In this article you’ll find:

A strategy for maximizing the positive impact even your tiniest actions have on the world.
Shopping lists and habits you can put into action today to make that impact, regardless of whether you’re budgeting time and money for this change or hoping to save money each month.

This Guide is for you: the practical, time- and money-limited human being with even a tiny bit of save-the-world in you. Its purpose is to give you a straightforward, actionable plan for making your household more eco-friendly with minimal impact to your lifestyle, and for directing the dollars you would normally send to very-not-green companies to companies that are moving in the right direction.

There are three levels, each made for someone in a different place in their green living journey. Level One is for people like me who can’t afford to spend much time and money changing our lives to be greener, so if you’re just getting your feet wet that’s the place to start. Level Two (coming soon) will have you go a bit out of your way time- or money-wise (wait till you see the knowledge bomb my airplane-nerd boyfriend dropped about which aircraft are the most emissions-efficient), and expect to see a Tesla (or other EV) on Level Three.

Now that you're pumped up, let's do this!

Using the guide

The pictures and links on this list are for the version of the product I bought (and there’s some seriously questionable style choices here), so check out the full article of each level for more options, more about the impact each item on the list makes, price comparisons to “standard” products you probably have in your home, and my personal experiences making the switch.

You’ll see these next to many items: $ = Saves money ! = Way better than the mainstream product I was using before!

And one HUGE pro tip for you: BUY THESE AT YOUR LOCAL STORE. If at all possible. The packaging and transportation waste that goes into sending one truckload of goods to your local WalMart is so much less than what it takes to send each item individually to your house. The full blog post for each level will tell you where you can find these things in your neighborhood.

and one super quick note about affiliations (there are none)

Everything I’m recommending I’ve either tried and liked, or I’ve researched into it and found it to be well-rated and have a positive green impact. I’ll let you know which ones I haven’t tried yet - many of them are on my shopping list, so check back for updates and future reviews! I’m not getting any commission or other revenue from the products I’m recommending. I may choose to accept affiliate marketing offers in the future, but only on products/companies I feel are worth sharing with you to begin with. This blog is about making the biggest difference, not the biggest (or really any) paycheck.

Level one: your life, but greener

Let’s start with the basics, the little tweaks you can make without even noticing their impact on your life - or wallet.

Level One is about shifting dollars you’re already spending from brands/products/manufacturers that are making things worse for the environment to greener options, and maybe saving a bit of that money in the process. It also covers some of the completely free, low-effort ways you can adjust your lifestyle to be greener. This is stuff even I can do - and I’m a busy engineer with barely enough time to keep my kitchen clean.

Want more options and more info? Check out the full post.

And click to download the Level One shopping list to bring with you on your next Target run!

Household

Method Hand Soap & Refills ($,!)

Method Dish Soap & Refills ($)

Method All-Purpose Cleaner (!)

Method Laundry Detergent ($)

Cloth Makeup Remover Wipes (!)

Bar Shampoo, Conditioner, & Soap ($)

Shampoo/Conditioner Refills ($,!)

Glass Nail Files ($,!)

Method Hard Floor Cleaner & Refills (!)

Method Wood Floor Cleaner (!)

Reusable Cleaning Cloths ($,!)

Hand/Dish Soap Dispenser (!)

Lifestyle Hacks:

Use your dishwasher as much as possible to save time and water. It’s capable of more than you think - test its limits! ($,!)
Minimize AC and heat usage ($)
- At minimum, set it to turn off while you’re away at work.
- If you need motivation, try going a month with no (or minimal) AC/heat and see how much your electric bill drops.

Food

Mesh Produce Bags (!)

Reusable Grocery Bags (!)

Stainless Steel Straws (!)

Portable Collapsible Cup (!)

Reusable Water Bottle

Tupperware to Replace Ziplocks ($)

Lifestyle Hacks:

If you’re not craving meat, don’t eat it! I’m not asking you to be vegetarian (I’m definitely not), but if your significant other asks if you want burgers for dinner and your response is “meh”, pick something else!

SHOPPING

I don’t buy enough new clothing to have tried all of these for you, but here are some clothing brands that are focusing on sustainability that I have to try sometime soon:

Levi’s Water<Less Initiative is finding ways to reduce water usage up to 96% in the finishing process.
ThredUP is an online consignment store where you can sell your used clothing and buy secondhand items inspected by the ThredUP team. Reuse is a great way to be more sustainable, and you’ll save money on clothing in the process!
TenTree is an increasingly popular clothing brand which focuses on reducing CO2 emissions in their manufacturing processes, transparently sharing data, and planting 10 trees for every article of clothing they produce. I gotta tell ya, I’ve been eyeing their super comfy looking Bamone sweatpants for a while now….
H&M has been recognized for their proactive stance on sustainability of their brand and outreach, at the same low prices as always.
Reformation is a clothing line which evaluates the carbon emissions impact for each of their items, with a particular focus on sustainability of the fibers they’re using, and prices comparable to what fashion-forward people I know spend on their nicer pieces.
Patagonia not only uses sustainable material sources including 100% recycled down, but also has a program to repair and recycle your gear (often for store credit).
Columbia is working to reduce water usage in their manufacturing processes, and has partnered with organizations focused on making clean water available to more people.
Manduka is a popular yoga equipment brand with sustainable product options.
Girlfriend Collective is a women’s activewear brand that uses almost entirely recycled materials and uses only recyclable packaging.

More shopping tips:

Review with green living in mind. Dock a star for wasteful packaging or products you know have a negative impact, and mention it in your review. You’re valuable to companies for 2 things: the money you can spend on them, and the money you can convince others to spend on them. Make the most of it!
Buy in person from a local store when available rather than having items shipped to save a ton of packaging waste.

track your waste

Half of the struggle to minimize waste is to figure out what you’re throwing out in the first place, so a great first step to reducing your waste is by keeping a log of what you’re tossing, and what you can do to get rid of each item in the trash bin.

I’ve made a printable trash log worksheet that I can send straight to your inbox. Enter your email below to get it! I’ll be filling out this trash log right along with you, and will do a series of posts keeping you up to date on what I dig up from my own garbage bin - and what changes I make to cut down my waste.

Level TWO: Step up and make a difference

Make sure you’ve crossed everything off your list for Level One - Level Two is coming soon!

Level three: Environmental rockstar

If you’re on Level Three, you’re way ahead of me. Start saving up for your Tesla, and check back soon!

A Practical Person's Guide to Eco-Friendly Living