Easy Sustainable Swaps That Won't Break The Bank

Beeswax wraps: Beeswax wraps are a great alternative to cling wrap. They can be used to wrap up cut fruit, or used as lids on bowls or tupperware.

Reusable cotton rounds: Instead of disposable cotton rounds when taking off makeup, nail polish, or cleaning; you can get reusable cotton rounds that can be easily washed in the laundry machine (my favorite are ones made of bamboo).

Silicone baking mats: Swap parchment paper for reusable silicone baking mats that can be washed and used over and over.

Join a Buy Nothing Facebook group: These are groups on Facebook where the people in a city or neighborhood can offer up or ask for items. Everything is given away for free to help build community, save money, and keep things out of the landfill. Here is the link to their main Facebook page to learn more.

Thrift Stores: You don’t have to spend extra money buying sustainably sourced and made clothes in order to get clothes sustainably. Thrifting is not only a great way to vamp up your wardrobe but it saves clothes from the landfill and saves you money. You can also find awesome vintage furniture and kitchen items at most thrift stores.

Thriftbooks.com: Thriftbooks is a great website for finding used books at a great price and also saves them from the landfill!

Shorter Showers: The average shower uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Reduce gallons of water usage by cutting off a couple minutes of your shower.

Only run full laundry or dishwasher loads: Running full loads allows you to run less loads saving water, electricity, time, and money.

Swapping to LED light bulbs: LED light bulbs use much less electricity and power than incandescent bulbs. Not only will you be reducing energy use but also your bill!

Use alternative transportation: We at iFixit love and encourage alternative transportation. There are lots of options as opposed to driving. You can bike (regular or electric), scooter, walk, use public transportation, etc.

Bringing a reusable travel mug or mason jar to coffee shops: Most coffee shops will happily put your drink in your own reusable cup, some will even take a percentage off your drink for it.

Reusable or compostable straws and cutlery: We’ve all heard this one, but plastic is a huge problem in our oceans and landfills. This is one very simple swap that can help reduce this.

Reusable water bottles: Americans buy an average of 50 million plastic water bottles every year which comes out to an average of 13 per person every month. Buying a reusable water bottle will help save hundreds of plastic water bottles from landfills (and if you buy an insulated one, they’ll keep your water ice-cold)!