We’ve been sharing tips to make your whole house more eco-friendly and today we’re turning to the laundry room. While the process of laundry involves gallons of water, chemical-laden detergents, and countless dryer sheets ending up in the landfill, we wholeheartedly believe we can all take small steps toward more sustainable practices. To help you make it easier, we’ve curated 10 tips for eco-friendly laundry.
Switch to Dryer Balls
Made from 100% New Zealand wool, dryer balls decrease static electricity, shorten drying time, and eliminates waste headed to landfills. They come unscented but it’s easy enough to add a few drops of essential oil to make your laundry smell fresh and clean.
Skip Fabric Softener
Try adding baking soda or vinegar to your wash to soften clothes naturally. Ditch the chemical heavy fabric softener and reduce your plastic usage, too.
Natural Soap
Trade your laundry detergent for a more environmentally friendly alternative, Castille soap. Check out our post on building a Green Cleaning Kit. You can also try the soap nut alternative to traditional detergents.
Less Washing
Taking care of our clothing means less water waste with laundry cycles. Using aprons during meal prep and cloth napkins at dinner decreases spots and stains which means less time spent in the laundry room.
Air Dry
Setting your laundry room up with a clothesline or drying rack will significantly decrease the amount of energy used by the dryer. To help avoid the starchy, crisp texture that often comes with line drying, pre-dry for 10-15 minutes with a wool dryer ball and then hang on the clothesline.
Wash with Cold
Did you know that approximately 90% of the energy used in washing a load of clothes comes from heating up the water? Washing with cold water is beneficial for the environment and could even be better for your clothes.
Bleach Alternative
Get your whites whiter when you make a bleach alternative with washing soda and hydrogen peroxide. Safer for your family, home, and pets.
Energy Efficient Washer/Dryer
If you need to replace or upgrade your laundry room, consider energy star appliances and a high-efficiency washer to decrease water and energy consumption.
Stain Remover Stick
Replace harsh, toxic stain removers with a coconut oil based, eco-friendly stain eliminator stick. Not only will you lessen chemical use, but you’ll also be eliminating a plastic spray bottle.
Wash Bag
It’s hard to have a closet completely free of synthetic fibers and when you wash those items they release tiny plastic particles into the water. The Guppyfriend washing bag traps those fibers so you can dispose of them properly.
With these 10 tips for eco-friendly laundry, your family and the environment will thank you! We’re celebrating your success, make sure to share your favorite eco-friendly tip with us at #elynlaundry.
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For busy women on the go, this time of year offers the opportunity to slow down. If you find yourself getting stressed about how to honor your desire for a more sustainable holiday season, pause and breath deep. We’ve got you covered with tips to make gift-giving and decoration more eco-friendly for this, and future, years.
Gifts
Decoration
Start early so you don’t feel rushed this holiday season and remember to embrace the small steps to make the experience more relaxed. Share your favorite gift or decorating tip at #elynholidays
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With so many of us spending more time working and going to school from home, clutter can easily get out of hand. Conquer your clutter when you take it step by step with our collection of tips and resources to inspire you to get more organized one small step at a time.
Inbox
Email is part of modern life and our inboxes are one of the first places to become cluttered and unorganized.
Money
If you’re not sure where the money went and you’re overwhelmed by receipts, it might be time to clean up the money clutter with a budget.
Command Center
Set yourself up for success with a clutter conquering command center. Put everything in its place, once and for all.
Laundry
Keeping things clean and clutter-free will help make the laundry chores easier and more fun!
Don’t forget to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Take time to pause and experience how new and fresh your space feels. Share your favorite tip at #elynnoclutter
Photos by Vlada Karpovich, bongkarn thanyakij, Dan Gold
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Food waste is one of the biggest contributors to our landfills with consumers disposing of up to 40% of produced food (USDA facts) One of the ways we can do our part in reducing food waste is by being mindful of how we store and keep our refrigerators organized. We’ve all experienced forgetting leftovers in the fridge so we created a three-step process to help you get your refrigerator in order.
