Effortless Eco-Friendly Living: Tools for Finding Affordable Sustainable Products in Your Hectic Schedule
In today’s fast-paced world, sustainability and eco-friendliness are increasingly becoming a top priority. However, for many, the busy pace of life can make it challenging to actively seek out sustainable products. Fortunately, there are tools and resources available that cater to the demands of hectic schedules while making sustainable shopping more accessible and affordable.
One of the goals of this website and blog post is to become a trusted source of information to help you live a simple sustainable lifestyle while honoring your personal style of living. In this article you will find many suggestions on how to streamline your research for products that are green eco friendly choices.
Embracing Sustainability in a Busy World
Living a sustainable lifestyle isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity. But integrating eco-friendly products and choices into our lives doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or time-consuming task. Here are some handy tools and tips to help even the busiest individuals find affordable, sustainable options:
Eco-Friendly Product Discovery Resources:
Websites and apps like DoneGood, Good On You, and EarthHero are designed to curate a vast range of sustainable products from various brands. These platforms provide convenient access to eco-friendly alternatives, categorizing items by price, type, or eco-credentials. Here is a description of these three and links to find them.
- DoneGood: DoneGood is a platform and browser extension that provides a curated selection of eco-friendly, fair trade, and sustainable products. It offers users the ability to shop for goods across various categories, ensuring the products align with ethical and environmentally conscious standards.
- Good On You: Good On You is a fashion-specific app that rates clothing brands based on their environmental impact, labor conditions, and animal welfare. It helps consumers make informed choices by providing ethical ratings for brands, allowing users to shop sustainably within the fashion industry.
- EarthHero: EarthHero is an online marketplace offering a wide range of sustainable and eco-friendly products. It’s a one-stop shop for environmentally conscious consumers seeking items across different categories, including home goods, personal care products, and more. The platform emphasizes eco-friendly choices to promote sustainable living.
Price Comparison Apps: Tools such as PriceBlink and Honey can be added to web browsers, allowing you to compare prices across different websites instantly. This helps in identifying the most budget-friendly sustainable options available.
- PriceBlink: PriceBlink is a browser extension that helps users find the best deals and prices while shopping online. It automatically compares prices across various retailers, providing price comparisons, coupons, and possible savings. This tool helps users make informed purchasing decisions by presenting them with alternatives or better deals.
- Honey: Honey is a browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at the checkout when shopping online. It scours the internet for available promo codes and applies the best one to save users money. Additionally, Honey has a feature that tracks prices of items and notifies users when there’s a drop, enabling them to save on purchases.
Subscription Services: Opt for subscription boxes like Imperfect Foods or Zero-Waste Club that deliver sustainable goods directly to your doorstep. These services offer a hassle-free way to access fresh produce, package-free items, and environmentally conscious products on a regular schedule.
- Imperfect Foods: Imperfect Foods is a food delivery service that aims to reduce food waste by offering “imperfect” or surplus produce, pantry staples, and other grocery items at a discounted rate. They work directly with farmers and producers to rescue food that might otherwise go to waste due to imperfections in appearance or surplus production. Imperfect Foods aims to promote sustainability by reducing food waste and supporting local growers.
- Zero-Waste Club: Zero-Waste Club is an online platform offering a wide range of zero-waste and eco-friendly products. Their offerings include items like reusable household products, sustainable personal care items, and alternatives to single-use plastics. Zero-Waste Club emphasizes providing environmentally friendly choices to help consumers reduce waste and make more sustainable lifestyle choices. Since this is a UK company you might wonder why this recommendation if you are based in the US. Our advice is to look through their product line, find the products you would like to purchase, then go to Amazon or another US company with free shipping to purchase. Since they have done an excellent job of vetting their products for sustainability you can easily have a trusted source of recommendation.
Secondhand Marketplaces: Websites such as thredUP for clothing, Swappa for electronics, or local thrift stores for various items offer secondhand goods at reduced prices. These platforms extend the life cycle of products and contribute to sustainability while being light on the wallet.
- thredUP: thredUP is an online consignment and thrift store specializing in secondhand clothing. It offers a platform for buying and selling pre-owned clothing, including various brands, from high-end to more affordable options. Users can shop for gently used clothing items or sell their own clothes, contributing to the circular fashion economy by extending the lifespan of garments.
- Swappa: Swappa is an online marketplace for buying and selling gently used electronic devices. It provides a platform for individuals to purchase or sell smartphones, tablets, laptops, video game consoles, and other tech gadgets. Swappa ensures the quality and integrity of the products listed, offering a safer and more reliable experience for those looking to buy or sell used electronics.
- Local Thrift Stores: Local thrift stores are physical retail outlets that sell secondhand items donated by individuals or organizations. These stores offer a wide range of used goods, including clothing, furniture, books, electronics, and more. Thrift stores are known for their affordable pricing and the variety of items available, contributing to sustainable consumption by promoting the reuse of pre-owned products within the local community.
- Here is a national directory of thrift stores The Thrift Shopper
- Here is one for consignment stores Consignment Shopper to help you find one in your area. There may be more in your area so pay attention to local directories and other sustainably minded friends and family what they might recommend.Top of FormBottom of Form
Eco-Friendly Community Forums: Join online communities or forums that focus on sustainable living. These forums often share valuable insights, deals, and user recommendations on eco-friendly, budget-conscious purchases. They provide spaces for individuals to learn, discuss, and contribute to the broader conversation about eco-friendly living and sustainability. Here are a few:
- Reddit’s Sustainable Living Community: Reddit hosts a vibrant Sustainable Living subreddit where users share tips, articles, and discussions on eco-friendly living practices, from zero-waste tips to renewable energy solutions.
