28 Ways to Reduce Your Footprint

I drive an SUV and it makes me feel bad. Every time I get in it in a public place I want to explain, “It’s a temporary thing! I have three kids! It’s better than taking two cars to the same place, right?!”

In an attempt to alleviate guilt and reduce my carbon footprint, I have been making a list of other, smaller, ways that I can help make for it.

I can hear you sighing. I know– we’re all busy and especially when you have kids, it can be hard to find the time and effort to be more efficient. But don’t fret–here are 28 ways that you can save money in the long run while also cutting down on your waste.

1. Cloth diapers– for better people than I. Disposable diapers are the 3^rd largest consumer item in landfills, and are clearly not biodegradable. If you can suck it up and shovel your baby’s poop into the toilet with a stick, you can greatly reduce your family’s waste. And you will be a superhero in my book.
2. Reusable kids lunch containers—there are lots of options out there for kids’ lunches, from a simple reusable Tupperware, the PlanetBox or the Bentgo.
3. Reusable snack bags are easy to wash, easy to use and replace Ziplock bags. These are great for kids’ lunches or for anyone ‘s snacks. I got mine at Target but they are sold at many retailers including Amazon.
4. A Compost pile doesn’t sound like something you can do in the city, but I found step-by-step instructions on how to start one in a large Tupperware, and so far it has been a success! It’s more work than simply throwing food in the trash but you’re left with a healthy compost pile to fertilize your plants afterward.
5. Go meat-free—even picking one day a week not to meat can help with your carbon footprint. Meat production produces more greenhouse gases than vegetables, and reducing your consumption can ease fuel dependence and also minimize water usage.
6. Invest in glass Tupperware—plastic Tupperware does eventually break down, cracks etc. Furthermore, skepticism about microwaving any type of plastic still exists. Plus, in the long run, it will save you money from constantly replacing your plastic Tupperware.
7. Reusable water bottle—buying plastic water bottles is not only bad for the environment but can also be bad for your health. There are tons of reusable bottles out there to suit your needs. My personal favorite is the S’well because it is hard to break and keeps things cold for 24 hours. But there are tons of options out there for everyone’s specific needs.
8. Donate items instead of throwing them away. This sounds so simple, yet you would be surprised at the amount of perfectly good things that end up thrown away out of laziness. Take the extra fifteen minutes to drop a load off at Goodwill or a local thrift store.
9. Use the library—instead of buying paper books that you will only read once, utilize your library for FREE e-books and audiobooks! Apple, for example, has an app called Overdrive that easily connects your library account to your Kindle app, allowing for fast and easy downloading. The library also has a ton of new releases in every genre. FOR FREE.
10. Go paperless billing—almost every company now offers this option, which sends all of your bills through email, significantly decreasing the amount of paper that you will receive in your mail.
11. Buy used—websites like Craigslist have revolutionized the way we can buy used items. Thrift stores, Re-Stores, garage sales, estate sales, and swap meets are also great ways to find things.
12. Eat whole foods that you make at home, instead of packaged ones. I know how daunting making a homemade meal can be after a long day, but eating whole foods that have not been processed is not only good for the environment but good for your health. Think of all the wrapping and plastic you have on packaged foods, and all of the waste you wouldn’t be creating. There are many ways to do this cheaply and with minimal time, such as making freezer meals all in one sitting, storing them in (glass) Tupperware, and defrosting when you need them.
13. Shop with packaging in mind— try to buy products with minimal packaging or packaging that you can recycle.
14. Purchase concentrates and dilute them. This is an easy way to cut down on packaging, while also saving money by buying in bulk.
15. Repurpose old jars for kitchen storage. I’ve done this with spaghetti mason jars, and used them to store my flour, sugar and other baking materials. This also allows for an easy refill option, cutting down on future packaging waste.
16. Shop local farmers markets—you get fresher produce, while also investing on local, sustainable goods (and jobs!). Most farmer’s markets will save you money, as well, since the food hasn’t had to be shipped and stored.
17. Switch all light bulbs to energy-efficient options—this will save you money while also using less energy. These light bulbs typically last 3-25 times longer than traditional ones. There are three choices: halogen incandescent, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), all of which are available at your local hardware store or online retailer.
18. Refill printer cartridges instead of buying new ones.
19. Upgrade appliances to energy-efficient ones. Do some research because many power companies will give you rebates towards this, saving you money upfront and also down the road.
20. Support green businesses—with little effort you can find out what businesses are trying to do their part to reduce waste and help the environment. Here is a list of 25 big companies that are going green to start you off.
21. Switch household cleaners to ones that are environmentally friendly. This is an easy way to put fewer pollutants back into the ground through your sewer system.
22. Buy rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
23. Borrow—I know this sounds like a foreign concept in this day and age, but you’d be amazed at how willing your friends and family will be to loan you something. Give it a try. And don’t break people’s shit or you’ll ruin the whole system.
24. Use cloth napkins and cloth towels whenever possible. I still keep paper towels on hand, but instead of using them at dinner or to dry hands, use something you can wash and reuse.
25. Recycle. I want to say this shouldn’t even have to be said, seeing as how EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW BETTER. But people are stupid, and let’s admit, lazy. Don’t be a douche, and recycle. There’s no excuse.
26. Reusable shopping bags have become a trend, which is awesome. But if you’re anything like me and forget to bring yours with you 90 % of the time, remember to always choose paper over plastic.
27. Take your own coffee mug to the coffee shop. I like to have other people make me my coffee because it feels special. But even recyclable coffee cups add up. By simply bringing in your mug or to-go cup from home can greatly reduce waste. BONUS—many coffee places offer discounts if you use your own cup.
28. E-tickets are readily available at most movie theatres, concerts etc. It is yet another small way to cut out waste from your life.

Take these suggestions, add your own. Share this post. Don’t feel like little changes aren’t worthwhile, because if everyone starts doing something small it will, eventually, turn into something big.