This year my husband and I set a goal (I just hate the word resolution) to become just a little greener in our household by reducing our carbon footprint as best we can. After all we need to keep this planet thriving for the next generation.

Making the switch can seem daunting, so we are taking it in small, digestible chunks to start with. Every little tweak helps. In your own home, you might consider choosing one are to focus on for a few weeks until it becomes a habit, then from their implementing another idea.

Here are a few of the small changes we’ve implemented so far and one GIGANTIC change that we are working on:

CLOTHING - If you follow my on Instagram, you may have seen my latest obsession: Nuuly. There are all sorts of clothing rental subscriptions out there, but Nuuly is filled with Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters clothing. Why buy clothing when it is available for rent instead? I’ve just received my third Nuuly box and have to say, this is making it incredibly easy to steer clear of the mall and still have a ton of fun new items to wear. For $88 a month, Nuuly will allow you to choose 6 pieces for rental. They handle dry cleaning upon the items being returned, so there is another cost savings (not to mention gas and time for shopping at the mall). Want to try it out yourself, use this link to save $10 off your first month.

BOOKS - I took 9-months off from reading…because…twins. But I am back in the swing of things and my library card is getting mega use!! Whether you prefer to read on a Kindle or hold a physical book, don’t forget that your local library can LOAN you items (Download a book from the Indianapolis Public Library today). This is a win-win from a clutter + consumerism standpoint.

STRAWS - You have seen tons of local restaurants switch from plastic to paper or stop offering straws all together (a comprehensive list of Indianapolis restaurants who’ve made the switch can be found here), but have you thought about making the switch in your home? Stock up on a couple of reusable metal or glass straws at Silver In The City - the earth will thank you!

PRO TIP: If you love a straw when dining out, keep one in your purse or the glove compartment of your car.

REUSABLE STORAGE BAGS - Anyone else guilty of using one.million.ziploc.bags? I know I am - they are just so convenient, especially when you have kids. Once I got to really thinking about howwwww many we use - it was kind of embarrassing. Why was I using so many disposable bags, when I could make a one time purchase for reusable ones? I picked up these adorable Full Circle bags at a recent trip to Container Store and they are perfect for both dry and wet snacks!

FOOD STORAGE - We are big meal preppers which could mean lots of plastic tupperware, saran wrap and tin foil being used/discarded each week. In an effort to use less disposable goods, we purchased a new set of glass mixing bowls with lids for bigger meals to be stored and a set of glass food storage containers to take with us on the go. Not only is glass better for our environment, but it is so much better for our health as well.

GROCERY BAGS - If you are still old-school like me and trek to the grocery store weekly, make sure to swap out the paper/plastic bags for reusable ones. I often see loads of reusable bags tucked away in pantries and storage closets, so make it a habit to unload your groceries and load the reusable bags right back into your car for the next time (if you don’t have any lying around, BAGGU makes the most adorable bags). And both Target + Meijer have bins for recycling plastic bags near the store entrances.

PRO TIP: Keep a set of reusable bags in every vehicle so you are never left empty-handed.

PAPER - Think of all the mail that goes straight into the recycling bin (or maybe stacks itself on your kitchen island only to plague you later). Take 5 minutes to unsubscribe to all of that unsolicited junk that clogs your mailbox by registering at https://dmachoice.thedma.org/register.php ($2 will remove you from junk mail lists for 10 years). For bills, memberships and newsletters see if you can switch to electronic correspondence instead. And then when you need to declutter your inbox, check out unroll.me.

Okay…and the big, difficult change that we are attempting to make is…

PAPER TOWELS - With kids...paper towels are as essential as the air we breathe. I am using them all.day.long. A few years back, one of my best friends tried out the “no paper towel” thing and I couldn’t even imagine what that would be like. Check out this article for some great info on how terrible paper towels are for the environment. Yikes.

So, starting small, you (and by you, I mean me) can make the swap by investing in a set of washable microfiber cloths and keeping them accessible on your counter. You can also make your own from old t-shirts that you no longer wear.

Consider storing your paper towels under the sink so they aren’t quite as accessible and do small things like shake your hands to dry instead of utilizing paper towels every time you wash your hands (<- I’m speaking to myself here). The thought of never having to buy paper towels again makes this mom and Mother Earth’s hearts happy.

What tweaks have you made in your house to waste less?

The Baer Minimalist helps busy families create ORGANIZED + STYLIZED spaces throughout Indianapolis. She is proud to say she’s only used four paper towels today…so far.

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