Environmental pollution and consequent climate change are growing concerns among many nations worldwide. Sadly, the consequences of this reality stretch across plants, humans, and animals. This growing concern has led to more canvassing for using eco-friendly products in homes and offices, which will help against pollution in the long run. Keep reading to learn more about the top eco-friendly items you should own in your home.
What are eco-friendly items?
An “eco-friendly item” is a broad term for products that pose no harm to the environment from production to consumption or usage. In simpler terms, these items do not pollute the environment physically, chemically, or biologically. Examples of physical pollution are noise, littering, and a lack of easy biodegradability.
Biological pollution from non-Eco-friendly products ranges from the creation of toxic gasses and chemicals to hazardous climate change. The side effects of these pollutants affect humans, animals, and other members of the ecosystem. Hence, the need for using and promoting eco-friendly items in homes cannot be overemphasized.
Contrary to the erroneous belief that eco-friendly products must be made from scratch, it is pertinent to note that recycled products stand as one of the sustainable sources of these items. Additionally, these products can be made from cheap raw materials and don’t necessarily need much time or effort. Embracing these products ultimately means a less harmful environment for people, plants, and animals to dwell in. In no particular order, you should have these eco-friendly items at home.
1. Eco-friendly chargers and charging station
You can hardly have a home without a mobile phone, lamp, or rechargeable fan charger. However, there’s an eco-friendly option in embracing solar-powered chargers for your gadgets. These chargers save energy, as you only have to put them in the sun. It also saves you money on energy expenses every month. For those with electric vehicles, you can select a residential EV charging station from the various options on the market. Thankfully, certain self-installable residential charging stations are environmentally friendly.
2. LED light bulbs
Embracing LED bulbs comes with several benefits. Apart from the fact that these bulbs are longer lasting than their counterparts, they are also energy-saving. This means you can use a single bulb for almost a decade without feeling too much of a hit on your energy bills. Also, LED bulbs are less harsh on the environment they’re installed in when compared to incandescent bulbs. It doesn’t emit much heat and provides adequate lighting.
3. Solar-powered speakers
Instead of investing in non-Eco-friendly woofers that’ll constitute a continual nuisance to the whole neighbourhood, you can buy solar-powered outdoor speakers to save electricity and money on bills. Most of these speakers also come with inbuilt sensors that locate where you’re standing and direct the music appropriately. Other solar-powered items include lawnmowers, which are automatic and produce zero emissions.
4. Reusable Water Bottles
Disposable water bottles cause a great deal of harm to the environment. First, they’re produced using fossil fuels, contributing to climate irregularities. Also, most landfills are littered with these bottles, which causes land pollution. An alternative you should have at home is a reusable water bottle.
These bottles are suitable for home and road use. Some of them are made with effective insulation that compares well with their disposable counterparts. You can also get them in various colours, sizes, and designs.
5. Cleaning cloths
Spills, messes, and grime are unavoidable in any home, so you need to have dependable cleaning supplies. Thankfully, eco-friendly cleaning cloths made of cotton and cellulose pulp derived from wood perfectly replace traditional ones. Besides, you may use up to fifteen rolls of paper towels before using up one of the eco-friendly cleaning cloths. They effectively clean up spills, are biodegradable, and do not emit a foul odor.
The same thing goes for microfiber cloths. There are several biodegradable options with great absorbent properties. After hand-washing or machine-washing them individually, you can also reuse them. As for cleaning agents, baking soda and vinegar are examples of homemade products that can be used to remove difficult stains efficiently. You can easily pick up either of these agents at your local grocery store. You should also protect yourself by wearing gloves while handling these cleaning agents.
6. Reusable paper towels
Paper towels are one of the most frequently used household commodities, and many families have a significant budget for them. Thankfully, reusable ones are now available, allowing you to cut down on waste and save more money. The majority of these reusable cotton flannel paper towels are strong, have excellent absorbency, and feature vibrant designs.
7. Reusable Food Wraps
Food wraps made from organic cotton, tree resin, and organic oil replace the common, non-Eco-friendly plastic wrap or tin foil. With the help of your hand, they wrap tightly around your food and sandwiches without compromising their quality. Besides, you can easily recycle these wraps or wash them with gentle soap for reuse.
8. Plastic bags
Besides food wraps, plastic bags are common alternatives for storing food in most homes. However, sacrificing the convenience of a plastic bag is not easy. Thankfully, reusable storage bags are taking over despite their biodegradable property. They’re also reusable, which reduces the waste associated with a single use of plastic bags. The reusable bags are not foul-smelling and are equally tight and cleanable. If you keep a batch at home, these bags will last a very long time.
While eco-friendly products have many advantages, the list of items you should have in your home cannot be exhausted. There is an eco-friendly version of practically every household item, from cutting boards to biodegradable pots.
It is pertinent to note that some of these items are cheaper and longer-lasting than their non-eco-friendly counterparts. They are also safer for use in homes. However, it’s important to note that creating an eco-friendly environment doesn’t stop with using green products at home. It also has a lot to do with stopping practices that are harmful to all members of the ecosystem.