Hi hi! I wanted to put together a little guide today for helping you make eco-conscious choices in your life. It’s Earth Month, so it’s a great time to celebrate mama earth and make better choices, but honestly it’s always a good month to take care of the earth. If there is anything I have learned on my healing and spiritual journey, it’s that the Earth is us, and we are her. Her suffering is our suffering. And her thriving is our thriving!
If you’re anything like me a few years ago, I very much wanted to make better choices for the earth but I didn’t really know how to begin. So I wanted to put together this handy checklist for you guys that you can refer to when you are shopping and making choices in your daily routine.
So let’s dive in! I was inspired to write this post today by a fabulous eco-conscious brand that I have been extremely into lately — INTIMINA. They are a brand of sustainable reusable menstrual cups designed to fit most women’s bodies and lifestyles. Not only do I love the menstrual cup life because it has made my life SO much easier in a million ways (bye t0 tampons forever) but also because of how incredibly sustainable it is. Menstrual cups are reusable for UP TO 10 YEARS! and is a great alternative to pads and tampons, which are not so great for the environment.
They are also made of body safe 100% medical grade silicone, and is the right choice for planet-friendly periods. I have gotten the chance to try their whole range of products, and right now I think the Lily Cup Compact is my favorite. It is less than $30, and if you think about how much you spend on tampons PER YEAR let alone in your lifetime, and this can last you up to 10 years, THINK ! ABOUT ! IT ! Game changer all around. The Lily Compact folds flat into a tiny case so you can carry it with you wherever you go! It’s also very comfortable, avail in two sizes, and you can wear it for up to 8 hours.
Intimina Lily Cup Compact //
They also have the Ziggy, and the Lily! They have their own cleaning solution too that is alcohol and paraben-free, 100% body safe and pH balanced, safe to use on all of their products, and earth-friendly just like everything they make!
PLANT FRIENDLY WISE… this menstrual cup will reduce both your period’s overall carbon footprint and your contribution to the 20 billion pads, tampons, and applicators that will likely be dumped in North American landfills in 2019.
I mean!! It’s a total must.
Since they inspired me to write this post, I wanted to tell you about them right up front. Choosing to wear a period cup or use any reusable menstrual products is a very eco-conscious choice and is also better for your body all around. Because remember, what’s better for your body is better for the Earth, and what’s better for the Earth is better for your body. 💜
Lily Cup Compact – reusable menstrual cup //
OKAY! LET’S GET INTO THE TBB ECO-CONSCIOUS CHECKLIST!
Eco-Conscious Checklist:
1. EAT LESS MEAT!
You know I have been on the plant based train for a long time, and it is truly my greatest passion in this life. A plant based diet is amazing for health, but most importantly, when you minimize your meat intake you help reduce greenhouse gases, water usage and energy required for livestock, and fuel dependence that’s needed to produce grain for livestock. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the meat industry alone accounts for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
When you eat less meat, you are making a kinder decision for the planet, the animals, your body, and future generations. If you can even reduce your meat intake by 50% you would be making a massive contribution and difference!
2. Receive And Pay Your Bills Electronically!
This also just MAKES LIFE easier. If you haven’t switched over to electronic bill pay, do yourself a favor and check it out. It will help you go paperless, save you money on postage, and many companies will even offer a discount if you choose to go paperless. Then you are saving our trees, our Earth, and your wallet in one fell swoop!
3. Recycle, recycle, recycle!
Need I say more?! I am embarrassed to admit that for many years I didn’t even own a recycling bin. I was one of those people who felt like, “I am just one person, how will I make a difference?” But once I learned more about what was really going on and came to terms with the fact that we ARE the Earth and the Earth depends on us, I made a huge switch. Every choice we make makes a difference, big or small. This is one easy thing you can do every day that will make a massive difference in the long term.
4. Reduce, reuse, and recycle your CLOTHES!
Rather than supporting fast fashion I do my best to buy clothes from local shops, friends of mine, and cool boutiques that are doing innovative things. I have been wearing some of the same clothes since the early 2000’s (LOL, who saw my recent IG story about this? One sweatshirt I have had since I was 12!) and when I am no longer wearing something, I give it to friends or to someone in need. Also, look for eco-friendly brands that use organic fabrics or recycled materials – there are so many now and I am so inspired by all of them!
5. Buy in BULK!
Rather than grocery shopping multiple times per week (okay, guilty as charged, I am working on this) you can reduce packaging and waste by buying in bulk wherever possible — and then storing in glass jars and keeping your food products and pantry items in a visible place so you’re not buying more of what you think you need, but you actually already have! This is something I started doing when I moved into our new place last year, and even labeling things has gone a long way with staying organized and keeping my shopping (and spending) down.
I could go on… but a few more easy ones to add to the list are walking or biking rather than driving when you can, conserving water, reducing the use of harmful chemicals in your life, stop littering, product our animals and our wildlife, and think twice before you make a decision about your body and our mama Earth!
And of course, if you’re a menstruating woman… USE A PERIOD CUP !! From INTIMINA! 🙂 Check them out, they are so awesome and you will fall in love!
What did I miss on this list? Which of these do you already implement into your life? I am not perfect and I know I can always do better, and I am committed to continuing to learn, improve, and evolve with every passing day!