20+ Clever Ways People Are Making Normal Things “Green”
In case you haven't heard, climate change is a hot topic lately — and we do mean hot thanks to those worldwide heatwaves. The bees are dying, the glaciers are melting, and our oceans are filling with plastic.
The problem is that all these issues seem so overwhelming that it's easy to feel like what you do in your daily life can't possibly make an impact. Well, we're here to tell you that's not true. There are tons of small, simple ways that you can reduce your environmental impact. Take a look at these clever little changes people and companies have made.
This Straw Is An Impasta!
We're all out here trying to save the turtles by eliminating the use of plastic straws. Alternatives to plastic could be paper, glass, stainless steel, or silicone straws, or simply opting for no straw.
One restaurant has come up with a new alternative: a pasta straw. It solves the "paper straws get too soggy" debate, and is a consumable alternative to stainless steel or silicone straws. Of course, pasta straws only work for cold drinks because they'll get too warm with something like coffee. It's an easy solution that will only cost a penne.
The Future Is Now
A resealable, recyclable can of water is the latest alternative to plastic water bottles. According to the company's website, aluminum cans are infinitely recyclable and they go through the process from the recycling bin to a store shelf within 60 days so they're believed to be an all-around better alternative.
Once you finish it the first time, you can rinse it out and put whatever drink you want in it too. The product also reduces overall waste because rather than throwing out half-drunk cans, you simply reseal and take it with you.
Helpful Suggestions
Everyone has that bag of plastic bags in their house right? It started off as one or two that you were saving "just in case" but now it's grown into a giant plastic bag stuffed full of smaller bags and you have no idea what you're saving them all for.
Walgreens has started printing ideas for how to reuse their plastic bags directly on the bag, so you don't have to wonder anymore!
'A Real Dirt Bag'
Picture this: it's Cyber Monday and you did a whole bunch of your Christmas shopping online, and all the packages start to arrive on your front step. You unwrap them all and are left with so many scraps of plastic, parcel bags, Styrofoam and other random bits of packaging that serve no actual function.
This company is now sending its products in bags that are "a real dirt bag" which means they're 100% compostable. You can feel great about that new top you bought, and your new composting bag.
It's Poppin'
There are companies out there - like this one - who, rather than using something like styrofoam packing peanuts, are using actually food to pack their products.
This company, in particular, says "we use organic air-popped popcorn or recycled paper inside our packages except when we are re-using materials that we receive in packages that are sent to us." They recommend you can then share the popcorn with birds or wildlife outside your home, but you could also snack away if you feel like some probably-stale popcorn.
Food For Thought
Rather than having a garbage bin filled with used chewing gum that won't be properly recycled, some countries are placing designated chewing gum bins next to regular bins. Even better, the containers themselves are made from recycled chewing gum, so you know that it's actually effective!
Chewing gum never fully disintegrates in a landfill due to the number of non-biodegradable products used to make it, but these designated bins are an easy way to reduce the impact.
Holy Guacamole!
No, this isn't a rock with writing stamped into it. This right here is an engraved avocado. There is a company that decided that rather than wrapping their avocados in packaging and labeling, it engraves all the product information directly onto the produce.
For those of you who immediately thought "that must be expensive," the Reddit user who posted this photo said this product actually cost less than the products wrapped normally, and it wasn't because it was a lesser product or brand. We love any new ideas to reduce unnecessary plastic packaging!
Get Planting
One Reddit user from the Netherlands shared a photo of an envelope their bank uses that proves the Dutch are living in 2030. The paper has flower seeds within it so you can plant in the ground after you receive it, it will decompose, and you'll get a lovely bed of flowers from it!
It also helps to lessen the blow of your latest credit card statement to know that some good will come from it, right?
Leaf The Plastic At Home!
Who needs saran wrap or plastic packaging when you could sell vegetables wrapped in giant leaves? A clever alternative, once you get the vegetables home you can toss the "packaging" into your compost or into the backyard and not have to worry about it.
One Reddit user commented that these leaves can also be used for plates, though they would be a one-and-done alternative. It could still be a better option than plastic plates!
Canada Loves Compost
Those clever Canadians designed a garbage can with a particularly small slot for garbage and much bigger spots for recycling or compost, in an attempt to get people to actually recycle.
The idea is that you actually have to stop and think about what you're putting in the garbage slot and realize that things like cans, bottles, or cardboard containers could probably be recycled, not just shoved into the garbage because you were too lazy to sort it out!
And Just Like That, The Job Becomes A Game
This is some Mary Poppins-type of stuff right here. If you turn something into a game, people will definitely participate. This hotel has a timer stationed next to the showers to encourage guests to take shorter showers, so it can be both informative and fun.
This game doesn't have to end just because you've checked out of the hotel either. Luckily it's 2019 and most people have these handy things called smartphones that have timers on them, so you can race against the clock even when you're back to reality.
Making The Dentist's Office A Little Better
This smart dentist's office decided rather than waste paper every time someone fills out an intake form, they'd laminate a few sheets so whenever they're done with the info, they can just wipe and give to the next person!
It's an easy way to reduce your paper waste, and it basically costs nothing considering getting sheets of paper laminated costs less than a dollar. If you're not a dentist, you can implement this by laminating a weekly grocery list or even a chore list for your kids.
Beeswax Wraps Are The Bees Knees
Have you heard of beeswax wrap? It's basically the better, more successful older sibling of saran wrap. Beeswax wrap is a reusable, easily washable, sustainable alternative to saran wrap that leaves no waste behind.
