Intentional Living Archives - The Evergreenie

The Best Eco-Friendly Food Storage & Where To Get It

Kiah Barrette Treece — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:39:06 +0000

Eco-friendly food storage is an important part of a more sustainable lifestyle because it can reduce waste in one of the most heavily used parts of the home—the kitchen. By cutting out single-use plastic and replacing it with glass containers, reusables, wax wraps, and compostable products, we can take an important step towards reducing plastic and related toxins in the home.

Here are some of our favorite eco-friendly food storage options:

Compostable Resealable Bags

Whether you’re packing snacks for kids or organizing your own lunches, resealable bags continue to be a popular food storage option. Unfortunately, the production, use, and disposal of traditional plastics is damaging to both the environment and your health. Made from biodegradable vegetable material, compostable bags offer a safer, more planet-friendly alternative to old school options.

If you decide to make the switch to compostable plastics, though, make sure you choose an option that can be composted at home. Many products that are marketed as compostable actually require industrial composting, and won’t biodegrade in the conditions possible in a home composting environment. Compostic compostable resealable bags are a great option, as are BioBag resealable bags, which we buy through Grove Collaborative.

Reusable Silicone Storage Bags

If you prefer to avoid even compostable single-use products, reusable silicone storage bags—like Stasher—will feel right at home in your kitchen. The best reusable bags are made from platinum food-grade silicone and come in a variety of sizes and colors. Plus, their structured shape makes it easier and tidier to fill the bags with everything from cereal and grains to leftover soup. The bags are widely available on Amazon and Stasher’s website, but they’re also easy to add to sustainable deliveries from Grove Collaborative and Thrive Market.

Reusable Beeswax Food Wraps

Reusable food wraps are most commonly made from fabric that has been coated with beeswax to form a water resistant but flexible coating. Available in a range of shapes and sizes, these wraps can be used to cover bowls, wrap sandwiches, and protect cut produce among other uses. When you’re done, simply wash the material with cool water and your favorite zero waste dish soap and then air dry before storing. In addition to being plastic free, this type of food wrap can typically be reused for about a year and can be composted at the end of its useful life.

We love the Bee’s Wrap brand because it’s a woman owned business and a Certified B Corporation. The wraps are available directly through Bee’s Wrap and on Amazon, but like many other household products, we prefer to order them through Grove or Thrive.

Pro Tip: Most food wraps are not appropriate for vegans because of their beeswax content. However, Bee’s Wrap also offers a totally vegan food wrap made with candelilla and soy wax.

Compostable Cling Wrap

For those who prefer the convenience of single-use cling wrap, Compostic offers a compostable alternative. Biodegradable under home composting conditions, this cling wrap is made from non-toxic materials that are free of BPA and GMOs. The company also uses compostable packaging that’s printed with soy- or water-based inks.

Compostic is based in New Zealand, but its products are available through Amazon. Shoppers who prefer to shop small can pick up another compostable cling wrap brand—Zefiro—through EarthHero.

Glass Bulk Food Storage Jars

Whether you have made the switch to buying in bulk or are just looking for a plastic free way to store dry goods, glass jars are the way to go. Because jars come in such a wide variety of shapes and sizes, it’s easy to find the perfect jar to fit your needs. If you need glass storage for things like pasta and beans, check out these Le Parfait storage and canning jars. You can also find a range of glass storage solutions at thrift stores and on sites like IKEA and Amazon.

Pro Tip: Save money and cut back on your consumption by using empty glass packaging (think tomato sauce and spice jars) instead of buying new containers.

Glass Food Storage Containers

Keeping leftovers in glass storage containers instead of plastic can cut back on waste and reduce the environmental toxins you’re exposed to each day. Glass is also more durable than plastic and can be heated without being damaged, so each piece will last longer and reduce the need to buy replacements. Where possible, avoid glass containers that come with plastic components in favor of those with bamboo lids. These bamboo and glass food storage containers are a great deal and have excellent reviews, but you can also reuse glass food jars to save money and further reduce household waste.

