Sustainability for women: An intro to an eco lifestyle
This one’s for the gals.
Stop buying cheap clothes
Cheap clothes comes to you in shady and unethical ways. Plus, when you pay so little for something chances are that you buy a lot of it (creating clutter, yuck) and undervaluing it, likely getting thrown out (unsustainable, double yuck).
Slow Fashion > Fast Fashion
Fast fashion is so early 2000s. It’s a term used to describe how trends quickly go from runway to bargain bin in a matter of months. Opt instead for ‘slow fashion’ and keep your clothes and style for life. After all, history repeats itself, especially in fashion. Exhibit A: Leggings and high waisted shorts. Keep your clothes, because trends come back, buying high-quality clothes that last a lifetime ends up costing less in the long-run and helps keep the planet around longer. This article on Experience L!fe says it all:
“The ‘slow fashion’ movement teaches consumers how to build a healthy wardrobe, while also protecting the planet.”
Shop sustainable swimwear 😍
Swimwear is one of the trendiest in the fashion world. If you’re one for wearing the latest, at least buy ethical and local – which often means high quality too. Here’s some brands that make sustainability stylish as heck:
Reformation – Sustainable fabrics, eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
Summersalt – Recycled textiles, reusable bag, veteran-owned
Montce Swim – Fair-wage, handmade in California
Ditch feminine products for cups and linen pads
The average woman uses 240 tampons each year, that’s 9,600 in her lifetime. If you use plastic applicators, that’s a heck of a lot of plastic and over $60/year. Also, most products have chlorine and other toxic chemicals in them that seep right into your body… gross. Be healthier and more sustainable by using cups and washable pads. To clean the cups all you need is warm/hot water and natural soup – don’t buy into the solutions and wipes, they’re wasteful. If you prefer pads, here’s a great set of dark, washable liners. Buy these products once and use them for years to come.
If you’re not ready for a cup, a good start is to at least ditch the plastic applicator. You can go applicator-free or at least choose cardboard or plant-based plastic applicators. Here’s a few choices:
Sky Organics Cotton Tampons (16 ct)
o.b. Non-Applicator Tampons (40 ct)
Seventh Generation Plant Based Plastic Applicator (18 ct, 6 pack)
Or this great biodegradable applicator option: Sky Organins with Applicator (2-pack)
Use sustainable / biodegradable hair ties
Think about all the hair ties you’ve lost, broken, or thrown out over the years. If you’re like me, that could add up to hundreds. Conventional hair ties are made of synthetic materials like rubber and polyester, which can take thousands of years to decompose, if ever… So that hair tie that you lost when you were six, is likely littering some part of the world.
Thankfully, Terra Ties came up with a solution. These hair holders are just as sustainable as they are durable – made from ethically sourced, plastic-free, biodegradable elastics that hold up since they’re made from quality materials.
Another tip would be to be more mindful of your hair tie use: challenge yourself to use just one or two (because pigtails, duh) at a time and in use for at least a month, then 2, then 3, and so forth!
These eco-friendly hair ties come in a pack of 27, check em out: Terra Ties
Buy eco cleaning products or make your own
Do you know how toxic those chemicals your spraying on the kitchen counter are? If you can’t consume it, it shouldn’t be in the kitchen. Fun fact: The founder of Method used to spray the product in his mouth during demos. Here are some of our favorite eco-friendly cleaning brands:
Making your own DIY cleaning products is not as hard as it sounds! Check out our article How to make your own cleaning products
Buy bamboo/biodegradable toothbrushes
They’re not just sustainable, they’re pretty cool-looking. Check these out.
Don’t forget toothpaste! Try out Tom’s of Maine.
Choose sustainable products for your hobbies:
Yoga – Buy a good mat and keep it for ages. Like this Yoga mat made from recycled wetsuits. Check out our blog on the Most sustainable yoga gear.
Hiking – Who doesn’t love Patagonia?
Sketching – Like this recycled sketch pad
…and everyday life:
So there you have it. Implement these practices into your life for a more sustainable way to live.
