The new year is here-- full of promise, change, and hope. Now is the perfect time to reflect on the past 365 days, evaluate your progress and look for things you can improve in 2019.

In 2018, I really strived to make every decision I made a conscious one. Of course, that’s easier said than done. With my family of seven, becoming more environmentally conscious seemed like a pretty daunting task. But as I made an effort to be more aware, I was able to make a lot of small changes to live more sustainably and think about my consumption habits.

This year, let’s resolve to live even more sustainably and responsibly.

Let’s make decisions that have a positive impact on the earth and everyone who lives here.

Here are some little things you can start doing in your home to make your lifestyle more eco-friendly and sustainable. They’re small, but together they have a huge impact.

1. Switch to a bamboo toothbrush
   Most toothbrushes are made of a variety of different plastics that aren’t biodegradable. Around 50 million pounds of toothbrushes go straight to US landfills every year. Bamboo toothbrushes can be composted and therefore help reduce waste. And it’s such an easy switch - you can get a pack of four on Amazon for under $8. 
   
   
2. Use reusable grocery bags
   Paper or plastic? Neither! Bring your own bags with you when you shop at the grocery store, and commit to it. If you forget your bags, load up your car without them and bag your groceries when you get home. You’ll never forget your bags again!
   
   
3. Switch to bar shampoo
   Shampoo bars are package-free, making them much better for the environment than liquid shampoos. Plus, they’re very concentrated, so they last a long time. Lush has a lot of great, affordable shampoo bar options.
   
   
4. Use cloth napkins
   Choosing to use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins helps you cut down on waste. Plus, they usually look nicer and end up costing less in the long run. 
   
   
5. Say no to plastic straws ALWAYS 
   Last year, Americans used about 390 million plastic straws daily. Most of those straws end up straight in the trash. Choose to drink your drinks without a straw or bring along a bamboo or metal straw in your diaper bag, car, or purse.
   
   
6. Hang dry clothing
   Dry your clothes the old-fashioned way. Line drying your clothes conserves energy and reduces your carbon footprint. It’s also gentler on clothing and saves money. If the weather isn’t good, you can still dry them inside on an indoor drying rack.
   
   
7. Choose organic cotton over regular cotton
   Regular cotton is frequently treated with harmful GMOs and pesticides. This makes it harsher on skin, unsafe for farmers, and detrimental to the environment. Organic cotton has a much lower environmental footprint, it’s hypoallergenic, and it’s free of dangerous chemicals.
   
   
8. Reusable water bottles
   Resolve to never buy a plastic water bottle ever again. It’s so important to stay hydrated, but you don’t need to create waste in order to do so. Get a reusable water bottle and keep one with you all the time.
   
   
9. Cook at home
   Commit to making home-cooked meals more often and eating out less. Not only will it be better for your health, but you’ll also eliminate tons of unnecessary packaging from take-out and delivery.
   
   
10. Organic tampons
    Switch over to organic cotton tampons and pads. It’s better for your body, better for the environment, and better for farmers. My favorite brand is Cora -- plus, they provide pads and health education to girls in need with every purchase.
    
    
11. Recycle
    Sure, this one may sound obvious. But the truth is, we could all do a little better when it comes to recycling. Take the time to learn about what can and can’t be recycled. Place a number of recycling bins throughout your home, wherever you think you’ll use them most. Then, make sure you always recycle -- even when it’s hard.
    
    
12. Grow a small garden
    Start growing your own produce in your backyard. Fresh, homegrown vegetables and herbs taste amazing, and they’re safe. Plus, any food you grow yourself has a much lower impact on the environment than commercial produce. Don’t have a yard for your own vegetable garden? Find a community garden, or start small by growing a few fresh herbs right in your kitchen. 
    
