Environmentally-Friendly Changes I Tried This Year

I've always been interested in environmentalism, and even contemplated a sustainability minor in college (but I'm not too fond of Chemistry so that didn't happen, haha). There are many avenues that I haven't explored yet, but as I've gotten older I've tried to invest more time and energy into finding sustainable ways to live. 

An important note: I try not to be too precious about sustainability when it comes to other people, because we all have our *things* that we can't or won't change. I used to be quite judgmental but as I learn more about sustainability, I have come to understand the limitations of certain lifestyle changes for certain types of people. For example, I understand that for people with disabilities, disposability for certain items is a necessity. As an able-bodied person, I feel comfortable making these changes, but I make the effort not to judge people who choose not to. :)

Similarly, I understand that as one individual, my choices will never make the kind of impact that, say, a company choosing not to use plastic or a corporation cutting down on dirty energy would. I do feel, however, that if I can easily adjust a tiny facet of my lifestyle, it's worth the subsequently tiny impact it makes. Maybe it's a placebo effect, I don't know, but it works for me. :) 

• Instead of throw-away makeup wipes, I used reusable, washable microfiber facial cloths. I use KwinHa ones but you can find different brands pretty much anywhere. They are fast-drying, soft, and easy to care for. I don't wear waterproof makeup, so I've never had to add a facial cleanser or makeup remover; I use just water. They are affordable (and cheaper than buying multiple packs of makeup wipes!), I don't have to worry about any chemicals or perfumes causing an allergic reaction, and I can easily use them multiple times before washing, so I've never run out. 
• For eating out, I bring reusable straws, silverware (or woodenware if I want to carry light), a reusable coffee cup, and or tupperware/a reusable takeout container if I know I'm going to take some home. I always have at least one metal straw in my purse and if I know I'm going to be eating somewhere that only provides plastic forks/spoons, I add a metal or wooden version of my own as well. I also carry a cloth napkin (I picked up a pack of four for 69 cents on clearance at And That!) to wrap them in after use. If I forget my cup (which happens a lot, whoops!) and they offer a plastic version, I try to remember to bring the empty cup home so I can rinse it out and recycle it. :) Unfortunately, waxed paper and Styrofoam cups usually aren't recyclable, so I need to get better about not using those. Also I recently learned that only certain numbers of plastic are recyclable, so I want to be more wary of that form now on. 
• Tip: for places that let you fill up your drink yourself at a soda machine, sometimes I ask if I can pay for a drink and use my own cup.
• Fun fact: Starbucks takes 10 cents off your bill if you bring a reusable cup! 
• I try to buy sauces, condiments, and food products in paper or glass. Sometimes this means I have to look at multiple places--for example, olive oil in glass was a lot cheaper at And That! than it was at Target. This is something I want to get better at also. 
• I cut up old, stained, or ripped clothes than aren't repairable or able to be resold/donated to use as cleaning rags. In our house, we don't have to buy paper towels because we use rags. After using a rag, I place it in one of those Ziploc-style bags that laundry pods come in (I wanted to reuse an older one somehow). Whenever it's laundry day, I just dump them in with the towels and such. :) I've never had a problem with staining and if there is a lot of dirt/dust collected, I just rinse them out before washing. 
• For holidays/birthdays/weddings, I tried to purchase gifts locally or at thrift stores. Putting money into the local economy may not often be considered "environmentally-friendly", but I've noticed that smaller businesses are more likely to commit to sustainable practices (or be swayed towards changing their practices to more environmentally-friendly behaviors by community members), so I think it's worth supporting them as much as possible.
•  One particular gift idea that was easy to find was local wine, beer, etc. Luckily no one we know only drinks one brand of alcohol. 
• Used or donated books was also something I bought a lot of this year. I've noticed that many privately-owned bookstores and thrift stores carry new(ish) books in close to perfect condition, and often they are extremely inexpensive. Barnes & Noble is an amazing place, but I wanted to support a local business and help the environment by purchasing a previously-owned book. My personal Fredericksburg favorite is Riverby's downtown, which has a killer theatrical section! One caveat here is that it's not always easy to find the exact book I want, so this was easier for when I knew what genre I wanted but didn't have a specific title in mind. I did have to be more picky about the quality of the book (ripped or missing pages, creased cover, writing inside) also, because I still want the gift I'm giving to be in new condition.
• When it comes to thrift stores, I choose to avoid Salvation's Army because of their history of anti-LGBTQ beliefs and politics. Similarly, I've shopped at Goodwill and Plato's Closet before, but I personally prefer to put my money into local thrift stores that go towards a specific cause or charity. The prices are also typically lower at local places.  

These lifestyle changes aren't revolutionary, but I've found that they make a pretty solid shift--I only started using reusable straws/cups in March, and I've already saved approximately 217 single-use straws and 77 single-use cups.  

I'm looking forward to exploring new avenues of sustainability in the next few months: going to the farmer's market for the first time, trying out the Lunapad I got for Christmas, and making more of an effort to purchase locally instead of from chains/big-box companies.