Beeswax wrap typically lasts around a year before it'll need to be replaced, and once you're ready for a new one, you can just toss the old one into your compost or into the garden. One company says it's an effective fire starter as well, so your disposable method is really up to you.
Mutually Beneficial
Shared on Reddit, one poster wrote "a local breakfast van offers a free coffee to anyone who fills a bucket with roadside trash" which seems to be a brilliant way to encourage others to clean up the area around them.
Everyone who goes camping knows the rule "leave no trace" i.e. don't leave garbage all over. So why don't we apply that in regular life too? This company is at least doing something about it, and giving away coffee as a reward.
Hydrate Yourself And These Plants At The Same Time
This cafe is making sure no plant in their shop ever dies again because it doesn't matter if they forget to water them. These smart staff decided to place the plants below their water taps so any residual water drips go directly into the plants.
It means there's no water wasted and no dead plants. It's a win-win situation. Some people were concerned that the plants would be overwatered from this but they seem to be thriving.
Endlessly Reusable
The Rocket Book is the only notebook you'll ever need to buy again. You can write on it just like you would with a regular notepad. Go ahead and jot down meeting notes or write out your to-do list for the day, but then at the end of the day you can wipe the pages clean with water and reuse those pages the next day!
The digital notebook also connects to an app that can translate your notes into a PDF that you can email to yourself, for those notes that you're not quite ready to delete.
Dell Is Doing Their Part
Dell is showing up everyone else with their recycled plastic packaging. They write on their website that they believe being environmentally conscious is about more than just an initiative, it's about "incorporating sustainability into everything [they] do." Their packaging is reportedly made of 100% recycled plastics, 25% of which was collected or removed from oceans.
The company has also collected 2.1 billion pounds of electronics since 2007, and they've used 100 million pounds of recycled materials since 2013.
There's An App For That
If you're looking to buy from more ethical brands or support more eco-friendly companies but you don't know where to start, there's now an app to help you out. The DoneGood app lets you know where you can buy products locally that are "good for people" and "good for the planet."
The app's goal is to promote brands that use eco-friendly production processes and/or recycled or upcycled materials, and also to advertise companies that pair fair wages free of child labor or trafficking, and unsafe working conditions. What more could you want?
Pack Your Own Snacks With Reusable Food Pouches
Every parent knows you should have snacks on hand at all time, especially if you have babies or toddlers. Rather than buying those 'on-the-go' products like applesauce pouches or even juice boxes which often are primarily made of plastic, you can bring your food from home with reusable food pouches.
It'll save you money in the long run if you just buy a regular jar of applesauce and put it into a grab and go package yourself, rather than buying the more convenient but more expensive option! Less plastic, less expensive, and you know exactly what's going into your kid's mouth!
Soap Nuts Are Exactly What It Sounds Like
If you're looking for a cost-effective, natural, all-purpose, green household cleaner, then it seems like soap nuts could be just what you need! Their title is fairly self-explanatory. They're nuts, that you use as soap. Simple as that!
You can use them for doing laundry, doing the dishes, and some people even use them as a substitute for shampoo or toothpaste. One reviewer said that a 1-pound bag (which usually costs around $20) lasted her an entire year, so they're better for the environment and for your bank account.
Recycling Simplified
These clever recycling containers make it easy to sort waste with just a glance. Each box has a sculptural top in the shape of the material that it holds. Whether you have glass, plastic, or cardboard, you can make the Earth a greener place one recyclable at a time.
This Recycling Receptacle Takes Things To The Next Level
In addition to the usual spots for paper and plastics, this setup also has a sink to dispose of liquids. While the liquids won't be recycled (because that would be gross), it allows people to get rid of any excess drinks before recycling the container. Smart!
This Hat Is Made From Recycled Tarps
Not only does this hat look pretty spiffy, but it supports a good cause, too. The hat is made from the fibers of recycled tarps from Brazilian cargo trucks. Everyone loves it when a fashionable choice also makes the planet a little greener.
A Lot Of Thought Went Into This Pen
This pen is made from recycled water bottles. What's even cooler is that when light shines through it, it makes a shadow in the shape of a water bottle! Taking notes in class has never been so eco-friendly.
Finally!
Everyone knows that those plastic rings used to hold cans together are a huge hazard for the environment. Soda companies finally got the hint and started making cardboard packaging to hold the cans together. This new packaging is recyclable and poses less of a threat to wildlife.
A Nice Bench To Park Your Seat On
Here's another product created from recycled material. This bench looks wooden, but it was actually made with recycled plastic. Now, it's getting a second chance at life helping people enjoy the beauty of their local park.
A Pencil Made Of Newspaper? What Will They Think Of Next?
Even in the modern age, we all still need pencils now and then. This one just happens to be made out of recycled newspaper. It's cool how you can see the layers of old headlines when you go to sharpen it.
How many chopsticks does it take to make a table?
According to this photo, 7,810. That's not an insignificant amount at all, especially when you think about how much space those would take up in a landfill. If there's a demand for reused chopstick furniture, I support it.
You've Gotta Do What You've Gotta Do
While this might not be the nicest upcycling project, the truth is that we need toilets and urinals. So, since they are a necessity, why not make them out of eco-friendly materials? This beer keg would have just been tossed, but now it's a functional conversation piece in some bar's bathroom?
This Is A Great Idea!
The best thing about this is that any neighborhood can implement one. This shelf is designated for free donations, giving people a space to drop off their unwanted but functional goods and allowing others to score some new swag for free. Items that haven't been claimed in a few weeks are donated to charity, but this system greatly reduces the need to constantly buy new products.
