Nowadays, environmental protection is becoming a real part of everyday life. We have finally stopped talking and started taking action to reduce our ecological footprint. More recycling? Less meat in our diet? Public transport instead of cars? Yes, these are all good ideas, but right now we are more focused on shopping. Here are some ideas that will not only save the environment, but also our wallets.
Make a list
You've probably experienced it before, there's no such thing as "running into the supermarket for something". Once you're inside, you look around, everything is colorful and attractive, and it occurs to you that maybe you need something else... and in the end, you're suddenly standing at the checkout with a well-stocked basket.
Instead, write a list of things you need to buy, so you only buy what you really need and you even save money.
Sleep on it.
Before you buy something of greater value, think carefully! Do you really need it, or are you just buying it on impulse? Nowadays, we can buy online with just a few clicks, which encourages impulse purchases – and our homes are increasingly filled with useless things that we thought would be great buys at the time of purchase.
Choose quality
Cheaper things can often turn out to be more expensive in the long run. Forget fast fashion clothes! The textile industry is one of the biggest polluters on the planet – and people mindlessly buy cheap clothes that fall apart in a few months. They end up in the trash quickly and of course they can’t be recycled! The same can be true for a household appliance, do you want to buy it for 1 year or for 4-6-10 years? Buy durable, reliable products!
Forget about disposables
Disposable razors for shaving? Plastic bags for shopping? Each has a durable, reusable, and therefore less harmful to the environment alternative. Use a water bottle, you can refill it for up to 100 years with whatever you want! Buy a straight razor and you've already saved the earth a lot of plastic in disposable blades and their packaging. Carry durable, reusable bags or totes with you. See? A little preparation and you're done.
Avoid packaging
Look for products that have less packaging, or no packaging at all. There are more and more packaging-free stores where you can pack your own boxes. If you do buy something that does have packaging, look for products with recycled and/or recyclable packaging. Our glass, aluminum, or plastic article gives you some guidance on this.
Look for natural ingredients
And those that come from sustainable sources! Of course, sometimes you have to look into what you're buying, but it's worth the effort. For example, CYCLE's products are made from biomass, which everyone treats as waste, but we make completely environmentally friendly cleaning products from it. But there are also additive-free foods and clothes made from natural materials. These are less allergenic and have a lower impact on the environment.
Buy used
Why would you buy new when you can get an equally good used one? Forget about pride, because no one will tell you that you bought a used item of clothing that you've worn a few times. But what if they do find out? Be proud of it! You didn't pollute the environment unnecessarily. But you can also get furniture and technical items cheaper this way - again, you're killing two birds with one stone!
This is the CYCLE way , we believe in it. If everyone does their part, together we can achieve great things. The circular economy is based on this, and we are sure that the future will only be healthier and happier if we pay attention to our planet!
And of course for ourselves!
