With constant reminders of the environmental challenges our planet faces, such as global warming, air pollution and water pollution, many of us are becoming more conscious of the consumption decisions we make and our impact on the planet. That’s why we’ve created this list of eco-hacks that will not only help you to make more of those smaller steps towards a sustainable lifestyle but will also fit beautifully into your home.
Rainwater Chains
Many of you will have heard of rainwater harvesting as a sustainable way to conserve water, usually consisting of guttering and a downspout feeding a rainwater storage tank. These traditional systems aren’t always in keeping with the broader aesthetics of your home and garden, which is where a Rain Chain comes in.
Rain Chains are a beautiful alternative to the drainpipe system that would usually be used to collect rainwater, taking rainwater from roof gutters down through a series of interlocking links, cups or funnels. Not only are Rain Chains a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to a drainpipe, but they support wellbeing through the soothing sounds created by the water trickling down the chain.
Switching Artificial Fragrances for Natural Fragrances
Nothing beats the smell of a freshly cleaned kitchen or just having sprayed your favourite air freshener as you sit down at the end of a long day. Certain fragrances can have a positive impact on well-being, invoking different feelings depending on the fragrance used. However, whilst the smell of the fragrance might invoke feelings of wellness, the actual chemicals used in traditional fragrances can not only be bad for your health but damaging to the planet too.
Traditional scented cleaning and air freshening products can contain harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene or phthalates which have a variety of negative impacts on the health of humans, animals and the planet. Switching out products that contain these harmful chemicals for more eco-friendly alternatives would be a great step towards both a healthier planet and home.
nookary cleaning and air freshening products contain natural essential oil fragrances that are completely non-toxic when used around the home and would be a great place to start if you’re looking to make the switch from artificial fragrances to natural alternatives.
Placing More Houseplants Around the Home
There are several benefits to having more plants around the home that are both planet-supporting and health-boosting. Houseplants can help to reduce indoor air pollution in areas of high air pollution (providing you choose the right plants) and are also a more sustainable alternative to buying a bunch of flowers to brighten up a room.
In addition to the eco-benefits of houseplants, there are many health benefits to having houseplants around the home including the reduction of stress levels, boosting productivity, sharpening focus and even supporting faster recovery from illness.
Upcycling Things You’d Usually Throw Away
We’ve all seen and heard about large upcycling projects such as restoring old furniture but we rarely think about the smaller bits of upcycling we could do around the home.
The average UK home uses around 500 glass bottles or jars each year and whilst most glass will be recycled, before recycling you should consider whether you could use your glass jars to create storage solutions for things such as utensils, crafts or spare change. Wrapping glass jars in twine or painting them a metallic gold could create beautifully practical storage around the home.
Another simple upcycling example is turning your old cotton clothing into cleaning cloths. Cutting up an old cotton dress would create a reusable alternative to traditional cotton cosmetic pads, which can often contain micro-plastics as well as consume a lot of water and chemicals in their production.
Choosing More Sustainable Fabrics for Soft Furnishings
Many soft furnishings are made from synthetic fabrics such as Polyester, Velvet, Satin and Nylon, many of which are created using chemicals that are harmful to the planet. Thankfully more eco-friendly home furnishing options are on the rise, with brands choosing to use more sustainable and naturally derived fabrics such as organic hemp, cotton and linen, as well as recycled fabrics.
Another example of a less well-known sustainable fabric used in soft furnishings is Lyocell. Lyocell is made from wood pulp which is plant-based, meaning that Lyocell is biodegradable. This material makes for great soft furnishings with its antibacterial and moisture-resistant properties.
One Small Eco-Friendly Step at a Time
At nookary we know that there isn’t a simple “planet-saving” solution out there, and rather the action our planet needs is going to come from lots of smaller changes implemented by the masses. We hope the above eco-hacks have given you some practical ways in which you can make some further positive steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
Whilst you’re here why not check out some of our other useful guides for sustainable living as well as our range of beautiful eco-friendly cleaning products.
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