12 SACRIFICE-FREE SUSTAINABLE SWAPS

For toooo long I lived under the belief that in order to set a positive example of how to live a conscious life, I had to show up as the perfect example.

While that would be fine if I was the perfect living example, I’m not.

I admit to doing some cringe-worthy things like shamelessly moving things around in my fridge to avoid letting you see how much of the plastic is lurking in there – or tossing the plastic water bottle in my cup holder to the backseat before hitting RECORD.

I wasn’t trying to be a fraudster or someone I’m not. I just didn’t want to encourage some of the behaviors I knew I could be better at.

I thought that since I had a platform,
I had “a responsibility” to be an example.

But I’ve realized the truth: By working to appear PERFECT, I missed out on the way I could be THE MOST IMPACTFUL, which is simply to show you where I’m still struggling (but striving to do better!) and what swaps I’ve made that are working easily.

That’s how I aim to live from here on out.

I’ve done a lot of reflection over the past year on all things social media and how I show up on the internet – and I’ve also thought a lot about how I feel when consuming the content of others who are perfectly green.

Don’t get me wrong, I respect the hell out of anyone who has made sacrifices in their lifestyle in the name of the environment, but I’m also going to share a secret:

Seeing perfection makes me feel overwhelmed, fatigued, and like that lifestyle is out of reach for someone like me.

I need to see relatable in order to know that this is something I CAN DO.

This year, I’m STRIPPING for you (in a vulnerable way, not nude way), and showing up as the real me: a work in progress.

I hope my imperfections can guide us all towards doing better in a way that is step-by-step, manageable, and the opposite of overwhelming and guilt-inducing.

I’m someone who’s become a lot more AWARE of how my everyday choices impact not only the environment but my health.

I’m someone who strives to do better but recognizes perfection (or close to perfection) isn’t possible.

Over the past year or so I’ve turned down more than 75 partnerships simply because of the single-use packaging. That’s not to say I’d NEVER use a product myself in single-use packaging, but I decided to raise my bar of who I want to align with and only amplify the voices that are in line with the direction I want to be going – and the direction I wish the world would go.

This isn’t just about the environment and the the future:

It’s about our IMMINENT health now (as Abby Cannon shares on her episode “CONVENIENCE KILLS” on my podcast, The Truthiest Life.

Plastic and microplastic are everywhere. From our food supply to our underpants (yes, seriously – micro-plastics are in our most intimate of clothing!).

It’s not just around us, it’s SEEPING inside of us.

I believe that if we want the world to change, we need to vote with our dollar by supporting companies that are making the big change and be selective with when we support the companies that haven’t evolved yet.

So this Earth Day, I hope you’ll join me in not being perfect, but being BETTER!

Without further ado:

12 SACRIFICE-FREE SWAPS

01) Bamboo Cutting Board with Pull-Out Trays

This cutting board changed my life, and I don’t mean that lightly. The bamboo is naturally anti-bacteria (better than wood which is porous and can lead to bacteria growth), but best of all, these pull-out drawers allow for easy organization and prep.

This particular cutting board is sold out, however, I just ordered from this other site that has all carbon neutral shipping! I will review soon!

02) Bamboo Toilet Paper

Made from 100% responsible bamboo, you won’t miss your old paper and this one will come straight to your door!

03) Paper Towel Ideas

Okay, I’m still working on this transition as a paper towel abuser, but these from Grove are AWESOME and you can get many more wipes out of them. OR consider keeping a dishtowel or rag by your sink that can go in the dishwasher.

04) Glass Straws

Comes to 2 bucks per straw – so much better than metal. Just be sure to brush the inside before rinsing to avoid bacteria build-up.

05) Water Bottle

You all know the GIANT insulated water bottle is it for me. It keeps my water ice-cold and stores an insane amount of water which is the way I like it. Choose your style here.

06) Insulated Refrigerator Bag

The one I have I got with a meal service I used to get. It’s life-changing. This one on Amazon is similar and has great reviews. I love that it looks like a nicer bag, the insulation is thick and it can hold a lot (you know how much vegan ice cream we go through over here).

07) Aluminum Foil

100% is recycled and uses 95% less energy than regular aluminum. You’ll need this for BBQ season!

08) Simplehuman Auto-Dispenser

A bit pricey when thinking about hand soap, but it looks decorative and nice and can be left out. You’ll save money over time on plastic refills. Best of all, it auto dispenses making it extra *covid friendly*.

09) Plastic-Free Tupperware

This beautiful and spacious glass container set comes with a bamboo lid. Great for pantry organization or leftovers.

10) Reusable Ziplocks

I’m not fully over the zip locks (they’ve been with me my whole life!!) but I am reusing them constantly. When I leave the house, I call on ZIP TOP, which is perfect for snacks.

11) Cotton Rounds

12) Sippy Cup

This is my favorite (!!!) adult sippy cup – but it’s also great for kids. It’s so fun, easy to use, and exactly what we were missing in this world. It folds down into nothing for easy storage when your beverage is up. I like to use it for juice on the go!

Drop your favorite sacrifice-free swaps in the comments!

I thought that since I had a platform, I had “a responsibility” to be an example.