https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 20:36:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2824213 Wed, 23 May 2018 08:44:00 +0000 looch 2824213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: I suspect that's because those big things are hard to implement. As an example, it's really difficult for me to say I am eliminating air travel because half of my family lives on another continent. I am not able to replace my lawn because it is cost prohibitive to do so, even though I would love nothing more than a gravel landscape.</p> <p>Change is very difficult in this space and I think people like to still feel they are doing something so they fill the space with a lot of smaller things. I read somewhere that one big thing people can do is to not have pets because it's an additional mouth that needs to be fed, creates waste, uses resources, etc. Try telling that to pet lovers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2824178 Wed, 23 May 2018 00:09:32 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2824178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And I definitely mentioned reducing driving! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2824177 Wed, 23 May 2018 00:08:37 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2824177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: very interesting points! I heard something interesting on the radio about that, I wish I could remember the details... the gist of it was a woman calling in to say something similar about air travel as the biggest part of her carbon footprint (one large trip), she had done some type of online calculator, and the expert being interviewed kind of said maybe for her, air travel was the biggest part, but that’s because she already did a lot of other great things that general population doesn’t do, things like drive an electric car etc etc Anyways I think for me it’s great to limit plastic in my daily life but more for the general mindset of eliminating excess waste and consumerism in life. But I mentioned above that this thread had me all planning all these things I wanted to order (on amazon no less) and that’s not really helpful for an “eco friendly lifestyle”. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823705 Mon, 21 May 2018 07:16:50 +0000 honeybear 2823705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't see eliminating/reducing air travel, reducing driving, or eliminating grass from your yard mentioned above, but those things are all important. We're vegetarians and do all the reusable/used/cloth stuff and hang dry clothes, etc., but I suspect the small daily stuff (while indisputably good things to do!) matters less than big, high-impact things like flying and how big the house is that you heat/cool, how far you commute in a car or non-human powered machine of any sort, whether you put fertilizer and extra water on non-native grass and plants in your yard, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823561 Sat, 19 May 2018 20:24:09 +0000 808love 2823561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: I filled a container of water and I dipped my dry cloth in it once for a wet wipe.<br /> I cut up receiving blankets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823535 Sat, 19 May 2018 15:09:28 +0000 looch 2823535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: why not use a dish soap or shampoo bottle that you already have at home? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823530 Sat, 19 May 2018 14:22:38 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2823530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: ugh the biggest thing I need to confront is what a consumer I am! I was just looking up silicone squirt bottles on amazon (came in pack of 10) and new lids for my mason jars, and there have been other things just from this thread!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823528 Sat, 19 May 2018 13:58:23 +0000 looch 2823528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: I think a squirt bottle is an excellent solution. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823524 Sat, 19 May 2018 11:55:35 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2823524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: unfortunately no, not an option... I used to just wet them each time but I never do that any more. I tried a wipes warmer but they got musty super fast. I think I’ll try making a wipe solution in a spray or squirt bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823512 Sat, 19 May 2018 06:23:06 +0000 looch 2823512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: I used cloth wipes with my son, they were just washcloths that I wet with plain water when I was changing him. My biggest tip is to put the changing table in the bathroom so you have access to the toilet for dropping in solid waste and a water source. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823507 Fri, 18 May 2018 22:58:04 +0000 smores 2823507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: along with most of what other people were saying (no paper towels, using cloth, LED lightbulbs etc.) we also compost (we have one outside) and I hope to get a rain barrel soon! Our city reimburses for those two items. </p> <p>When we buy meat it is from a CSA (community supported agriculture) so it is from a local farm, and they are committed to less waste as well! We also grow some of our own veggies :) </p> <p>I really want to get a bamboo toothbrush and a safety razor (just have to convince DH) you can even send in your old razor blades to this company and they will recycle them for you <a href="https://albatrossdesigns.it/products/plastic-free-safety-razor-shaving?variant=11447816454" rel="nofollow">https://albatrossdesigns.it/products/plastic-free-safety-razor-shaving?variant=11447816454</a></p> <p>I try not to buy a lot of stuff, but if I do, I try to buy from resale or consignment shops or second hand. </p> <p>I make some my own all-purpose cleaners with vinegar and essential oil. Nothing too fancy and I still use store-bought cleaners for the bathrooms! 😳 </p> <p>I like to hang our laundry on the clothesline when it is nice outside! </p> <p>I try to remember I don’t have to be perfect right away at zero waste and it really can be a lot of small steps over time. I have so much to learn too!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823478 Fri, 18 May 2018 17:06:55 +0000 Becky 2823478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: I cut up flannel receiving blankets and also used those baby washcloths (that worked best; choose a different color than you use regularly). Depending on what type of diaper rash wewere working through I would use one of these recipes <a href="http://www.zany-zebra.com/cloth-wipe-solution.