Let’s all take a collective sigh of relief. 2020 is finally over, at long last. Now that you’ve survived one of the most challenging years on record, give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. Despite the fact that we’re not out of the woods yet, there’s still a lot to look forward to in this new year. And there are ways you can make a positive impact on the world, too.
You may think it’s impossible for just you alone to change the world in a noticeable way. But that’s an idea we reject. All positive changes matter, from small, individual choices we make everyday, to larger collective-action movements that reach across the globe. So let’s talk about you, and what you can do in 2021 to make the world a greener, more positive place.
Making new, sustainable habits
Or, restoring old ones. Hey, we get it—during lockdowns and social isolation, we weren’t thinking too much about bringing our reusable shopping bags to the grocery store, either. But with widespread vaccination around the corner, we’ll once again be able to bring our reusable bags and Stojo cups places. 9 months is a long time, though, and our habit of doing so might have broken. That’s ok—we all let some things go to the wayside during, well, an unprecedented global pandemic. It’s understandable.
What matters now is jumping right back on the horse. Before, we as a culture were making great strides in eliminating things like plastic bags, straws, and remembering to grab our Stojos on the way out the door. With a little practice, we can mindfully reinstitute these habits and even improve on them.
When it comes to making new habits, keep it simple. When something is easier, we’re more likely to do it—which is why we’re always boasting about the intuitive design of Stojo products that make them easy and convenient to bring around. It’s not all about Stojo, though—you can make your own life easier, too. For instance, instead of having just one compost bin outside, put a small one under your sink as well, so that way you’ll be less likely to throw food scraps into the trash when you don’t feel like going outside.
Sustainable Swaps to Make
Our first swap involves investing in your skin—that’s right, high-quality, reusable safety razors aren’t just for men. Though they may be intimidating, safety razors work just as well for shaving legs, and can actually result in a better shave than reusable razors. This rose-gold version from Eco Roots is a high-quality option that won’t break the bank. Plus, they sell a shaving bar to go along with it, further reducing plastic waste by making shaving cream redundant.
The kitchen is one of the best places to look for sustainable swaps. Plastic wrap can be replaced with reusable food cling—many versions are made from cloth and beeswax. The best place to shop for these are at your local craft fairs, farmers markets, or from small sellers on Etsy. It’s not even too difficult to DIY your own!
While you’re in that same drawer, bakers out there should seriously consider investing in a silicone baking mat to replace their rolls of parchment paper. Not to mention that parchment paper is usually bleached, while silicone is a very safe (and food-safe!) material. The gold standard is made by Silpat in France.
You probably saw this next suggestion coming—any of the Stojo products are amazing sustainable swaps for things like single-use cups to plastic water bottles. And because they collapse, they’re amazingly convenient, even more so than carrying around trash while you look for a garbage bin.
Even if you make just one swap or create just one new habit, that’s a step in the right direction. Even better if you get your friends and family to do one thing (and so on). A little adds up, just ask our wallets after we go to buy “just a few things” at the store.