    
13. Borrow one-time items instead of buying
    Whenever I don’t have something that I need, my knee-jerk reaction is to go out and buy it. However, borrowing is often a much better choice. It helps you declutter, it saves money, and it cuts down on waste. Here’s a great list of items you should almost always borrow instead of buy. Just be sure to be as quick to lend as you are to borrow!
    
    
14. Use reusable silverware
    If you often eat lunch at work, keep silverware at your desk instead of using plastic utensils every single day. You can even go the extra mile by keeping other dishes nearby -- cups, bowls, plates, etc. 
    
    
15. Reusable coffee mugs
    If you’re an avid coffee-drinker, invest in a reusable mug or tumbler. It’ll keep your drink warm for longer and it’ll cut down on tons of waste. Bonus -- lots of cafés offer a discount to people who bring in their own cup.
    
    
16. Upgrade your makeup routine
    Switching makeup brands can do wonders for your plastic consumption. Look for brands that use natural ingredients and avoid plastic packaging. Two of my favorite brands are Elate Cosmetics and Antonym Cosmetics.
    
    
17. No plastic bags in the produce section
    We’ve already talked about avoiding plastic bags at the checkout counter -- don’t bag your produce in them, either. Bring smaller reusable bags from home and bag your fruits and veggies in those, or simply go bagless.

18. Take good care of your body
    Stay active and exercise regularly. Get enough sleep. Eat a healthy, nutritious diet. Taking proper care of yourself first helps keep you motivated to make good decisions and take the extra steps required to make mindful, sustainable choices.  
    
    
19. Minimize
    Simplify your life. Cut back on the products you use in general. From your wardrobe to your beauty regimen, turning to minimalism helps you focus on what’s really important in your life. Rather than mindlessly purchasing things you don’t truly need, you’ll invest in products and routines that positively influence your other decisions.
    
    

There are plenty of simple changes you can make in order to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, but sustainability is about more than just recycling and reducing waste. It’s about being more conscious of your decisions and choosing to live responsibly. It’s a way of showing you care about the environment and making it a better place for everyone. This coming year, let’s all try a little harder to make this world a little better.

Living a sustainable lifestyle goes far beyond just recycling or eating organic. We can make better choices in nearly every area of our lives, from our everyday diet to our personal care habits to what we wear.

When I first set out to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, I never realized that the way I cared for my clothes actually had an impact on the environment. But it totally does! Around 50% of all greenhouse gas emissions from clothing actually occur during the consumer use stage. So, regardless of the clothing we already have in our closets or what we choose to buy, we have a lot of control over the environmental impact of our wardrobes.

In the past year, as I’ve tried to be more eco-conscious, I’ve made a lot of simple changes that have really helped me minimize my carbon footprint -- without inconveniencing my life at all. In fact, they’ve even made my clothes last longer and feel better. Here are a few quick fixes you can start implementing today to care for your clothes more sustainably.

1. Wear your clothes more than once before washing
   

   Of course, I’m not suggesting that you need to wear stinky, dirty clothes in order to save the planet. But the truth is, you’re probably washing your clothes more than you need to. In particular, jeans can be worn many times between washes. Bras can also be worn multiple times before you need to wash them, and overwashing usually just makes them wear out faster.
   
   There are also plenty of machineless alternatives to make your clothes feel fresher for longer. Airing your clothing on a hanger outside can eliminate odors pretty well. Freezing clothing is also a very effective way to kill bacteria and odors caused by it. (Though I recommend giving your clothes plenty of time to thaw out and warm up before you put them on again!)
   
   Each time you wash your clothes, your garments shed microfibers that ultimately end up polluting oceans. Plus, your washing machine emits harmful CO2 into the air and uses large amounts of water. Washing your clothes less frequently is better for the environment and makes your clothes last longer.
   
   

2. Wash your clothes in cold water
   

   When you do wash your clothes in the washing machine, be sure to use cold water. Again, it’s easier on both the planet and your clothes! Turning the temperature down on your washing machine can eliminate a hundred grams of CO2 emissions each time you wash, and it keeps colors brighter and the shape of your garments more intact.
   