Step One: Empty and Clean
When the refrigerator has become unmanageable the best place to start is by emptying it completely. Compost expired food, recycle old containers, and give everything a good scrub with an eco-friendly cleaning solution.
Adjust your shelves so they accommodate the food you buy and containers you have so you’ll be able to better see what’s on your shelves.
Step Two: Organize and Store
A common complaint regarding food waste is that food gets lost in the refrigerator. An easy solution is to divide the refrigerator into sections for easy storage and access. Keep your frequently reached for items easy to access and make a special spot for items close to expiration.
Step Three: Label for Clarity
A well-organized refrigerator is only as good as its labeling. Help everyone find the food they want by labeling clearly and explicitly. Depending on your storage systems, the best eco-friendly options are:
Thanks for helping keep food waste out of landfills, it’s the small steps we all take that add up to making big change. Now that your refrigerator is organized, share your favorite tip at #elynfridgeorg
Photo by Polina Tankilevitch, Daria Shevtsova and cottonbro
]]>We’re back with another installment of Elyn’s Glossary of Green. We heard your desire to know more about confusing terms being used and what it means for you, an eco-friendly, busy woman always on the go. As a sustainable products company, we had similar questions and worked together as a team to discern which ones are important and how they impact our lives. We’re proud to share Elyn Glossary of Green, Part Three where we’ve collected terms related to a green lifestyle and distilled them for the most pertinent points.
Elyn’s Glossary of Green
The Forest Stewardship Council certifies businesses and manufacturers who take extra steps to ensure their products are from forests managed by a set of criteria that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. {Include this post link in the school supply post}
This term refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide) that are released for any given activity. To understand your footprint, calculate it with CoolClimate {Include this post link in the pantry post}
This is an informal name for electrical items or electronics at the end of their useful life that have been discarded into a landfill. Very harmful to the environment because of the toxic chemicals used to manufacture electronic products. {Include this post link in the recycle electronics post}
As we learn together we’ll be adding to the Glossary of Green so we can all make educated decisions about how we can do our part to create a sustainable lifestyle. Check out Part One and Part Two for a refresher.
]]>Fall is in the air and with it comes the scent of cinnamon, crisp leaves, and Sunday bonfires. While summer had its own natural glory with the deep green of a long summer day, fall calls to be decked out in rich colors. But with so many decorations plastic-based and doing significant harm to our earth, how do we decorate in an eco-friendly way? We asked ourselves the same question. The result? A curated list of ways to bring fall into your homes, sustainably.
Forage the Neighborhood
Decorate with Textiles
All Things Pumpkin
We hope you join us in upgrading our fall decorations to more sustainable and eco-friendly versions. Share your favorite new pumpkin and tag us at #elynfall
Photo by Sarah Boudreau, cottonbro and Karolina Grabowska
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Eco Warrior Princess @Jennifer Nini + @Eco Warrior Princess
When you want to immerse yourself in comprehensive coverage of sustainability, the Eco Warrior Princess site has it all. Dedicated to covering lifestyle, wellness, fashion, and business topics, Eco Warrior Princess provides in-depth reports to keep you in the know.
Going Zero Waste @Katherine Kellogg
If you’re curious about how to go Zero Waste or need the inspiration to stay the course, Going Zero Waste is the place to start. Chock full of how-to posts and easy to achieve zero waste swaps, Katherine is a wealth of knowledge.
Old World New @Addie Fisher
Writing from the intersection of sustainability and eco-friendly lifestyle, Old World New brings readers tips that are easy to implement and good for the environment. Addie takes you along on her journey to becoming a better steward of the earth, one step at a time.
We’d love to hear who your favorite eco-friendly bloggers are, tag us to share at #Elynecofriendlybloggers
One of the hallmarks of a sustainable lifestyle is decreasing your carbon footprint by eating more plant-based meals, which makes the panty is one of the most used areas in the home. A well-organized pantry makes meal prep simple and streamlined, plus it’s a joy to use. We created a three-step process to help you get your pantry in order.
