Simple Ways To Live More Ethically

Let’s chat living ethically. I’m definitely not an expert on the topic, however it is something I’m super passionate about. Over the last year or so, I’ve made a conscious effort to start living more ethically. I know I’ve still got a lot of work to do, but I’m happy with the little changes I’ve made so far. If you fancy switching things up and trying something new then hopefully this post will help!

A Bamboo Toothbrush

This is without a doubt one of the easiest switches I’ve made. Every single year, billions of plastic toothbrushes are thrown away. They pollute our water and pile up in landfills. By switching to a bamboo toothbrush, you can help reduce that. They’re biodegradable and do just as good as job as your average toothbrush. You will find lots of online businesses that sell bamboo toothbrushes, and you can even get them in Morrisons now which is really exciting!

Take A Tote Bag

This is something I do every time I leave the house. Even if I’m not planning on buying anything, it’s always handy to take a tote bag just in case. It means I’m not buying a plastic bag every time I go to the shop, and I also find tote bags much easier to carry my shopping in.

Charity Shops, Vintage Shops and Indie Businesses 

I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather support one of the above instead of a high street store. I’m not saying we can’t ever buy from the high street again – I think it’s all about moderation. Choosing to be more mindful and considering your purchases more carefully can make a big difference. Instead of just automatically buying something from ASOS or Amazon, why not take a look in your local charity shop and see if they’ve got something similar? It might take a bit more time and effort, but I’ve found loads of nice bits in charity shops lately! The jumper I’m wearing in these pictures is one of my recent finds. It’s an old Nike Golf jumper and I love it.

As much as I’d love to exclusively shop from ethical brands, it’s not practical or possible for me at the minute. Most ethical brands are pretty expensive. Although it’s important to remember that the price tag will tend to reflect their ethics. Unlike most high street stores, their staff will be receiving a good wage and the clothes will be made sustainably. I definitely can’t afford my whole wardrobe at that price though which is why I think charity and vintage shops are such a great way to go.

Buy A Reusable Coffee Cup

If you’re partial to a takeaway coffee or tea then it’s worth investing in a reusable coffee cup. Not only will you be cutting down on your single use plastic, you’ll be saving money in the process too. Most cafes now give you a discount for bringing your own cup. I know there is lots of great brands out there, but personally I’m a KeepCup kinda gal. I’ve actually got two different sizes now – a smaller one for my flat whites and a big one for having cups of tea on the go.

Try Out Alternatives

There are load of ethical alternatives to try. I suppose the most talked about one would be straws, but I know that that alternative straws aren’t suitable for everyone. However, if you are up for ditching the plastic straws then I’m personally a big fan of metal straws. Unlike paper straws, they won’t go soggy while you drink it. Whether it’s bamboo cutlery, a period cup, a shampoo bar or beeswax cling film, there’s lots of alternatives that can replace your usual items.

Consider Cruelty Free

I’ve been cruelty free for a couple of years now, and I’ve found it a relatively easy switch to make. You don’t need to swap everything out straight away. Wait until a product is finished and then once it is, you can find a cruelty free alternative for that specific product! For example, I used to be obsessed with Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer but when my last one finally ran out, I swapped it for The Body Shop’s Honey Bronzer.

If you’d like to find cruelty free products on a budget, Superdrug is a great place to go. They clearly mark which brands are cruelty free which is super helpful if you’re new to the cruelty free scene. If you’d like to see any of my CF recommendations, I’ve got quite a few blog posts on the topic!

Shop Loose Produce

When you go to the shop, you might notice that a lot fresh fruit and veg is wrapped in plastic. It’s really not needed most of the time, so try to avoid it if you can! I’ve found that this is easiest when you go to a local grocer rather than big supermarket chains. Personally, I don’t mind having lots of loose fruit and veg rolling around my bag. However, if you find it frustrating to not have things wrapped up then you could try out mesh produce bags. I know a lot of people swear by them!

Switch Things Up In The Kitchen

Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you that you need to go veggie or vegan. Frankly, that’s your choice and it’s none of my business. However, I do think it’s worthwhile trying to consume a little less animal products. While you might think they taste good, they’re unfortunately pretty harmful to the environment and obviously to the animals themselves too. Even if it’s just trying oat milk in your coffee or having one meat free day a week, all of the little changes can make a big difference!

How do you feel about living ethically? Do you think you might try out any of these little changes? Please let me know! Also, if you’ve got any tips and tricks for me then I’d love to know them too. 

As I said at the beginning, I’m no where near perfect when it comes to this. I just wanted to share some of the things I’ve learned along the way, and I hope it didn’t come across too preachy!

In the mood to read more? Let’s chat about the art of Hygge and why you should incorporate it into your home. 

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