   

3. Hang your clothes out to dry
   

   While washing your clothes less frequently and at a lower temperature can minimize your carbon footprint significantly, drying your clothes by machine is the main emissions culprit. Clothes dryers are one of the largest energy users in a home, usually using as much as a refrigerator, a dishwasher, and a clothes washer combined. A household running a dryer 200 times per year could save nearly half a ton of CO2 emissions simply by switching to hang drying!
   
   If you live somewhere with a balcony and warm weather, hang your clothes on a line outside to dry. But if not, using a drying rack inside is a great option as well!

Every change you make to live a more sustainable life counts. It’s small, conscious decisions like these that really add up and put less of a strain on precious environmental resources. As you start being more conscious about the impact each decision you make has on the environment, you take better care of the planet, yourself, and those who come after you.

Nowadays, plastic waste is everywhere. Dishes, bottles, utensils, straws, bags -- all single-use plastic items that usually end up straight in landfills. On average, Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour -- not to mention all the other kinds of plastic items that either can’t be recycled or end up in the wrong bin.

And that plastic waste never goes away. It’s not biodegradable. It piles up, impacts the environment, and can even damage your health.

With all the plastic waste in the world, it’s more crucial than ever to minimize your plastic use.

Here are just a few reasons why it’s so important to start cutting back on plastic.

1. It’s bad for the environment
   Plastic waste accumulating in the ocean has quickly become a major global crisis. Since plastic is not biodegradable, billions of pounds of plastic are currently swimming around in the ocean. At current rates, the amount of plastic in the sea is even expected to outweigh the amount of fish in the sea by the year 2050! This is a huge problem for marine wildlife -- fish, sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds all frequently die from ingesting or getting tangled up in plastic, disrupting ecosystems and putting some endangered species at even worse risk of extinction. Cutting back on plastic makes it so you don’t cause more waste to pile up in the ocean.
   
   
2. It’s toxic
   All sorts of chemicals are added to plastic during its production. These chemicals (and the plastics that are treated with them) have potentially harmful effects that may be carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. Not much is known about how severe the effects of these chemicals can be, but limiting your plastic use puts you and your family at less risk.
   
   
3. It adds to the world’s trash
   As the Environmental Protection Agency says, “Every bit of plastic ever made still exists.” Most single-use plastic items are used for a few moments, then exist forever as trash and pollution, taking up space and causing all sorts of problems. This is the only planet we have, and it’s up to us to take care of it. Anything we can do to minimize the waste we contribute is a positive thing

While cutting back on ALL plastic use can seem a little daunting, it doesn’t have to be. Start small and replace certain single-use plastic items with reusable alternatives, one by one. It may not seem like much, but those simple lifestyle changes really add up and make a big difference.

Here are a few changes you can make to make your day-to-day life and decisions more eco-friendly!

1. Say no to plastic straws
   In 2018, Americans used around 390 million plastic straws a day. Most plastic straws can’t be recycled, so they end up in landfills or in the ocean. Drink your drinks without using a straw, or keep a bamboo or metal straw in your purse or car.
   
   
2. Use reusable bags
   You don’t need paper or plastic. Find some sturdy reusable bags and bring them along with you when you go to the grocery store. Remember to skip the plastic bags at the produce section as well!
   
   
3. Swap out your toothbrush
   Did you know that roughly 50 million pounds of plastic toothbrushes go straight to landfills in the U.S. each year? Switch to a biodegradable, compost-friendly bamboo toothbrush. They’re inexpensive and get the job done just as well.

Minimizing your personal plastic waste in small ways may not seem like much, but those simple lifestyle changes really add up and make a big difference.

Looking for more suggestions on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle? Check out 19 Easy Ways to Live More Sustainably in the New Year to read about the small, eco-friendly changes I’ve made in the last year.