10 Things I Stopped Buying To Live More Sustainably

I have been on a journey of living more sustainably for several years now, and after a long period of trial and error, I have been able to streamline my routines and shopping habits so that I consume, and therefore waste, less. If you are embarking on a journey of eco-friendly living yourself, these are some things I have stopped buying altogether (and don't miss) that you could consider taking out of your routine to give you a kick-start on you sustainable living endeavor. Check out the list below to learn more about why I cut these things out and what eco-friendly alternatives I have replaced them with, if any.

10 Things I No Longer Buy For a More Minimal, and Sustainable Life:

1. Paper Towels

   This one was a bit of a learning curve, as the habit of disposable napkins is so ingrained in many Western households. But the bottom line is, they're expensive and wasteful. I cut them out cold turkey to break my dependence on them very quickly and instead switched to using rags and kitchen towels to clean up messes. Swedish dish towels are a good option as well, but I found myself way more likely to clean and take care of a rag or cloth.

2. Plastic Baggies

   Another kitchen convenience item is plastic bags, particularly useful for children's school lunches (or your own). It dawned on me what a waste these are when I have a cupboard overflowing with perfectly good tupperware and jars that make much more sustainable alternatives.

3. Aluminum Foil

   To the same effect as plastic baggies and food storage, I also stopped buying tin foil. It does have some other uses besides storage in the context of cooking, but I was not reaching for it nearly enough to warrant purchasing and keeping it on hand. I was more or less using it as a tool of convenience (are we seeing a trend here?) and cut it out altogether. I have not replaced it with anything directly, but have used other food storage methods with reusable containers.

4. Wax/Parchment Paper

   I was gifted a 2-pack of silicone baking sheets and have not looked back since. I only used wax and parchment paper for baking things in the oven, protecting my sheet trays from the mess. The silicone sheets provide the same convenience and can be reused and thrown in the dishwasher. These alternatives are not even necessary though, because it is also perfectly fine to simply cook food straight on the baking trays and cookie sheets as long as you take precautions to prevent food sticking, and keep them clean.

5. Cotton Swabs

   The disclaimer with cotton swabs is that I did not use them super often in the first place, beyond removing some makeup here and there, so for me, this was a no-brainer to stop buying. They are just one more single-use item I was using out of convenience. I did make the switch to a reusable Q-tip made of silicone, and that comes in a little case for situations such as cleaning out ears, etc., and it can be sanitized after every use. For cotton swabs' other uses, such as makeup removal, a towel works just fine.

6. Cotton Rounds

   I was gifted a set of reusable cotton rounds, at which point stopping buying regular disposable cotton rounds became common sense. I have used them for about a year now and see no reason to ever switch to the disposable ones again. I have a set of 10 and use the bag they came in to separate the used and clean ones, and wash them with my whites to keep them clean.

7. Makeup Wipes

   Along a similar line as q-tips and cotton rounds, I already had plenty of less wasteful alternatives to removing my makeup. I stopped buying these to reduce waste and also to invest in better skincare alternatives. If makeup removal is your primary use for them and you still wash your face, consider getting a microfiber makeup removal pad/cloth or another similar alternative. On days when I have a full face on, I use my remover pad and that gets the vast majority of my makeup off, and they can be washed with the rest of your laundry to be reused.

8. Makeup

   Yes, you read that right. The caveat here is that I still have plenty in my collection to use. I have been embarking on Project Pan over the past 3 years, which at this point has become a lifestyle. I no longer buy makeup or cosmetic products unless I run out and am replacing something else.

9. Nail Polish

   Same philosophy as makeup here. Do you have any idea how LONG it takes to use up a whole bottle of nail polish? I haven't purchased any new colors in well over a year and am nowhere near close to a shortage any time soon. If and when that day does come, I will also have a better idea of what brands I like and work well for me, as my collection is quite diverse, so I can ensure I am getting a good value and a product I like.

10. Books

    This was a tough one, I won't lie, and was not necessarily an objective I started out with directly. I got a library card from my local public library and the rest is history. There are of course, books I want to own to come back to and grow my collection with, but over 80% of the time, I am renting. The other 20% comes in the form of gifts, or buying them second-hand, both of which are much more sustainable and budget-friendly than buying every book I want to read.

Conclusion

All in all, sustainable living is a very personal journey in the sense that it looks different for everyone. Some people may be able to jump straight in, while others need a more gradual approach. If the stress of being perfect is what's keeping you from trying, hopefully this list gives you inspiration for some small ways to start. If the whole globe could fully commit to eco-friendly lifestyles, the world would be a much different (and better) place, and while people are going to be disproportionally affected by the effects of climate change and environmentalism, we all have a responsibility to do our part in making green choices. Something is always better than nothing. These are some things I have cut out over the years and have helped streamline my life. I hope you gained some inspiration to start living sustainably, as it does not have to be nearly as complicated as you might think.