unlike conventional toothpaste tubes which are made from plastic. You can learn more about Davids sustainable packaging here.
More Sustainable Swap Ideas
If natural toothpaste isn’t your thing, fear not! There are still plenty of other sustainable swaps to be made. Here are a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing:
Ditch Conventional Gift Wrap
Who doesn’t love a beautiful, glossy wrapping paper with a fun print? I’ll admit it, I certainly do. But did you know most conventional wrapping paper isn’t environmentally friendly (even if it’s made of paper!)? Most wrapping paper is coated with polyethylene, polypropylene, and laminates to give it that satisfying, glossy finish we all love. This year, make the switch to more environmentally-friendly wrapping alternatives like recyclable gift wrap, fabric, or reusable bags.
This article from Zero Waste Store has some great eco gift wrapping inspiration, available here!
Bring your Own Cup for Takeaway Drinks
Winter is the season of hot drinks and with that comes an increase in use of single-use drinking cups. Although these cups are made of paper, the interior lining that helps to keep your drink warm and the cup from turning to mush is actually made of polyethylene (plastic) making these cups quite challenging to recycle.
Brining a reusable mug from home not only reduces your environmental impact, but may also save you money. Many coffee chains offer a small discount to customers who opt to bring their own cups.
Try Out a Wooden Hairbrush
Besides being more sustainable than plastic hairbrushes, wooden hair brushes can help reduce static and are more gentle on the scalp.
Past New Years Sustainable Swaps
If you’re looking for more sustainable swap inspiration you can revisit my 2023 sustainable swap, which also outlines my swaps for 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Final Thoughts
I hope I have inspired you to make a commitment to a more sustainable 2024. Just remember, sustainable swaps don’t have to be huge and daunting. If you stick to the criteria of attainable, maintainable, and sustainable, I’m sure you won’t feel overwhelmed. If you’re not sure where to start, there are so many great resources available online about sustainable lifestyles and products. Zero Waste Store’s website is a great place to start.
Wishing you all health and happiness in 2024! Thank you all for reading along. I’d be happy to hear about any sustainable swaps you’ve committed to for this year or that you’ve previously made in the comments π
xx
Ashley