Stainless Steel Bento Box

If you’re ready to step up your lunch box game, a stainless steel bento box is a sustainable alternative to unsanitary plastic totes that often have a limited lifespan. There are a number of options on the market, but we love PlanetBox because it offers a range of shapes, sizes, and designs that are perfect for kids and adults. You can even customize each box with add-on magnets.

Shopping Note: Shopping intentionally is an important part of building a more sustainable lifestyle, and many of our favorite small businesses use more environmentally friendly shipping practices than big box retailers. For that reason, we aim to choose products available through independent sellers and shopping platforms we believe in.

Still, we recognize that Amazon may be the most economical or convenient option for many. To make our favorite products as accessible as possible, we link out to many items (or available equivalents) on our Amazon sustainability resources page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes kitchen storage eco-friendly?

Eco-friendly kitchen storage is made from reusable and food-safe materials like glass, silicone, bamboo, and stainless steel. The most sustainable kitchen and food storage options make it easy to eliminate plastic—and especially single-use plastic—from your kitchen without sacrificing quality. Many eco-friendly food storage and kitchen items are also compostable and come in biodegradable or otherwise plastic-free packaging.

Are bamboo lids eco-friendly?

Bamboo lids are considered eco-friendly because bamboo is a fast-growing grass that does not require fertilizer. The plants are also capable of self-generating and can be propagated with cuttings. This makes bamboo extremely sustainable. That said, bamboo is typically farmed as a monoculture, which can harm the natural environment by stripping the area of crucial biodiversity. Plus, the majority of bamboo is grown in China, meaning it has to travel a long distance to reach our kitchens. Overall, however, responsibly cultivated bamboo and bamboo lids are more eco-friendly than plastic alternatives.

Are silicone kitchen tools eco-friendly?

Silicone kitchen tools are eco-friendly compared to plastic because food-grade silicone is made from silica—a sand-based material—and not petroleum. Silicone kitchen tools are also extremely durable so they last longer than many plastic alternatives and can reduce the amount of waste going into landfills. Likewise, silicone is recyclable—though it does require a specialized facility. To ensure you’re using the healthiest, most eco-friendly silicone kitchen tools choose brands that advertise medical grade or food grade silicone.

Is glass Tupperware sustainable?

Glass Tupperware and other food storage containers are more sustainable than plastic alternatives because they are made from silica—not petroleum. What’s more, these containers last longer than plastic options, so you can cut back on your overall consumption. Some glass food storage brands take sustainability even further by using biodegradable bamboo lids instead of plastic. Not only are glass Tupperware containers more sustainable than plastic, they don’t break down and leach chemicals when reheated.

Choosing the Best Eco-Friendly Food Storage for 2021

Becoming more sustainable in 2021 is easy if you make small, incremental changes—and the kitchen is a great place to start. We chose some of the best eco-friendly food storage tools based on the products we use at home and recommend to clients.

How do you store food in your kitchen? Share your favorite eco-friendly food storage products with the community by adding them to the comments below

The post The Best Eco-Friendly Food Storage & Where To Get It appeared first on The Evergreenie.

The Best Sustainability Apps to Check Out in 2021

Kiah Barrette Treece — Tue, 11 May 2021 23:37:19 +0000

Sustainability apps are mobile tools aimed at building green habits and making an environmentally-friendly lifestyle more accessible. Whether you’re looking for local recycling resources or trying to eliminate your dependence on fast fashion, these mobile apps can help you reach your goals. The best sustainability apps are typically free, user-friendly, and simple to integrate into your day-to-day activities.

Here are some of our favorites:

PaperKarma

Price: $3.99 per month
Purpose: Eliminating junk mail

It’s estimated that the average American receives about 41 pounds of junk mail every year, with the wasteful practice accounting for 80 to 100 million of the trees cut down each year. PaperKarma makes it easy to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive—and your carbon footprint. Just photograph your junk mail, opt out, and the mail will stop within six to 12 weeks.

5 Calls

Price: Free
Purpose: Contacting your representatives

Sustainability goes beyond zero waste and organic gardening. Using our voices to request more environmentally-friendly policies is an important but oft-ignored part of green living. Luckily, the 5 Calls mobile app takes some of the difficulty—and perhaps trepidation—out of contacting your representatives. The app is free to download and only requires users to enter their address or zip code. It then provides a list of important issues, contact information for the relevant senator or congressperson, and a script tailored to the issue. When you’re done, just choose one of the results (Unavailable, Made Contact, Left Voicemail, or Skip) to track your call.