Step One: Take Stock of What you Have
Take a look at your pantry space and note the items filling the shelves. Ask yourself these handy questions to take stock as you prepare to organize the space. Taking the time to reflect on your needs will help you create the most workable panty. Do you bake a lot and need all your supplies in a handy bin for easy access? Is your house full of snackers who would benefit from a dedicated area for a quick grab and go treat? Do you need a dedicated area for 30-minute meal ingredients?
Step Two: Organize and Storage
Once you’ve identified what your space needs to be most useful, the next step is organizing! Store your dried pasta, beans, grains, and flours in Mason Jars or bakery canisters for easy access. Another option is to reuse and recycle pasta sauce or jam jars. Grouping similar items together will decease time wasted spent looking for missing bags of pasta. A few handy ideas are to place grains in one area, breakfast and cereal items in another. Contain extra condiments in one spot while setting up a riser system to better view your canned goods. You can even utilize these metal bins to organize all your baking supplies or veggies staples such as potatoes and onions. Meal prep will be streamlined and easy for all.
Step Three: Label for Clarity
A well-organized pantry is only as good as it’s labeling system. There are a variety of labeling options useful for glass, wicker, or woven storage bins. Paper labels can be written, or printed, on and added to a handly bin clip label holder. If you’re using metal or woven containers, these handly magnetic label holders will kept your information front and center. For all your glass canisters consider a pen that can write on glass or ceramic surfaces for easy labeling. You’re well on your way to having an organized pantry that will be the envy of the block. We’re eager to learn alongside you, what’s your favorite organization tip? Share at #elynpantry
Photo by Annie Spratt, Heather McKean, Nadia Pimenova
]]>Electronic Bills
Opt to receive your bills and statements electronically. Take the next step and start paying bills electronically. Check your account settings as most companies have a paperless opt-in.
Documents
Scan your most important documents and start to use a cloud storage system such as Dropbox or Google Drive. Request documents to be sent electronically so you can decrease printing and start signing digitally with apps like HelloSign or Docusign.
Reading
Switch your magazine subscriptions to digital versions rather than hard copies. E-readers can be a nice alternative to books and some libraries also offer the option to check out materials on your device.
Receipts
Whenever possible request to have the receipts emailed to you. If that isn’t an option, try using an app such as Expensify or Smart Receipts to capture, track, and organize the paper you do receive.
Start the switch to a paperless lifestyle with the small changes we’ve shared here. Together we can decrease paper waste and make a bigger impact on our environment. Tell us how you’re making the switch at #elynpaperless
Photo by Christin Hume
]]>If the Back to School energy has you thinking you’d like to learn a little more about our planet and the challenges we’re facing, we think you’ll enjoy our environment focused documentary round up. A sustainable lifestyle encompasses many parts of how we live in this world and with these seven Netflix films, you’ll have the opportunity to dive deep and learn along with us.
A Plastic Ocean
A filmmaker’s investigative exploration into the environmental damage and toll plastic takes on our oceans.
Minimalism
The inspiring story around life’s most important things and embracing a way of living where less is more.
Chasing Coral
Coral reefs are dying off and this film tackles the why with a full team of scientists, divers, and photographers.
Cowspiracy
Investigates how the planet’s natural resources are being threatened by factory farming.
Bill Nye Science Guy
Taking on climate change skeptics, science legends Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson explain the importance of evidence-based thinking.
Waterschool
Through the stories of six young women we learn about the Swarovski Waterschool, a community investment program tackling global water challenges.
What the Health
Looking at the link between diet and disease, this documentary can help us look at our relationship with the food industry and how we create a sustainable lifestyle.
What is your takeaway from watching one, or all, these documentaries? What have they inspired you to change? Let’s us know at #elynlearns
Photo by Vlada Karpovich
]]>Did you know “For every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.”(EPA.gov) In many states, electronic waste is banned from landfills because of these metals used in production.
Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, is any consumer electronics such as computers, laptops, tablets, and cell phones, which all require special recycling. But knowing where and how to dispose of these items can be challenging so we’ve created a five-step process to get you started.
Before you recycle or donate make sure to remove the battery and recycle separately! You’ll also want to remove your data, check out this informative article to get you started.
