24 Eco-Friendly New Year’s Resolutions Anyone Can Do
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I’ll be honest, I am usually really bad at sticking to them. It is important to pick something that is specific, so it is easier to stick with and hold yourself accountable. Picking a vague New Year’s resolution is usually setting yourself up for failure.
Here are 24 eco-friendly (specific) resolutions anyone can do. Some of these are also good for saving money and your general health!
Bring your own reusable shopping bags - Did you know that over 300 million plastic shopping bags end up in the Atlantic Ocean every year? Animals either eat them and end up dying because they can’t digest them, or suffocate when they get trapped. We all have reusable shopping bags of some sort around the house, now start using them. Always forget them? Try leaving a few in your car, by your front door, in your purse or backpack so you always have them. If you do accidentally end up with a plastic bag - reuse it. Just because it is plastic does not mean it is not reusable.
Waste less food - Every year 108 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States. Here are just a few ways you could divert food waste from going to the landfill:
Buy only what you need
Learn how to store food properly so it lasts longer
Meal prep
Know the difference between best buy, sell by, and use by.
Drive less, walk more - Not only is it good for the planet, but you can also count it as exercising more! I’m not a fitness-fiend, although I do plan on trying to get more daily steps in.
Start a compost - This is an easy project that can help reduce your food waste and give you some fertile soil for your garden or houseplants. With Spring actually around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning a compost bin. If you can’t compost at home (or don’t want to) consider signing up for a composting pickup program. You can also check at your local farmers markets if they accept compost drop offs.
Support local farmers and businesses - This helps reduce your overall carbon footprint. It also supports your local economy, which is awesome!
Boycott fast fashion - Did you know that fast fashion is the second biggest polluter in the world? Just behind the oil industry. To avoid supporting fast fashion you can thrift, find a clothing swap, or buy sustainable brands. I am a huge fan of the apps ThreadUp and Poshmark. If you still want trendy things, you can look up the brands you want on those two apps. I have also had a lot of luck finding vintage clothes on Etsy.
Bring your own reusable water bottle - This helps cut back on single use plastics.
Reduce (or even better eliminate) animal products from your diet - I don’t expect everyone to go vegan, but cutting out animal products helps the planet by reducing air pollution as it decreases CO2 emissions. If you don’t see yourself going all in on going vegan, try just eliminating one thing. For example, you could switch from cow milk to oat milk or totally cut cheese out of your diet.
Avoid unnecessary single use plastics - Skip bagging produce at the grocery store in plastic, ask for no utensils when picking up takeout, or pick items in glass over the plastic alternative.
Hang dry your clothes - Dryers use a lot of energy. Consider hanging your clothes to dry instead of using the dryer, whenever possible. This will also make your clothes last longer, which is good for the environment too.
Bring reusable utensils and straws - If you get takeout or eat at fast food restaurants, consider carrying some reusable utensils and straws (if you use straws) in your purse, satchel, or backpack. That way you have them available and can refuse the plastic forks.
Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products - Vinegar and baking soda is a great natural way to clean most things. If you still want to buy cleaning products check out companies like Miloria or Blueland.
Stop using paper towels - You can buy reusable paper towels or you can make your own rags from old t shirts.
Plant a pollinator garden - If you have a yard, this is such a great thing you can do to help our hardworking pollinators.
Learn how to recycle properly - Not all plastic is created equal and not everywhere recycles the same! Learn what types of materials your local area recycles. Wishful recycling (throwing things you hope are recyclable, but not sure) can sometimes ruin an entire load of recycling.
Avoid palm oil - Palm oil harvesting is one of the biggest drivers of deforestation. Once you start looking at ingredients when grocery shopping, you start to see how frequently it is used.
Invest in some reusable products - This is a personal one and really depends on what you use that is disposable. For example, if you shave, a safety razor can be a great swap and save hundreds of plastic (non-recyclable) shaving razors from going into the landfill. If you have a period, consider looking into a menstrual cup, reusable pads, or period underwear.
Learn how to sew and mend - Knowing how to repair your clothes can help them last longer. Earlier this year someone in my apartment building was getting rid of a small sewing machine. I do not know how to use it yet, but I am determined to learn in the new year.
Stay educated - This could be reading books about the environment, learning new skills to be sustainable, or just gaining knowledge on homesteading. I am planning on taking some courses on Udemy.
Try to buy nothing “new” - Try looking for something 2nd hand either at the thrift store, craigslist, or I hear a lot of people have luck on Facebook Marketplace (I don’t have Facebook so I wouldn’t know).
Buy less - This will also just save you money. Sometimes Instagram ads are reaaaaallly enticing and make you think something you want is something you absolutely need. Consider cutting back on impulse buys and reducing your carbon footprint.
Pick up trash and litter from the streets - This is something I will be doing more of this year. I see so many disposable masks, chip wrappers, and fast food bags on the ground while walking the dogs.
Boycott Amazon - Amazon as a company is extremely harmful to the environment. Instead, consider looking for products you need to buy locally. If you can’t find it locally, check somewhere like Etsy or EarthHero. I’ll be honest, I cringe when I see people I know complaining about capitalism but still frequently supporting Amazon. I actually believe capitalism works if you support your local economy and small businesses.
Stay informed in local politics - Local politics are arguably more important than the presidential election. Your governor, mayor, senators, and house of representatives can all make choices that actually affect your daily life. Write to your representatives, call their offices, or attend city council meetings. I plan on trying to encourage our representatives here in Virginia to propose a plastic bag ban. Also, VOTE (and be informed on the issues, don’t just vote for someone because they are on your “team” - do your research).
Some of these may seem like small, minuscule changes, but even doing just one of these is better than doing nothing and CAN have a better impact on the planet.
What are your goals for 2022? We have a busy year planned. I hope to become a new homeowner! (So if any of you all have some real estate agents you recommend in Virginia - literally almost anywhere except NOVA because I know I will never be able to afford those prices - let us know!) I also plan on continuing to work on this blog. AND…we have a book coming out this year. This is something we have been working hard on for the better half of 2021, so I am excited to finally bring it to fruition. We’ll have more details for you all about that very soon, so stay tuned!