HappyCow

Price: $3.99
Purpose: Finding local vegan restaurants

If you’re traveling, moving to a new area, or just exploring more options in your neighborhood, HappyCow is a convenient way to locate vegan-friendly restaurants on the move. Unlike other top sustainability apps on our list, you’ll have to purchase the app for $3.99. But happy users love that the app lets them find restaurants that have vegan and vegetarian offerings, are vegan- or vegetarian-friendly, or are 100% vegan or vegetarian. The app is available for Android and iOS users, but you can also access the database through HappyCow’s website.

thredUp

Price: Free
Purpose: Buying and selling gently used clothing

It’s estimated that up to 85% of textiles go to landfills each year. By purchasing gently used clothing instead of new, you can join the growing number of consumers giving fast fashion the boot. The thredUP app makes this more convenient than ever by letting you shop for high-quality, sustainable pieces that fit your budget. If you’re trying to streamline your wardrobe or embrace minimalism, you can also use the app to request a bag for clothing donation.

JouleBug

Price: Free
Purpose: Building eco-friendly habits

If you’ve ever struggled to incorporate more sustainable habits into your busy schedule, JouleBug has the tools to help you succeed. With habits like shopping local and taking public transit, this sustainability app lets you choose from practices that make sense with your lifestyle. Once you choose a habit to develop, use the app to track each time you do something sustainable. You can also opt into challenges, find friends, and follow trending activities. If you’re a business owner, consider JouleBug Enterprise, which helps organizations build habits that let employees thrive.

Pro Tip: Building habits is much easier—and more effective—if you keep it simple. Choose one new habit to focus on and then build additional habits from there. This approach can increase your chances of fully adopting the habit and prevent burnout as you begin your journey to sustainability.

OfferUp

Price: Free
Purpose: Buying and selling used items in your area

OfferUp connects consumers with secondhand items for sale locally. The platform includes everything from clothing to cars and operates similar to Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Like some of the other apps on our list, OfferUp can also be accessed from the platform’s website, but the mobile app is more convenient—especially if you’re on the road. To start shopping for products, just enter your location and start searching for deals. You can choose local items for pickup or search listings that offer shipping. To sell on the platform, just create an account to get started.

Think Dirty

Price: Free; $2.99 per month for premium features
Purpose: Shopping for clean beauty products

The Think Dirty app helps shoppers choose clean beauty products. To use the app, scan an item’s barcode to see ingredients, reviews, and whether the product is considered clean, dirty, or half n’ half. You’ll also be able to see clean alternatives to each product and purchase them online. Products that aren’t already in the database can be added easily. If you want to keep it simple, consider purchasing the Think Dirty beauty box to receive over $300 worth of non-toxic beauty essentials for just $129.

RecycleNation

Price: Free
Purpose: Finding local recycling facilities

Interpreting recycling codes and finding local recycling centers can be a hugely frustrating part of living sustainably. RecycleNation takes some of the guesswork out of recycling by letting users choose a material category and then find nearby recycling locations. Simply choose a material category, narrow it down to a specific type of materials, and view the available recycling centers on the map. You’ll be able to see when the facility is open, what kind of materials it accepts, and other helpful information.

Choosing the Best Sustainability Apps for 2021

Mobile apps can make it easier to incorporate environmentally-friendly habits into your daily life and be more sustainable in 2021. Whether you need help choosing non-toxic beauty products or want to find the closest vegan restaurant, there’s an app that can help.

If you try any of these sustainability apps—or have other favorites—we’d love to hear about it! Drop your favorites in the comments below

The post The Best Sustainability Apps to Check Out in 2021 appeared first on The Evergreenie.

How To Make No Spend Days Work For You

Kiah Barrette Treece — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 18:25:56 +0000

If you ever look at your bank account and wonder where your paycheck went, no spend days might be for you.

Lately, there’s been more and more talk about finding financial independence and retiring early. Some committed souls have even used COVID-19 quarantine time to button down their finances and cut spending.

