TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A MORE CONSCIOUS LIFESTYLE AT HOME
Did you know that every German produces around 220 kilograms of waste every year ? Phew, a lot. A lot of this could be avoided. Because meanwhile there are a lot of clever products, especially for the household, with which “less waste” can be easily implemented in everyday life. And that without having to radically change your lifestyle. We'll tell you which everyday helpers are needed to live more sustainably in the household.
FROM DISPOSABLE TO REUSABLE. FROM SINGLE-USE TO MULTI-USE
No matter whether you go shopping, have a picnic in the park or have a coffee on the go: An important step towards a more conscious everyday life is to switch from disposable and single-use to reusable and multi-use. Here are a few reusable alternatives and tips to save garbage:
- Never again without a shopping network:
Simply put a reusable bag , such as a jute bag or a shopping net, in every rucksack and bag . This saves a lot of plastic in the supermarket and at the fruit and vegetable counter.
- Use over and over again:
Instead of buying your lunch in the supermarket, it is best to switch to “meal prep”. This is not only a lot healthier than the packaged alternative in the supermarket, but also almost packaging-free! Simply take leftovers or pre-cooked food with you to the office, the park or school in washable reusable lunch boxes or glasses with screw caps. Sounds easy. It is.
Also easy and so much better for the environment: refill detergents, cleaning agents etc. or make them yourself! It's easy to do with a concentrate to dilute or a tab to dissolve - both of which reduce household waste. In addition, the reusable dispensers & spray bottles made of glass look pretty stylish.
- Coffee drinkers watch out!
Did you know that in Germany alone up to 300,000 disposable coffee to go cups are used and disposed of every day ? So much rubbish for so few minutes of coffee enjoyment ... It doesn't have to be. Many bakers and baristas will be happy to fill your coffee to go in cups you have brought with you. Just ask your trusted barista and avoid rubbish in the future.
- Cooking according to plan
What looks good and is also extremely helpful? A seasonal calendar for fruits and vegetables! This provides information about the harvest time and storage of regionally grown fruit and vegetables, and thus makes it easier for you to decide what to eat today. Cooking according to plan, season and region is also very sustainable because the ingredients don't even have to be flown around the world. Logical, right ?!
- Give substance!
The good old cloth napkin has almost been forgotten and has been replaced by the paper version in many households. Wipe and away? This is nice and practical, but serviettes made from recycled paper or cloth napkins have a slightly better environmental footprint. You can serve the latter over and over again. Simply wash it with your normal laundry. That’s great, right ?!
- Style to go:
Always at hand
Whether for biking and hiking, for workouts and in the office: vacuum flasks, e.g. B. made of stainless steel, are a chic and extremely practical companion for on the go. This is how you quench your thirst whenever and wherever you want - with style.
What a handbag is for some, a drinking bottle is for environmentally conscious people on the go. A real it-piece that is fashionable and practical at the same time: the drink of your choice is always ready to hand anywhere. You can do without one-way bottles, which saves you one or two euros. So there is more left for the new handbag.
- Everything was better before?
Not necessarily. In the past, cling film was a must in every kitchen. Today, for the sake of the environment, we do without it and use alternatives: beeswax cloths, cans made of metal, high-quality plastic or glass and jars with screw caps are just as good for storing fruit, vegetables and ready-cooked food.
- Slurp, slurp!
Reusable drinking straws made of stainless steel, glass or bamboo are a stylish highlight and a clear statement in terms of environmental protection. Why didn't we think of it before?
- Packaged to pack:
The nice thing about gifts is the packaging and unpacking. A lot is given, especially on Christmas and birthdays. If you want to save on wrapping paper, you don't have to do without wrapping: depending on its condition, wrapping paper can even be used a second time. Or you can use reusable gift boxes, cans or pretty kitchen towels as packaging. This makes giving gifts even more fun.
- From old to new!
Thumbs up for upcycling
With upcycling something new is created from old, discarded, apparently useless products, things or fabrics. How about B. with a DIY shelf made from old wine boxes or new furniture knobs for the vintage chest of drawers in the hallway?
You've had enough of the dresser in the hallway and the living room urgently needs a change. Sometimes you just give the old a new coat of paint - and hey presto, problem solved. With so-called upcycling, the chest of drawers is simply given a different color and you can build a shelf for the living room from old wine boxes. Clever huh ?!