]]>Life certainly feels a bit overwhelming these days, but here at Elyn, we’re looking for ways to streamline and simplify life to help keep us uplifted and moving forward. When it comes to simplified homes and lifestyle, we’ve adopted these two guideposts:
Find and use products that serve multiple purposes and do double duty.
Adopt the mantra “A place for everything and everything in its place” to decrease time spent looking for misplaced items.
We’ve curated a list of items to help keep the overwhelm at bay and let you approach the day with a light step.
Double-Duty Items to Keep Life Simple:
Streamline your morning beauty routine with a two in one lip and cheek color by Burts Bees, even better they’ve partnered with Terra Cycle to accept containers for recycling!
On days you need to look your best but don’t have time for the full wash and dry, give yourself some extra time by using this dry shampoo with essential oils and natural baking soda to freshen your hair.
Keeping your clothes (and sofa, too!) free of pet hair can not only be time-consuming, but it also creates waste when you use disposable lint sheets. This washable and reusable lint roller is good for the environment and keeping your home tidy.
We’ve all had the experience of needing to use our cell phone but not having enough battery life. Keep this handy solar-powered flashlight and phone charger in your car and you’ll never be without power again.
Items to Keep Everything in Place
We love using eco-friendly reusable lunch containers but lid storage can be a bear. This handy organizer will help streamline leftovers storage and make packing lunches a breeze.
A great multi-purpose organizing tool are reusable silicone bags. Not only can you use them in the freezer and or refrigerator, but you can also create your own hiking kit essentials or art on the go kit.
Another pantry helper is the root vegetable storage system. No more shifting a sack of potatoes to get to the items you need when you’re able to hang your produce from a hook. Plus it can help decrease spoilage!
Keep your entryway tidy and organized with a Bamboo charging station. Creating the habit of charging all your screened devices in once place will save you time and energy when you aren’t looking all over the house for missing cell phones or tablets.
So, pause, take a deep breath, and thank yourself for making life a little simpler! Do you have a tip to streamline life? Tag us at #elynsimple
Photo by Jeff Sheldon
]]>It’s Back to School time! With some students heading into physical classrooms and others in virtual classrooms, one thing remains true, students need school supplies that are earth friendly. Our team at Elyn curated the most common school supply needs that have an eye towards how well they help the earth and students. Setting yourself up for a successful school year is easier when you know where to start.
Highlighter Pencils
Taking good notes and making sure students have a way to highlight important information is critical to academic success. Switching out the typical plastic highlighter pens for these neon, high glow pencils helps everyone!
Plastic Free Binder
Let students embrace their creative side as they embellish a binder with a neutral cover. Plus, everyone can feel good by using this FSC certified binder that’s not only made from recycled materials, the entire product is also completely recyclable when you’ve worn it out.
Loose Leaf Paper
The best paper to put in your binder is one that uses recycled paper waste, or what’s known as post-consumer waste. This powerhouse includes 30% recycled paper when making loose-leaf paper, in addition, it’s printed with soy-based ink. Looking for a Spiral Bound version?
Plant Based Glue Sticks
Made from a non-toxic plant formula these glue sticks make sure all your school, DIY, and craft projects hold up. What makes this a better choice is how the company uses both a recycled tube and packaging when making this product.
Back Pack
Now that you have all your supplies, you need a backpack to keep track of everything! Made with a fabric that utilizes recycled water bottles, not only is it chlorine-free and water-resistant, it also has pockets galore!
Now that you have a start to your school supply list, what are your favorite sustainable supplies? Let’s us know #elynsustainableschoolsupplies
Gardening can take many forms, from a full acre of veggies to small container pots on the porch. One thing is true for both, you want your garden to be sustainable and friendly to the environment. If you’re just starting out, may we suggest Morning Chores container gardening? We’ve rounded up five points to consider when creating a sustainable garden.
Pesticide-Free
Keep your fruits and vegetables free from pests and pesticides by using these easy home remedies. You can also fight harmful bugs, such as aphids, with beneficial bugs like the ladybug, a great alternative to harmful chemicals.
