Here at The Simple Environmentalist, I focus on making sustainability free, easy, and fun for everyone. I think we can all do our part to live more sustainably and have less of an impact on the earth. I focus broadly on environmentalism but also sustainability, veganism, zero waste, and minimalism.
😂 6:02 I laughed when you said you were new to reusable tissues. I have a simple stack of cotton hankies that I use for Everything. I also have a few in my backpack, car, work bag. When people ask me for a tissue, they get a clean cotton hankie. No need to buy them either. Just ask for mother or grandmother, or wait for the inheritance. You’ll get TONS.
Don’t use dryer sheets. They deposit residue on your clothes and if you want your wools and cotton to allow sweat to evaporate or be absorbed, this residue inhibits it. Most tech fabrics say don’t use fabric softener and so do the wools. Cotton towels are less absorbant when fabric softener is used, found this out over 2 decades ago. And not buying this saves money. Buy all cotton handkerchiefs. They are relatively inexpensive and last a long time. Bought 2 dozen during covid and they are still going strong. They also work when wet and the dozen were enough when I caught covid after vaccinated. I carry one in my outer purse pocket just for drying my hands in restrooms. I don’t use paper and it saves electricity not using a dryer. I recently bought a paktowl for travel and this worked even better for drying my hands and I used it as a wash cloth for my face as european hotels don’t have them in the room. On the flight home I used it to keep my lap clean while peeling and eating an orange. Hang it up and in 5 hours it’s dry.
I'm an android user, and let me just say that I have SUCH a difficult time buying a protective, eco-friendly phone case due to my unpopular phone choice 😅💀
So I've always wanted to try a more vegan lifestyle, but unfortunately I married a carnivore, and he believes that a meal is not a meal without meat... Still learning how to navigate that one 😅❤
Oh, on those plastic berrie containers… I have a few of the pint sized ones saved for reuse because the berries last longer after washing & dry in a container with a few holes to breath vs solid Tupperware. Then when blueberries are in peak season (about now) we fill & buy big bags of them, bring them home to clean, dry, & either put in those reused berries containers, or put in reused sandwich ziplock bags to freeze.
EV vehicles are not eco friendly. First look at the destruction of trees, animal habitats, groundwater pollution, depletion of natural resources of poverty stricken nations and the health issues caused to the poorest people of these nations aka miners of the materials needed to create those batteries for EVs and also for solar panels, and these mined products are also non-renewable. In addition if an EV catches fire it takes 30-40 THOUSAND gallons of water to extinguish it while a traditional gas or diesel vehicle takes 500-1,000 gallons. And I haven't even started on the downside of wind energy. Yes, this president has done more than any other president to "encourage" the transition to EV vehicles and in another 10 -15 years you will be starting to see some of the long term effects of this action and you will start to see the impacts of this action. I also recommend that instead of just believing what the media says you get a copy of the inflation reduction act to see for yourself what is actually included in that act which actually increases inflation and will not improve anything environmentally of which you will suffer from in the future. Uncle Sam will not improve your life by taking more and more taxes from you. And by the way, methane gas is natural and could be harnessed to create additional power. And this could be collected from city sewage systems and large scale farms. Currently methane from these sources are not normally harnessed but released into the air. If you are going to make money from social media how about you do so in an honest manner instead of just repeating the dishonest narrative perpetuated by the George Soros supported media.
I use wild deodorant for more than a year now and I’m very happy with it ☺️ I use bar everything or powder everything - my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, body lotion is all a bar. My cleaning products are all powders which are diluted in water and ready to go ☺️ the only things packaged in plastic I still use in the bathroom are my contact lenses (but fortnight ones) and their fluid and sunscreen for my face. And that’s acceptable for me. And the menstrual cup changed my life about 10 years ago 😊
One of the practical ways I save the plant is I don't dye my hair eliminating any waste packaging for the dye. It also is beneficial for protecting our water supply since those chemicals get washed off our heads into the water treatment system and it reduces the effects of all those chemicals being absorbed through my scalp whether I dye traditional colors or the trendy faded and dull Kool aid colors.