But for many, the pandemic has meant spending a ton of extra money buying stuff online. Like, a lot of stuff.

For those of us who might benefit from a financial reboot, no spend days are here to help.

What Are No Spend Days?

No spend days are when you make a conscious effort to cut your spending to only necessary expenses for a set period of time. This intentional approach to personal finance is an incredible way to SAVE MONEY while learning about your spending habits.

Benefits of No Spend Days

Regardless of your sustainability or personal finance goals, no spend days can:

Save you money
Make it easier to track your necessary spending
Help you gain insight into your spending habits
Lead to new, more intentional habits

How To Start a No Spend Habit

Sound like it might be a good fit? Here’s how to get started:

1. Write Down Your Why

Admittedly, this step isn’t totally necessary.

But it can really help you if you start feeling discouraged and need a reminder of WHY you’re trying no spend days.

So, before you get started, take a few minutes to think about your goals and what brought you to this point.

Are your credit card bills getting out of control? Have you struggled with money in the past and want help staying on track? Or are you trying to pay off debt and just need a little nudge to get started?

Maybe your finances are in order but you want to be more intentional about spending.

There are NO WRONG ANSWERS here and your why can change from day to day. The important part is that you take a moment to pause and think about it.

2. Strive for a Totally No Spend Day

If you’re not sure you can handle a full-on no spend challenge, start small. Choose a day this week and commit to using only resources you already own.

This will look different for everyone, but might include making all of your meals with ingredients you have on-hand, skipping that movie rental on Amazon, and avoiding ads for buzzy cookware on Instagram.

By dedicating yourself to a single no spend day, you prove to yourself that it’s possible. Plus, you get to see how it feels to break the spending cycle. The way you spend—or don’t spend—money is a habit, and the first step toward improving your habits is showing yourself you can.

3. Make a Note of What You DO Spend

Sometimes not spending money just isn’t feasible. Bills come due, your car runs out of gas. I get it.

While you may be able to go one day without spending money, you’ll likely need to cover expenses over the course of a week or month. The important thing to remember is the difference between things you need to spend money on and those you simply want.

As you move through your no spend challenge—whether it’s one day or 30—keep a daily list of those things you do spend money on. This may include true necessities, like a utility bill or gas for your car, as well as things you simply find yourself wanting or needing—think a new pair of shoes, household items, or art supplies.

By writing everything down, you create an accurate record of what you needed—or thought you needed—as well as how much it cost and when you purchased it. This information can be incredibly illuminating once you start reviewing your spending habits and making adjustments.

4. Reflect on Your Day

The most important part of no spend days is reflection. This isn’t a time for judgment, but rather an opportunity to really see your spending habits in black and white—perhaps for the first time.

Did you find it easy to avoid impulse buys? Are you more susceptible to social media ads than you realized? How many times were you tempted to spend and how many times did you resist?

Making a note of where you succeeded and where you struggled lets you start a no spend habit with a ton of valuable insight you may otherwise have missed.

5. Commit to a Week Without Spending

Once your no spend day is complete and you’ve spent time reflecting on the experience, it’s time to take the next step. Whether you’re feeling inspired or a little overwhelmed, try to continue the no spend challenge through the next week. The longer you go without spending—and the more notes you take along the way—the easier it will get. You may even find you enjoy the challenge of whittling down your expenses.

Tips for Trying No Spend Days

Unsubscribe from—or don’t open—promotional emails
Meal prep so you won’t be tempted to order takeout
Turn off Google Ad personalization (Manage Your Google Account → Data & personalization → Ad personalization)
Plan free activities in advance so you won’t fall into the boredom trap
Avoid the risk of impulse buys and overspending by stocking up on necessities once a month
Likewise, pay all of your bills on the same day to get necessary spending out of the way

Making No Spend Days Work For You

Whether you have a major spending problem or just want to cut back on your expenses, no spend days can help you identify your spending habits and cut back on unnecessary purchases. Start small by trying a one-day challenge and then work your way up to a week, month, or even longer.

The post How To Make No Spend Days Work For You appeared first on The Evergreenie.