Native Plants
Native plants are those occurring naturally in an area. They contribute to a healthy, biodiverse ecosystem that improves the environment for birds, bees, and other pollinators. Check out the Audubon’s Native Plant database for specific native plants in your region.
Compost
Not only does composting decrease the amount of waste in landfills, but it can also improve your garden soil’s composition. When you add this rich natural fertilizer, you help keep the pH of the soil in balance making for happy and healthy plants. If you’re a beginner, check out this helpful article.
Save Seeds
For as long as we’ve been growing our gardens, we’ve been saving and exchanging seeds. This sustainable practice helps promote genetic diversity and contributes to saving the at-risk bee population! Check out these tips on saving seeds to get you started!
Water Friendly
Finding the balance between water conservation and plant growth is at the top of a gardener’s to-do list. Two easy ways to conserve water are to use mulch in the garden, or on top of your containers, and install a rainwater harvesting barrel. The first will prevent water runoff and the second will let you more effectively use what mother nature is sharing!
Choosing one tip that leads to creating a sustainable garden is one small step in the right direction. Be sure to share your favorite tips at #elyngardens
Photo by Zoe Schaeffer, PHÚC LONG, Neha Deshmukh and Francesco Gallarotti
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With the increased levels of stress we’re all experiencing due to COVID protocols of social and physical distancing, it’s important to find time to bring beauty and joy back into our lives. An at-home spa day is one way to set aside time to decompress and even better if you can gather your girlfriends for a virtual spa day.
In the last few years, much has been written about toxic levels of chemicals in nail polish and while all nail polish is made from chemicals, we want to offer options with the safest level of chemicals. As a smart label reader, you want to look for a polish that, at a minimum, is noted to be free of the toxic trio: formaldehyde, DBP, and toluene. Brands often note they’re “three-free”, “five-free” or even “twelve-free!” Here’s our line up of Five Nail Friendly Polishes.
Deborah Lippman
Known for such high profile manicures on celebs such as Lady Gaga, Anne Hathaway, and Lupita Nyong’o, this polish uses a 10-free Formula and no animal testing.
butter London
With fun names like Piece of Cake and Coming up Roses, this forward-thinking company has a 10-free Formula and cruelty-free.
Smith & Cult
A triple hitter of a polish these sweet bottles are vegan, cruelty-free, and offer an 8-free formula. Plus, your nails will pop with bright colors like Color Me Curious, a yellow marigold guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
ORLY
Home of the inaugural French Manicure, this Leaping Bunny certified polish boasts a 12-free formula. Try one of their Breathable ® formulas to add moisture and shine to your manicure.
ella + mila
Not only are these polishes made in the USA, but they’re also PETA certified and offer a 7-free formula. With 39 shades of pink, you’re sure to find The One.
We encourage you to make time for some downtime and set yourself up for a relaxing Mani/Pedi afternoon. If you need a refresher, check out this manicure tutorial and share your at-home spa day with us #elynspaday
Photos by Laura Chouette
]]>With more people working from home to promote physical distancing during the COVID pandemic, it’s more important than ever to create sustainable home office practices. Working from home has long been championed as an excellent way to decrease carbon footprints and our curiosity led us to examine our own home offices’ impact on the environment. Take a look at the ways you can make positive changes to your own home office by implementing the following tips!
Energy
Maintain your thermostat at 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer during waking hours. During sleep, a decrease of 7 - 10 degrees can significantly save in energy costs.
Decrease energy use by installing power strips. When devices, such as cell phone chargers, stay plugged in but aren’t in use, they continue to utilize energy and increase your bill.
Make the switch to LED lights which use 25% - 80% less energy than traditional lightbulbs.
Technology
Buy refurbished equipment to keep electronics out of landfills and save money. Most major manufacturers and retailers offer a refurbished option
Embrace the paperless movement and scan files into your computer. Then shred and recycle the documents to keep your office paper-free. To set up a mini recycling center, follow our tips here {LINK}
Office Supplies
Start using a staple-less stapler, an innovative way to reduce your reliance on staples, paper clips, and rubber bands.