I love your hair on this one! My problem with the solid deodorant is because I am a man and I have hair on my pits, and when I apply the deodorant, it gets stuck on my hairs and it does not melt, just stays there, like parts of the deodorant, and when I move my arms, they kind of pull my hairs and it hurts and it's disconfortable and not in my skin, where is supposed to go and make an effect, so I keep using the spray, personally is best for me.
Bars- they also make shaving powder but that packaging can vary. I saw metal tins and Tetrapacks but I use bars like my family so kinda moot for me. Also I wish more shampoo bar companies offered a sample packs or something because there are so many I have to pass up because of the (very fair) price for something I might get to use once Libraries may also offer sewing classes. Mine has a whole craft area and they try to host educational events regularly. I love to use vintage hankies plus they are good bar soap holding for travel (I have heard wax cloth works better) Building meals in store without a list is definitely a skill. Usually I go in with a few meal ideas like stew, salad, etc then go through and see what is on sale. It's definitely not for everyone and especially if you aren't a slow shopper. I find for me it generally helps my impulse buys because I'm already being impulsive testing my cooking skills Powders- dry shampoo can be replaced with starches there are some different diy recipes too. There is also body powders which were used before deodorant can absorb and some are scented be sure to make sure yours are talc (some people again use starch) Make up- look up vintage brands that are still going some still follow the refill method. Ex- Rimmel (but still in plastic packaging), and max factor (idk im not a make up person)
On the vegan meal thing, I’m solidly an omnivore, but support Meatless Monday movement because it encourages take the $ saved and donate it to local food bank. A friend organizes a meatless meal potluck as a way for folks to try out making a dish and then get to taste other dishes. On reusable handkerchiefs, I have been doing that for over 40 years preferring 100% cotton because paper Kleenex self destruct when trying to use in a rain ☔️ storm, even a wet cotton hankie is better than nothing.
Thanks for saying you don't need to be 100% vegan/vegetarian. I'm not vegan or vegetarian. But I checked today, 10-20% of my calories come from non-vegan sources, either milk/cheese/fish/etc.. But many days it might only be a small piece of cheese. I've tried both, but end up failing and viewing it as an all or nothing. Now, I'm firmly in the, I look at the plant based options and go for these first (I generally prefer the taste). Have you compared your electricity use between when you lived in Japan + now you're in the US? There's quite a big difference at a country level, I wonder did yours go up when you went back to the us due to difference in building/appliance design.
After you run through all your old plasticware and want to go into a more zero waste version consider your options carefully: I opted for wide mouth mason jars since they come in 1/2 pint, pint, quart and 1/2 gal sizes. But when I anted small rectangles I went with the click and clack plastic/glass combos. I have since found bamboo lids and glass containers at IKEA. They also have metal containers. I would have opted for the metal version back with my initial purchase. Another idea for the kitchen: look at the camping gear and see if you can make that work for your home use. They are set up for pretty much all cooking needs for one person, very compact, portable, easy to maintain, ultra durable. Is it out of the box, yes. But if you are just starting out, that is a good route until you get you cooking skills up and need to make more food at one time. An investment purchase I made was an Instant Pot just because it means I bulk prep foods I wanted to eat more frequently and could buy at bulk bins at the co-ops. It is a commitment to home cooking but it is very flexible (you can pop corn in it!). Also get at least 1 good knife and learn to keep it sharp!
For the reusable tissues, I use 100% cotton small 'baby' wash-cloth towels (hand towels) set. I personally dislike how they're named "baby towels" because they aren't just for your baby... Anyway you can get them in different colors and I appreciate that because they will become stained after a long time of use and washing etc. I use them in the shower to apply soap instead of a sponge, as make up wipe, as a tissue and take them to the park if my child gets a bit dirty. Once we went to the park and the swing seat was wet from the rain from the day before, I wiped off the seat and my child was so tickled to play.
