As we all know, our planet has a limited amount of resources, and unfortunately, we still aren’t able to go and live on Mars.
That’s why it seems that we see a story about new things killing the Earth every day. Posters of things that we shouldn’t use are everywhere along with the pictures of polluted beaches and rivers. Of course, we all want to do our part in reducing the carbon footprint, but that’s not always easy. We don’t want to lose functionality and convenience that some items provide. Luckily, now we don’t have to. Sustainable alternatives to everyday items we all use are widely available nowadays, so we don’t really have an excuse for not getting on board.
Straws
You have probably already heard about some restaurants that announced that they’ll stop using plastic straws. California even completely banned them because of their harmful effects on the environment, and many states are up to follow. However, many people love to use these little plastic things for sipping their refreshments. For some, they’re a necessity because of their disabilities. 
Luckily, nowadays, you can enjoy all the benefits of straws with much less polluting involved. There are many alternatives to plastic straws. Paper straws seem to be very popular. And they offer quite an acceptable level of quality. However, they sometimes tend to break down after a while so they’re not exactly a perfect thing. If you want to go fully environmentally friendly, check out metal straws. They’re a little bit more expensive, but they’ll last forever.
Metal straws definitely are one of the sustainable alternatives to everyday items we all use.
Toothbrushes
We all know that plastic handles and nylon bristles are far from good for the environment, but we have to brush our teeth every day. Here again, eco options are ahead of us and you can make your daily routine eco-friendly. Toothbrushes made out of recycled materials are sustainable alternatives to everyday items we all use. Many of those are biodegradable, so you won’t pollute at all brushing your teeth.
There are many ways you can go. For starters, there are things called chew sticks. These are all-natural, plant-based sticks that clean your teeth, and they are made out of neem trees. You just nibble part of the stick to expose the bristles before you brush your teeth. After that, you simply cut used bristles off. This way you leave little to no waste.
You can also use bamboo toothbrushes which seem to rise in popularity quite a bit in the last few months.
Light bulbs
Did you know that LED lights are up to 80% more efficient than your traditional lighting options? If you’re wondering how, you’ll be glad to hear that only 5% of energy in LEDs is wasted on the heat. On top of all of this, they use much less power than conventional light bulbs, so the demand for power plants is much lower which reduces greenhouse gas emissions later on. These lights also have a few coloured options and you can dim them without any problems. Another plus thing is that you can control them via your Wi-Fi. Sustainable energy at home in the 21st century – not bad at all.
Flooring
Eco-friendly flooring is nothing new, but it is still worth mentioning as we keep losing forests. There is a variety of choices here. For instance, bamboo is one of the new top materials for this. Some of the other frequently used things are reclaimed woods, porcelain, glass, and even metal.
Now, because of the composition of some of these materials, it’s best to consult the professionals about what material is ideal for your budget, as well as for the area of the house. For instance, all-natural linoleum is extremely hard-wearing so it is a perfect eco-friendly flooring for your kitchens and hallways.
Besides being environmentally friendly, bamboo flooring looks amazing.
Binders
Pretty much all of us keep our important documents in binders. And there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s simply the best way. However, they can be used much longer and for multiple purposes, if you opt for a reusable material like vinyl or poly is.
It’s simple really. Binders that we all know are made out of animal leather. This is harmful, primarily to the animals, but to the whole planet as well, because of toxic chemicals and all that fossil fuel that is burned in the production of livestock.
However, you don’t have to give up on style to save the planet. There are sophisticated vinyl binders that resemble leather ones and are much more durable and water-resistant. Many international companies such as fourwinds-ksa.com declared that they’re switching to those. Why wouldn’t you?
New vinyl binders are definitely the way to go if you care about the planet.
Linens
Many people already use eco-friendly linen, but it is very important to check if your bedding meets the Global Organic Textile Standard.
Many companies explore this market and some of them have made astonishing results. For example, some of them add eucalyptus and other plants to cotton. The reasons behind this are simple. Plants such as eucalyptus don’t need irrigation, pesticides, or even farming to thrive.
Here again, we see just how good of a plant bamboo is. Besides all the things that we’ve already mentioned, it is also used for sheets, pillows, and mattresses. On the other hand, bedding filled with polyester made from old recycled plastic bottles is always a good bet.
Bags
When you want to move your possessions overseas, you need a good bag for them. But it doesn’t have to be plastic. Or maybe it wouldn’t be able to be, as plastic bags are getting banned all over the world. If this is still not the case where you live, you can always ask for a paper bag next time you go grocery shopping. Or even bring your own.
Bags are a simple thing to manufacture, so it is not surprising that they made it to our list of sustainable alternatives to everyday items we all use. Recycled cotton totes and string market bags are getting more and more popular every day. And the same can be said for sandwich bags. Yes, a reusable, leak-proof bag for your snacks is a thing, and you can find them in a variety of sizes.