Seek out products made with recycled content such as Bottle to Pen made from 83% recycled materials
There you have it, a few small changes to help make a bigger impact on our carbon footprint. What ways have you made your home office more environmentally friendly? Share your tips at #elyngreenoffice
Photo by Paige Cody
]]>One of our goals at Elyn is to better our footprint on Planet Earth and decrease the amount of waste we make. If you’re like us, this may seem intimidating, but we believe in small steps and working together to improve our environment. To help make this positive change easier we’ve come up with a Five-Step Plan to Reduce Waste.
The first step to decreasing waste is to recycle! It’s also one of the most impactful things we can do. If you aren’t sure what to recycle, check out our post here for tips to get you started. Make this habit stick by creating a space in your home for all things recycling - if you need ideas check out our How To Set Up A Recycling Station post.
The next step is to replace the use of plastic bags with reusable cloth ones. Did you know that making this one change can help over 100,000 marine animals a year? Set aside a specific area in your home or car to store your reusable bags, that way you never forget them!
Step three is to start packing your own lunch. Not only does it save you money, but it also eliminates waste from take-out containers and soda cans. Plus you’re decreasing food waste by using leftovers from last night’s dinner. Make this habit feel fun and easy by using glass or bamboo lunch containers.
The fourth step is to start buying food in bulk or home and beauty products at a refill store. This simple change can greatly reduce the amount of packaging waste added to the landfill. Many grocery stores have a bulk section and some refill stores offer plastic-free shipping.
Last but not least, step five is to consider donating books, clothing, and household items instead of taking them to a refuse center. What no longer works for you and your family might be just the thing for someone else. Donating not only keeps items out of landfills, but it can also help others in need.
Now that you have an action plan, we hope you’ll join us in taking small steps for a big impact on our environment. Share your successes at #elynsustainabilelifestyle
]]>Here at Elyn we love to recycle and one of our misions is to make it easy and doable for all. With a busy household having a dedicated area to handle all your needs will streamline the recycling process making it straightforward and simple. If you aren’t sure how to start, we have 3 Tips to Setting Up a Recycling Station to set you up for success.
Space
One of the most important aspects of your recycling station set up is to pick a central storage space that’s easy and convenient for everyone to access. Making your space bright and inviting will encourage and motivate you to recycle. Consider hanging colorful instructions on how to sort items to help even the youngest family members get involved.
Containers
The containers you choose will help keep your recycling station tidy and promote consistent practices. Many options are available ranging from wood, metal, or even cloth, just be sure the containers you choose have a wide enough opening to easily deposit your recycling. You also want to make sure they’re easy to keep clean and odor-free.
Label
Sorting your recycling is a chore but it doesn’t have to be! Check RecyclingCenters.org to see what your area accepts and then take the guesswork out of what goes where by labeling your containers with clear signs. Making your label large enough to read at a glance makes it easy to recycle when you’re busy and on the go.
Having a dedicated space for your recycling station will help everyone contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. Tag us and share your space #elynrecyclingstation
]]>One of the easiest and most positive ways to support your sustainable lifestyle is by upgrading your cleaning supplies and making a green cleaning kit. We all want a clean home but can do without the harsh and harmful chemicals found in most products. Even better news is most of these green cleaning products are easy to find and you might already have a few in your pantry.
Baking Soda
While you may know it’s benefits for cookies and cakes, baking soda is also a gentle, natural abrasive making it a great option for scrubbing kitchen and bathroom surfaces without scratching delicate surfaces. A simple recipe consists of 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda with a few drops of water to make a paste. Use with a sponge to add a sparkle to your stainless steel sink or scrub down the counters.
White Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is another common household product that makes an excellent eco-friendly (link to Glossary #1 post) cleaning product. Even though it’s low acid, it’s a high powered cleaning option. Make your own DIY window cleaner by combing vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
Borax
A naturally occurring mineral, sodium borate, is easy on the environment and your home. It’s been used for laundry booster, non-chemical pesticide, and stain remover. In the laundry room try adding a half cup of Borax to your load to help whiten your whites, remove stains and soften hard water.