I see you're an eyeglass wearer as am I. Locally the Lions Clubs collect used eyeglasses to redistribute. I highly recommend making that donation if you have accumulated some that you no longer need and they are just sitting around at home...in my town they have a bin at the city hall which is very convenient.
@10:41 A good reason to hit up IKEA: they take used batteries! And lightbulbs! Now if they would take dead charging cords my recycling needs would be more complete!
I took a trip to Michigan earlier this year. The house I stayed at was right in front of a recycling center and honestly, despite how disruptive some people find the noice and shaking that comes from it, I think I would rather have that since recycling is becoming so complicated and most people are doing it wrong, so we have to have people go through the trash to sort it anyway why not just put it all in the same bin and let the government deal with sorting it out. Not only would it be more effective, I’m sure, but it would create more jobs for the people to actually sort through it. Or they should teach about what can and can’t be recycled in school or something.
I am low key pissed with wild bc they just came out with the bee design and it did not exists when I got mine 😂 I really want it bc it’s sooo cute but I don’t need another one, so sad pass.
right!!!! I know exactly why: money. It's cheaper to produce new stuff than to recycle stuff. and it makes them more money to sell stuff than to reuse stuff
Here in the UK even supermarkets are catching up on zero waste, with shampoo bars, “wild” and “fussy” deodorants, and charging extra for plastic shopping bags 🌱🤗🙏🏼
@@RosesRedTearsBlack😅 thank you! I’m from NL and we’ve had to pay for plastic bags in supermarkets for YEARS, I was worried I missed something in UK. I have plenty of shopping bags whenever I go out so I never need to buy one. Too many 😢
As far as the meal planning, I don't understand how people know what they are gonna wanna eat in 3 days. I also have a weird thing about food that's been in the fridge for more than 3 days. My brain insists it's bad and gonna make me sick. 😭
Figure out what you are making on repeat. Stock those items. Figure out how to reinvent them (then they're aren't leftovers, ie cooked potatoes become home fries, hashbrowns; raw onions can be a condiment if slowly sauteed with a tiny amount of oil and maple syrup; undressed cooked pasta can be either a hot dish or a pasta salad, you decide!). Think of it as meal prep: have cooked beans on hand to toss into every savory meal; have raw kale on hand to through into sauces, soups (if it starts looking like you're not going to finish it, it can go straight into the freezer for future tosses into whatever dish you are cooking). Figure out a meal you really love and make extras that you freeze (a la home made freezer meals). One of my favorites: Jamaican jerk seasoned black beans, rice and seasoned steamed kale. If freezes lovely and it very, very satisfying. If you don't like spice you can control it with your own spice mix. Start out small: I will eat an apple (or banana, or bagel, you name it) a day. So buy that many (7?). then do it --- eat those that you plan to eat. Don't go shopping on an empty stomach, but DO go shopping on an empty fridge! It really works --- you will burn through the condiments that live in the fridge and you will have a better idea of what you really want taking up that valuable real estate! good Luck!
I think it depends on your purse or whatever you bring to carry your wallet. I know in my life my purse is too tiny... holds my keys, wallet, checks, and phone. I don't have any space for a take out container. So I'd either have to invest in a bigger purse or backpack item or try to eat all my food when I choose to go out.
....good sirn't, this is the mindset that is erroding our world. Yeah, I might be dead before climate change causes some huge thing, but every other kid who's born out there won't be. A little bit of time investment compounds into huge results.
We found shave bars and soap bars at buff city soap! We love them! We use their detergent also, you buy the container one time, then can have it refilled over and over and over!!! ❤
Thanks for the recommendations. I just checked out Down River and The Nature Fix from my library. If you're interested in putting together a list of Eco kids' books let me know; I'm happy to give recommendations, and I've read most of them at this point.
No plants. I also literally said it's better than nothing especially for my situation. I'm not sure you even watched the video before making this comment haha