- EarthHero Community: EarthHero, an online platform that sells eco-friendly products, offers a community space for discussions, blog posts, and engagement with like-minded individuals interested in sustainable living.
- The Permaculture Research Institute: The Permaculture Research Institute is a platform and forum dedicated to permaculture, sustainable farming, and ecological design, providing forums for those interested in sustainable agriculture and related topics.
- Sustainable Living Stack Exchange: Stack Exchange hosts a Sustainable Living community, a Q&A platform where users can ask and answer questions about sustainable practices and green living.
Conclusion
In today’s fast-paced world, the quest for sustainability shouldn’t be an additional burden. With the aid of these user-friendly tools and platforms, even those leading hectic lives can effortlessly integrate eco-friendly choices into their routines without breaking the bank. By embracing these resources, anyone can champion sustainability while adapting to their busy lifestyle, making a positive impact on the planet without added stress or inconvenience. It’s about making small, conscious changes that collectively contribute to a more sustainable future.
Remember, the journey toward sustainability is about progress, not perfection. Utilize these tools and tips to find eco-friendly, budget-conscious products that align with your busy lifestyle.
Cheers to a greener, more sustainable future for us all!
Thanks for reading this article. Please freely use the links we have shared and bookmark our website and this post so you can return when you need one of these valuable resouces.
Below you will find a list of eco-friendly product suggestions that will may help you find ways to reduce your environmental impact. We have provided links to the products if you decide they are something you can and will use or gift. It is our way of helping you find helpful sustainable products we recommend and save you some research time.
Thanks again,
Linda Lander, founder of Simply Sustainable Lifestyle
AMAZON DISCLOSURE
Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links, in which I will receive a commission if you make a purchase. Thanks!
Amazon Sustainable Buying Tip
Look for the Climate Pledge FriendlyLink on the products you by Products with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn more about it and use it when you shop.
If one of your traditions for the holidays is pajamas for the kids, here is a stustainable idea with the Climate Pledge Friendly Pledge you can consider:
DAUGHTER QUEEN 18 Months-12 Years Boys & Girls Christmas Pajamas 100% Cotton Sleepwear
Enhance your purchasing strategy by incorporating “Sustainable” or “Eco-Friendly” before your search terms on the internet or Amazon. Doing so will broaden your options and present choices you might have missed otherwise.
Helpful Good Book Resource:
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- 10 actionable steps to adjust your diet for a smaller carbon footprint
- Inspiring stories of individuals creating powerful positive impact through small changes
- 101 easy-to-implement steps to a greener lifestyle without a complete overhaul
And much more.
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Hi Linda,
Thank you for this insightful and practical guide on effortless eco-friendly living. It’s refreshing to see how you’ve broken down the concept of sustainability into manageable steps, especially for those of us with hectic schedules. The resources you’ve listed, like DoneGood, Good On You, and EarthHero, are fantastic tools that I hadn’t heard of before. It’s great to have these platforms curated and explained in one place.
I’m particularly interested in the idea of subscription services like Imperfect Foods and Zero-Waste Club. Could you perhaps share more about your personal experience with these services? How have they impacted your daily routine in terms of convenience and sustainability?
Also, the emphasis on secondhand marketplaces is a great reminder of the value in reusing and recycling. In your experience, how do the quality and reliability of products from places like thredUP and Swappa compare to buying new?
Lastly, I appreciate the reminder that the journey towards sustainability is about progress, not perfection. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the need to be perfectly eco-friendly, so your perspective is both encouraging and grounding. Thanks again for this valuable resource!
Thank you for your comments, GudComp.
I’m pleased that you found valuable information in the post.
Regarding your inquiries about subscription services, Imperfect Foods is fantastic, and I’ve successfully used them for my simple diet, primarily consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of meat and fish. Another service I subscribe to is Full Circle, an organic produce delivery available in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho. I didn’t include it in my blog since it’s region-specific, but the joy of receiving fresh, local, organic produce at my door is unparalleled.
For clothing, my preferred approach is the local second-hand marketplace. Although I enjoy changing styles occasionally, I make an effort to buy from consignment and thrift stores about 90% of the time. Paying attention to brands, carefully reviewing descriptions and feedback is crucial. Swappa has an excellent reputation, and I’m likely to purchase my next phone from them. While ThredUp doesn’t have as high a reputation, I have a friend who uses them extensively with good results. Local consignment places also curate well, and I recommend exploring local options first for clothing.
I’ll conduct personal research on these applications and share my experiences. It’s essential to convey the truth to my readers, and I encourage them to share their experiences as well. If any of these recommendations don’t hold up well, I’ll certainly write a Thumbs Down post about the experience. When writing a blog such as this I am somewhat limited to reivews and other peoples experiences as I am not able to make purchases of things I am not in need of. This would not be a sustainable parctice for my business. I endevour to do deep research to discover the truth and and will report on businesses attempting to use sustainablity as a selling point for “non sustainable” products and services.
We should strive not only to be sustainable by using resources that encourage purchasing used products but also to make these resources better by supporting those committed to quality, customer service, and sustainable business practices.
Thanks again for your comments and questions,
Linda