Castile soap
This soap is made from vegetable oils, not tallows which come from animal products. This eco-friendly, cruelty-free (link to Glossary #2 post) soap has its origins in the Castile region of Spain where olive oil was the main ingredient and nowadays you can find this type of soap made with avocado, coconut, or jojoba oil. Its gentleness means you can use it to wash laundry, dishes, pets, and even mop the floors.
Now you have the building blocks to create your own green cleaning kit, share with us your favorite eco-friendly cleaning tips! #elyngreencleaning
Photo by cottonbro and Tirachard Kumtanom
]]>At Elyn two of our core values are around Simplicity and Sustainability. Creating a sustainable lifestyle starts by decreasing the amount of waste going into landfills and one way to do this is by making small changes towards low waste habits. Here at Elyn, we believe changing habits can be easy when the habit is simple and straightforward so we’ve collected 10 simple low waste habits to adopt today.
1. Switch to using re-usable cloth grocery bags to replace plastic grocery bags.
2. Stock your pantry with Mason jars to store non-perishable foods.
3. Buy your own stainless steel straw to replace the plastic single-use version in your morning cup of coffee or tea.
4. Take it one step further and exchange the paper to-go cup for your own personal mug.
5. Set the table with washable cloth napkins and decrease the use of paper napkins.
6. Swap paper towels with reusable dish towels for a waste-free kitchen clean up.
7. Pack your own lunch in reusable containers and do away with plastic snack and sandwich bags.
8. For new moms making a change to using cloth diapers to replace disposable ones.
9. Tumble your laundry with a set of wool dryer balls instead of single-use dryer sheets.
10. Save a tree and request an electronic receipt or bill delivery.
We hope you find these low waste habits a breeze to make part of your everyday life! Let’s us know what habits you’re changing on social - tag us #elynlowwastehabits
Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist, Ella Olsson and Mel Poole.
We’re back with another installment of Elyn’s Glossary of Green. We heard your desire to know more about confusing terms being used and what it means for you, a busy, environmentally engaged woman on the go.
As a sustainable products company, we had similar questions and worked together as a team to discern which ones are important and how they impact our lives. We’re proud to share Elyn Glossary of Green, Part Two where we’ve collected terms related to a green lifestyle and distilled them for the most pertinent points.
A product, especially in the cosmetics arena, that are made without harming or testing on animals.
Is a concept that creating economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods in developing countries leads to a consumer market that distributes the resources fairly and equitably among all.
A lifestyle that aims to send as little to the landfill as possible and instead focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling items around the home.
A way of life that seeks to eliminate all plastic products and packaging from personal use.
As we learn together we’ll be adding to the Glossary of Green so we can all made educated decisions about how we can do our part to create a sustainable lifestyle.
A product that is “green” benefits the environment and is preferred over a product that doesn’t carry this label.
A product that is eco-friendly (or earth friendly), is taken to mean it does not harm the environment.
A product that is labeled sustainable provide environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting the environment over their whole life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials until the final disposal.
1. Sajé | The Ingredients in Sajé products are derived from natural sources and contain the built-in benefits of Mother Nature.
2. Seventh Generation | Their cleaning and laundry products use plant-based cleaning ingredients to get the job done, so you can feel good about using them in your home and around your family.
3. Blueland | Blueland is focused on eliminating single-use plastic from your everyday products by offering easy, money-saving, effective refillable solutions. Buy the bottle once and reuse it over and over again with their $2 refill tablets!
4. Dropps | Eco-friendly, cost-effective and convenient.. sign us up! Not only are they the first detergent company to develop a zero-waste compostable package but they were to the first to incorporate a bittering agent in it's dissolvable film for safety.
5. Mrs.Meyers | Made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils, these cleaning products not only smell good but are recyclable and use at least 25% post-consumer plastic in their bottles.
]]>At Elyn we’re committed to creating sustainable lifestyles through small steps, every day. As described by Wikipedia, sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources, and one’s personal resources. If you’re not sure how to start to cultivating a more sustainable life, we hear you! We’ve curated 10 Tips for a More Sustainable Lifestyle to help you to take one small step today, another tomorrow.
