10 Easy Eco-Friendly Swaps

It’s cool to be kind. Kind to ourselves, kind to each other and kind to the environment.

More and more people are realizing that their spending choices and daily habits greatly impact our planet; from the decision to bring a reusable cup to work to saying no to using plastic bags. Each decision matters.

It’s important to remember though that it’s about progress over perfection, because it’s true. Making ethical and sustainable swaps in your day-to-day life is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s equally as wasteful to toss all of your belongings because they weren’t sustainable to buy new sustainably-made ones.

In the spirit of that, we wanted to introduce you to some easy eco-friendly swaps you can make in your life going forward (plus, there’s an awesome giveaway at the end to help get you started!).

Moto Black Leggings and matching Shine Bra, by Inner Fire

Swap for leggings made with
BPA-free recycled water bottles

A lot of athletic apparel is created using a blend of polyester, which is a non-biodegradable synthetic material. Inner Fire’s sustainably made leggings and athletic apparel are created from upcycled BPA-free recycled water bottles - so you can feel good (and look good) when you’re in downward dog.

Charcoal To Go for Water Bottles, by Kishu

Swap for a plastic-free
water filter made of charcoal

Avoid using single-use plastic water filters and opt for this eco-friendly version instead. Made from sustainably harvested oak branches that have been slowly carbonized, it easily returns to the earth once it’s done being used. Each product is 100% natural and shipped using recycled paper stock and compostable clear sleeves made from wood pulp.

Beeswax Food Wrap, by Abeego

Swap for reusable, plastic-free
food wrap made from beeswax

Ditch the single-use plastic wrap and try this eco-friendly alternative instead. Abeego’s beeswax food wrap is all natural and returns to the earth once it’s no longer usable. Abeego was created to simulate the same protective, breathable barrier that foods naturally have, which actually helps to preserve them longer!

Rose Quartz Eco-Friendly Phone Case, by Pela

Swap for a phone case made of
compostable plant-based material

Pela phone cases, aside from being really cute, are made using an innovative plant-based material that’s formulated to break down 100% in a composting environment, making them completely zero waste. They’re made in Canada, shipped using plastic-free packaging, and donate a portion of their annual sales to 1% for the Planet. Win-win-win. 


The Classic Black Ankle Boot, by Alice + Whittles

Swap for a pair of rainboots
made from natural rubber

Synthetic rubber is unsustainably made from petroleum (i.e. fossil fuel). Alice and Whittles, however, uses natural rubber from farms that are certified and audited by the Fair Rubber Association to make their collection of rainboots. They pay a premium for each kilogram of rubber that they purchase because that extra money supports the living and working conditions of each farm community, as decided by the community themselves. They also only purchase rubber tapped from sustainably grown forests.

Reusable Silicone Eco-friendly Ziplock Bags, from Amazon

Swap for reusable Ziplock Bags
made from silicone

An eco-friendly alternative to plastic ziploc bags, these reusable 100% pure silicone bags are made without the use of BPA, BPS, phthalates, and any other dangerous chemicals. They can also be safely used in the microwave oven, refrigerator, toaster, and freezer. 


Natural Volumizing Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner, by Joyous Health

Swap for shampoo and conditioner
made without harmful chemicals

Shampoos and conditioners are often laden with parabens, sodium laureth sulfate, phthalates and other harmful chemicals that have no business being in products we put on our bodies. Joyous Health has worked really hard to create a shampoo and conditioner free from all of that! Her recently launched shampoo and conditioner is GMO-free, vegan, artificial fragrance free, paraben-free and completely biodegradable.

Bambooee Reusable Bamboo Towel, by Bambooee

Swap for reusable
bamboo paper towels

Over 3000 tons of paper towel waste is created everyday. Bambooee helps combat that with their reusable bamboo towels that are durable, super absorbent and machine washable up to 100 times.

Mint for Me Nail Polish, by BKIND

Swap for nail polish
made without toxic ingredients

The majority of nail polish sold in pharmacies and supermarkets contain multiple toxic ingredients that can be harmful to you. In addition, although this information is often silenced, many nail polishes contain ingredients from animals. For example, the bright red pigment of the cochineal insect, or the guanine crystals from fish scales or chameleons, are sometimes used to add luster and shine to cosmetics. BKIND’s nail polish is made using all natural ingredients, making it harmless for both the environment and your body.

The Nomadic V-Neck, by Encircled (That’s us!)

Swap for a t-shirt made from
sustainable Modal and Bamboo fabric

It can take 2,700 liters of water to produce the cotton needed to make a single t-shirt. Our staple basic, the Nomadic V-Neck, is made using both Lenzing Modal® and bamboo, which are both eco-friendly and sustainable resources that are grown without the use of pesticides (plus they’re ultra-soft!). So, you get the same wardrobe basic you love without the harmful effect to the environment.

To help get you started with some greener swaps, we’re hosting a giveaway with some of our favourite eco-friendly brands! Enter below for a chance to win. Read full rules and regulations here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

All photos are copyright Encircled. Contact us for permissions/rights to re-use or repost images. 

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