Go green in 2022: 5 reusable items to adopt in your home

In January 2022, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide reached the level of 417.8 ppm. A critical threshold according to a growing number of researchers.

We use a mind-blowing amount of disposable and single-use products in our homes. Many of us want to adopt a better behavior to reduce our dependence on these items, but we don't really know where to start.

As it turns out, becoming a true advocate for the environment isn't as hard as you might think. There are many ways to change your home habits to be more environmentally friendly. Every day there are more and more products that can replace the disposable products we currently use.  With a little effort and a few daily changes, big or small, each of us can do something for the planet.

Here are 5 reusable household items to help you and your family start living a greener lifestyle today and reduce your overall carbon footprint.

1.  Beeswax fabrics

Many people in Switzerland use zip bags every year and most of them end up in the waste dump. We tend to use them for convenience to keep our food fresh. However, it turns out there is a better green alternative. Beeswax fabrics are reusable and zero waste. They avoid the use of disposable plastic films or zip bags. They are ideal for sandwiches, vegetables, fruits and most other single-serving foods you can think of.

2. Stainless steel straws

Stainless steel straws are another great reusable item for your home. Many fast food chains like Burger King are turning to paper straws. If you've ever had the misfortune of trying one, you already know that they leave a bad taste in your mouth. Stainless steel straws are a better alternative, which you can keep at home and use when needed.

In addition to stainless steel straws, there are also coffee filters with the same component. These metal filters can be reused, they do not oxidize and, above all, they make your coffee moment just as pleasant. The advantages of this product are found in its duration of use. Instead of throwing away a different paper filter every day, you can make one more small contribution to a greener home.

Not all bulbs can be recycled depending on their components. Some are safe and can be thrown away with the household garbage.  Others, however, contain substances such as fluorescent powders or mercury.

Despite their higher price, LED bulbs produce almost no heat and use less electricity than fluorescent bulbs. In addition to that, the average lifetime of a LED bulb, which is 15-25 years, is almost 3 times longer than fluorescent bulbs.  They can be found in almost every DIY store like HORNBACH or Jumbo.

Many people often forget to turn off the lights before leaving their homes. In the long run, this change could help you use less electricity and therefore save money.  A good alternative for your wallet and for the planet.

In Switzerland, about 1,000,000 tons of plastic are consumed each year. That is about 125 kg per person, including 45 kg of packaging. Plastic bags account for about 3,000 tons. In 2018, more than 56 million disposable plastic bags were given to customers in stores. We know that more and more waste is accumulating in the oceans and that what we throw away in landfills ends up in rivers before ending up in the ocean. Help your planet by buying a cotton bag for your shopping.

Installing a solar panel is a big project. However, such an investment brings great benefits! The price of photovoltaic solar panels has dropped so much that the kilowatt-hour of solar electricity produced on your roof can be cheaper than the kilowatt-hour sold by your electricity distributor. You can also apply for a grant to pay only for your own energy consumption.

If you are someone who likes to be out doing home improvements and is very conscious of your electricity consumption, this is the project for you. A single solar panel is often able to provide enough electricity to power a water heater or fridge.

By reducing your electricity consumption, the panel itself will eventually pay for the cost of installation. Even better, more of your electricity will come from a renewable source!

This article is intended to give you alternatives to reuse and conserve household items. All this to reduce your costs, but also to reduce your carbon footprint and help the planet.

You won't always be able to keep everything in your home, and sometimes, when renovating like installing a solar panel, you need a simple, quick and efficient system to help you get rid of your waste.

At Big Sack, we provide a flexible and inexpensive solution that will make your life easier in your projects. Buy your Big Sacks on our website, receive them by mail and call us for pickup! The best part is that it's also environmentally friendly because it reduces the carbon footprint of the truck, as it requires less travel than a dumpster. In addition, it gives you the opportunity to sort all your waste directly on site.