BYOB
Bring your own bag. While the option of using a paper bag is good, it’s even better to bring your own reusable grocery bags to the store. Many stores also sell reusable produce bags for all your fruits and veggies.
Power Down
Turn off the lights when you leave a room and turn off your electronic devices when you go to bed at night are two great ways to live more sustainably. It’s even recommended to power down your wi-fi system to decrease energy consumption.
Just Say No
To straws, paper cups, and plastic lids, that is. Make your morning coffee treat a more sustainable option when you bring your own mug or glass. Many coffee shops offer stainless steel, bamboo, or even glass straw options.
Buy in Bulk
Shopping at a local co-op or grocery store with bulk bins cuts down on packaging and save on food waste. When you can buy only what you need your food stays fresh. Bonus points for using your own containers.
Low Flow
Water is one of our most precious resources and by investing in low flow, eco-friendly shower heads you’re creating a sustainable lifestyle. Decreasing your time in the shower can save even more water and electricity.
Eat Plant-Based
Eating meatless on Mondays and more plant-based meals, in general, can go a long way to creating a more sustainable lifestyle. Less meat means less greenhouse gas emissions - all-around better for our climate!
Water Off
Turning water off while you brush your teeth, wash your face, or shave not only saves you money, it also saves around 4 gallons of water per minute.
Recharge your Technology
Making the switch to a more renewable source of power for charging home and office technology can make a significant difference. Try using rechargeable batteries, solar-powered keyboards, speakers or cell phone chargers.
H2O to Go
Creating the habit of using your own water bottle makes a significant contribution to decreasing the single-use plastics ending up in our landfills. An easy tip is to keep a reusable bottle at your desk, in the car and even in your gym tote bag. Having them handy makes it easier to to use.
Less Paper
When you can, opt for an email receipt at the checkout counter, this not only saves a tree, it saves water. Another way to decrease paper in your life is to opt-out of junk mail by checking out these resources at EcoCycle.
Recycling doesn’t have to be hard and we’re here to help. Let’s set ourselves up for success by having a main recycling area with clearly labeled containers. Your local area may provide bins so be sure to request ones with lids for easier transport and to keep Mother Nature and animals out of your recycling! Below you’ll find 10 handy tips for easy recycling around the home and office.
Clothes
Buy new clothing from companies that recycle their products – We love companies that encourage consumers to return their products so they can recycle or reuse them. Here are 6 great brands that recycle textiles.
Donate used clothing, accessories, and gently worn shoes to your local thrift stores. Pick a day when the seasons are changing and choose a few items for donation that haven’t been worn in a while. Make it a family affair and get everyone involved!
Toiletries
Wondering what to do with your cosmetic containers? Many companies, such as MAC and Lush, offer an option to return the primary packaging (what the cosmetic comes in) in exchange for a free product. If your product comes in a glass or plastic package, wash, dispose of any pumps and recycle. How about setting up a beautiful, dedicated box under the sink for easy sorting and storage?
Don’t forget about hair care bottles and cardboard packaging from toilet paper rolls and toothpaste. Another easy storage tip is keeping a washable bag on a hook behind the door for easy, whole family access.
Kitchen
Invest in glass canning jars to store your non-perishable pantry items. Not only are they easy to use, but they can also do double duty for your water, morning smoothie, or iced coffee.
Recycle your water! If you have leftover water from boiling your eggs or steaming veggies, let it cool and use it to water your plants, inside or out.
Flatten all the cardboard packaging food products come in. This will give you more space for recycling, keep the area tidy and make it more appealing to recycle.
Office
Set up a battery recycle station in an easy to access area so the whole family can pitch in. Reuse a glass container or cover a shipping box with pretty paper. Once you have a container full, check Call2Recycle for a drop off location near you.
Bring your own mug. Many coffee shops offer a discount when customers bring in their own, plus you can add a spark to your day with a personalized motivational quote to keep in the recycling spirit.
Save on paper by printing on both sides, or best yet, only print what’s essential.
The best way to make recycling easier is by getting the whole house involved! And most important, make sure to celebrate your hard work in making the planet a better place. Tag us on social #elynrecyclingtips and share your best ideas.
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