Which eco swaps have you made?

[BlowDryRat]

Just idly wondering as DH finally convinced me to try shampoo and conditioner bars instead of my usual OGX (I like them. They're the gruum ones). Other stuff we've done:

• compostable paper washing up sponges. Sounds crap but they're actually really good. They're these ones.

• DH uses Smyle brush mints and a bamboo toothbrush. I've tried them but prefer Colgate and my electric toothbrush.

• I use a mooncup and reusable sanitary pads Baba + Boo. Love them and wouldn't go back to disposables.

I also swapped from a diesel car to a hybrid a few years ago. I miss the range of the diesel (400 miles from one tank vs. about 280) but I wouldn't go back to a full petrol/diesel car.

Reusable pads but also use tampons, my moon cup gave me awful stomach ache like trapped wind. I'm plucking up the courage to try a different brand. Preferably one that is smaller/softer to insert

Try the put a cup in it quiz.

I personally get on well with the saalt Cup. There's There's saalt soft too. The quiz got it right for me.

I use shampoo bars
Use a local refil store for rice, pasta, lentils etc
Swapped out to var soap for kitchen and bathroom.
I would like to try a more ethical detergent and softener than ecover but between eczema and hard water area I cant afford to keep having boxes of stuff that doesn't work. Although eco leaf softener I can get from refil store and that seems OK.

I have a bread maker so no more plastic wrapping and bread flour from refil store.

Reusable sandwich bags

Toilet paper is is big thing id like to switch but things like Andrew are made in the ok and things like who gives a crap are imported aren't they?

I dont drive where I can walk or get a bus. Besides school runs buses would cost me a lot I did it before I got the car and I was getting 10 buses a day at one point. But everywhere else where possible.

I wish I had a half decent fresh fruit and veg shop I hate the plastic wrap

got rid of car
eat meat/fish only once a week
replace most dairy with plant 'milk'

Oh and I use cloth wipes instead of disposable, they are actually far more pleasant to use as the disposables just smear the poop around.

Forgot to say I also adopted a vegan diet two years ago for a combination of reasons one being the environment. I also joined the Green Party and hope to be involved locally when things open up again.

I think it's important to recognise that few of us can be perfectly eco-friendly and we do get caught out by things like palm oil. However we are making an effort and I hope encouraging anyone reading to try making some changes.

The next big one for me is transport. I haven't flown for ten years and don't imagine I ever will again but I do drive to work and the supermarket once a week as I take my daughter and shop for an elderly neighbour so too much to carry. My work is based on a farm three miles from town and I'm contemplating an ebike. Does anyone use one?

I have bar soap, shampoo and deodorant.
90% veggie, low amounts of dairy (oat milk instead of cows milk etc.)
Don't have a car or tumble dryer.
Lots of secondhand furniture/clothes etc.
I use everything to death so don't replace phones until they're fully broken, I mend clothes etc.
Cloth sanitary towels and face pads.
We're on a green plan for energy and don't turn the heating on until we're wearing several layers.
Get a veg box.
I use vinegar spray to do most cleaning.
Have reusable cups for takeaway coffee and glass straws for use at home.
We have a water butt in the garden.
Need to work on buying less in general: I downloaded this app called 30 Wears which encourages you to wear all of your wardrobe and be aware of what you already have.
I'm trying to do a low buy year this past couple years really but I do still allow myself to buy some stuff, it's just more mindful and I try and buy from smaller/more local places.
I'm thinking I probably won't fly again apart from one planned trip as we normally use Eurostar or go to seaside in the UK using the train anyway (when its allowed again!)

There always seems to be a catch with everything.
I know it's hardly a documentary, but they talk about it in the Good Place-how it's so difficult to make good decisions even buying organic tomatoes might contribute to droughts in Spain or whatever.
I do my best and have done for a long time.
Washable sanitary towels
Proper soap and shampoo bars
Refill shop for bubble bath and washing up liquid
Never had a tumble dryer.
Always use lunchboxes and reusable bottles and flasks.
Loofah washing up sponges and coconut brush
Produce bags.
Am vegetarian, but don't think of it as being eco friendly I just don't want to eat meat.
We do have a car, but it's dh's for work, it doesn't get used for much else, or even for that at the moment.

@PhantomErik I've tried a few different mooncup brands (including an actual mooncup) and ended up with this one from Sainsbury's: Intimina Lily One. It's by far the most comfortable and easy to use cup that I've found.

Bar soap for hands
Reusable cotton pads for makeup
Reusable sanitary pads (best thing I've ever done!)
Washing powder (cleans better anyway)

I don't own a tumble dryer, recycle everything, no children and don't fly so probably fairly decent anyway!

"There always seems to be a catch with everything.sad
I know it's hardly a documentary, but they talk about it in the Good Place-how it's so difficult to make good decisions even buying organic tomatoes might contribute to droughts in Spain or whatever."

This is something I struggle a lot with. I live in a country that really doesn't have much to do with anything green and I never know whether it's better to buy local and ungreen or import but green.

Shampoo Bars
Conditioner bars
Bar soap in all bathrooms (only use liquid at the kitchen sink)
Mooncup
Reusable glass milk bottles
Washable face cloths instead of cotton wool
Pasta/rice/flour/nuts/dried fruit etc from the refill station

The ones I'm most pleased with are:

Period undies
Reusable cotton pads (face cleansing)
Reusable daily pantyliner

I used to use a mooncup but can’t any more so I now use washable pants which are brilliant!
I also recently switched to using Smol washing detergent instead of buying plastic bottles of washing liquid. I love them, they just turn up in the post!
I will rarely buy single use plastic unless I have to.

. Washable face pads (-Etsy)
. Recyclable paper to wrap gifts (-Card factory)
. Reusable fruit and veg bags to try to avoid buying packaged fresh produce (-Etsy)
. I'm just about to start using 100% compostable face masks instead of the single use plastic ones (-Henosis Masks)
. Oat milk (-Oatly)
. Soap bars

I'm trying to make a big effort to be more eco this year (which is getting mixed reception from my teenage twins), including:

• No more bottles of shower gel - soap only (struggling with shampoo bars - kids hate it)
• Stopped getting sparkling water (which I love and got through so much of) so fewer plastic bottles but do sometimes get a glass bottle in
• No more using supermarket plastic bags - got a few foldable ones

Started donating to the Rewilding Britain charity, which is doing some amazing things

• Stopped using plastic dish scourers and use cellulose ones instead. - Quite dear but last a lot longer than I expected and don't get smelly.

Indulgent purchase, but it is lovely - ditched all plastic cleaning sprays and bought some of those new Raindrop eco cleaning sprays from here: raindropclean.com Looks great in the kitchen/bathroom Got a lot more planned...