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.zany-zebra.com/cloth-wipe-solution.shtml</a>. The methods used waste make a larger batch of wipe solutjon (2-4 cups) which I kept in a Tupperware (the rectangular 24 oz size) in the bathroom. I had 3 other Tupperware’s (one for Home, one for the diaper bag, and one for daycare) and I would put enough wipes for about 3-5 days in there and pour the wipe solution on them (you don’t want to store them any longer than that because they can get moldy). The poop situation wasn’t as bad as I anticipated. We did use a disposable liner with DD2–there was no way around it as she was constantly using prescription diaper rash creams—which helped but we also kept a thing of backup disposable wipes in her drawer in case it was really messy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823476 Fri, 18 May 2018 16:37:47 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2823476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: any tips for using cloth wipes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823475 Fri, 18 May 2018 16:36:18 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2823475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Becky: someone gave me a ton of the plastic milk storage bags. I’ve been using them for the extra/on days I won’t need the milk for a few days but maybe I’ll just give them to someone else and try out that ice cube method! I have been using jars on the days I work a few in a row but I kinda want to buy a different size and new lids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823471 Fri, 18 May 2018 15:40:25 +0000 Becky 2823471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also wanted to add since you mentioned pumping, with DD2 I didn’t use the milk storage bags but rather stored milk in Mason jars in the fridge. My supply was pretty low so I didn’t have much to freeze but when I did freeze I used ice cube trays and then stored it all in a freezer bag (plastic of course). It was so much easier to heat up the milk in the Mason jars. I didn’t have glass bottles because there weren’t any that seemed worth it on the market when DD1 was born and I didn’t want to replace everything (landfill!) when DD2 came around. To tote all the supplies I used just regular cloth bags we had on hand and would wash them pretty frequently (they were free from Urban Outfitters back in college—I’m all about not buying it when I don’t have to). Also we use glass or metal cups for the kids, and all glass storage (that was for health—I couldn’t convince my husband and our families to stop heating food in plastic Tupperware eek!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823456 Fri, 18 May 2018 12:28:21 +0000 Becky 2823456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me the big part had been a shift in the mindset of what we purchase. Instead of buying something new because we want it we’ve been more intentional about only buying things when we need it (mostly has to do with decor in our house, towels, and somewhat with clothes). I don’t use paper towels much and have been trying to educate my mom about this since she watches the kids. We cloth diapered and ended up having to do cloth wipes and it was much less gross than I imagined and it was a great way to reuse old deceiving blankets and washcloths. We have a pretty good stash of old silverware and plenty of glasses and mason jars so even if we are having a big party we try not to use disposable stuff. Cloth napkins are so easy and I think most people use reusable bags at this point. I’ve never had straws at home so that’s kind of a given.. I used to be so much better about not getting coffee in to go cups so I’m working on that again. I’ve also been more intentional about buying local vs just going for organic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823410 Fri, 18 May 2018 09:03:09 +0000 avivoca 2823410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A few things we do:<br /> - recycle! Even though it's harder now that we live in a small town, we make one big recycling trip every month to the center and whatever they don't take, we take with us to work to recycle there.<br /> - no disposable tableware (except straws, but I'm working to get rid of them)<br /> - dishcloths and washcloths instead of paper towels. I do keep a roll of paper towels for gross stuff like cat vomit.<br /> - paper bags for yard clippings. Our old city stopped accepting plastic bags for yard waste (it is picked up separately and used for compost) and we carried that with us to our new city.<br /> - we don't have or use a garbage disposal.<br /> - we compost or toss food scraps outside for the squirrels. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823403 Fri, 18 May 2018 08:40:16 +0000 JCCovi 2823403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are doing a year of only buying second-hand clothes. I’ve had a couple cheats/exceptions but that is going well.</p> <p>I tried to transition to stainless steel straws but they were so hard to clean I finally put them in the give away pile. Any recommendations for a good clear reusable straw? We do a lot of smoothies and aren’t looking to give up straws entirely.</p> <p>We’ve stopped eating meat at home (we still eat it, we just don’t buy it and prepare it) and that has been going surprisingly well for several months now. That one is also more for health then the environment, but I think I can double count!</p> <p>We cloth diaper, although we are down to just nap/nighttime diapers so I’m slowly selling my stash.</p> <p>We vermi-compost (@agestalt) and keep the bin tucked into a corner of our kitchen. I love it! We’ve been doing it 2 years now and it’s super satisfying and great for the kids (plus the environment)</p> <p>I recently purged all our Tupperware and switched to stainless steel. It’s great for kids snacks and lunches on the go, but I’m going to need to invest in some glass for the fridge, because I forget about things I can’t see and they go bad. </p> <p>Interested in the reusable saranwrap alternatives, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet!</p> <p>Oh and we only have 1 car and my husband bikes to work. It is an environment/budget/health/traffic fix so we can never stop doing it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823315 Thu, 17 May 2018 19:12:17 +0000 lamariniere 2823315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsbubbletea: this is timely, National Geographic posted this on their IG page yesterday. <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/plasticpledge/?beta=true" rel="nofollow">https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/plasticpledge/?beta=true</a></p> <p>My DH and I had cocktails last night and there was a little sign posted to each table saying they weren’t using straws for cocktails anymore! So it’s baby steps. Another thing is Q-tips, I’m going. to start buying Q-tips with a cardboard paper stem. For those of you cutting back on paper towels, I have a few packs of IKEA dish cloths and use those for everything. I still keep a roll of paper towels around, but only use them for really gross things like puke or cooking oil. </p> <p>@jennlin821: thanks for these links! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823300 Thu, 17 May 2018 17:29:12 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2823300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: thst all sounds great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823191 Thu, 17 May 2018 12:59:12 +0000 peaches1038 2823191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use reusable shopping and produce bags, rags instead of paper towels, cloth napkins, cloth diapers, cloth wipes, we recycle and compost. DH takes public transit to work as we only have one car. We don’t use any plastic - DS (2.5) had glass bottles, then used stainless steel bowls, plates and cups and now uses a glass jelly jar for cups and uses our regular plates. He has a stainless steel water bottle for the car or when we are out. He literally refuses to eat off plastic at friends houses. He says that’s for babies hahaha We use glass Pyrex for all leftovers and don’t use plastic wrap or aluminum foil. We also barely use ziploc bags. We use a cloth shower liner rather than a plastic one. That’s all I can think of right now, but it’s actually been pretty easy to implement these changes </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823174 Thu, 17 May 2018 12:08:15 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2823174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: thst is so hard to avoid the plastic without making a huge deal about everything. You have to make an effort to refuse it and I am sure it’s not that easy as a foreigner too! </p> <p>@jennlin821: thanks, I’ll check them out!</p> <p>@looch: I love having green waste standard with our garbage pick up. I would love to get an electric car or at least a hybrid. I actually would like to try to keep my car for only work commute (10 minute drive, but would be a terrible bike or bus commute) and bicycle/walk/bus in town. I live In a flat walkable town so there is really no excuse! Waiting for my baby to be 1 and then I want to invest in a nice cargo bike for 2 kids. </p> <p>@gestalt: what are the bins like? I’ve been wanting to get some reusable produce bags. I also would like to get some more cloth napkins.<br /> @newlypregnantlady: I think straws are a great one! I am also trying to lower our straw usage, we have great silicone reusable ones for home but out and about is another story. How great you’ve been able to decrease meat consumption that much! I don’t eat pork or beef but chicken and turkey we eat almost every night, and that wasn’t what I had in mind when I decided to stop eating pork/beef!<br /> Second hand clothes is another great one. </p> <p>What about garbage bags? We’ve actually been using paper grocery bags and it’s been working fairly well, but I would rather not use those. I also reuse bread or whaver produce bags for my diapers (I use disposable wipes, disposable diapers at night, and my husband puts baby in them when I work) but it’s probably better to just throw them directly in the trash sans bag rather than wrapped in plastic? Maybe it makes no difference. </p> <p>Another random one I thought of is Facebook swap and free groups and putting stuff I don’t want on there. I feel like often times I donate things that may never get to someone who needs it, so I figure this way it at least gets used by someone who really wants it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823151 Thu, 17 May 2018 10:48:24 +0000 newlypregnantlady 2823151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My big three lately are straw, food, and clothes. I try to refuse straws and disposable cups when possible (it’s hard at places where part of the recipe for the drink is the disposable cup, like at Starbucks). </p> <p>Over the last two years I’ve been moving my family towards a more plant based diet. From like $20/week on meat (plus $15/week on dairy), im down to $5/month on meat and ($10 on dairy). I try to buy local when possible but our budget is about a stretched as possible right now. </p> <p>And with clothes I try to buy absolutely as much as possible second hand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823124 Thu, 17 May 2018 09:49:53 +0000 gestalt 2823124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- grocery bins to the supermarket so we don't need to use plastic bags for produce<br /> - plastic containers instead of using plastic wrap over bowls<br /> - cloth napkins<br /> - reducing paper towel usage<br /> - not bagging lawn clippings<br /> - cycling/walking as much as possible</p> <p>@looch: i want to start composting too but DH isn't on board. a friend has a worm compost under her sink, and she said it's been great so far. i also wish we could move to fully electric cars, but the AWD options are pretty limited (unless you move up in price). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823086 Thu, 17 May 2018 08:40:32 +0000 looch 2823086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've moved to fully electric cars. We have tried to get solar panels installed on our roof, but no solar company will do the install because we don't use enough electricity to make it worth their while.</p> <p>We have LED bulbs in the entire house, we use a no chemical solution for lawn care and we recycle. I would like to start composting, but my husband isn't on board yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823081 Thu, 17 May 2018 08:16:07 +0000 jennlin821 2823081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started following these blogs, which just helped me see what and how other people live and sometime spark other ideas for myself.</p> <p><a href="https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/" rel="nofollow">https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/</a><br /> <a href="https://zerowastechef.com/2017/05/28/start-here/" rel="nofollow">https://zerowastechef.com/2017/05/28/start-here/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823011 Wed, 16 May 2018 22:32:29 +0000 lamariniere 2823011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is really hard for us. We used to live in Europe in a fairly Eco-conscious country, and it was easier to make smart choices. Now, we live in a developing country and it just doesn't seem to be on the radar. We have recycling bins in our building, but I don't think things are actually recycled. Plastic is my huge battle. The use of plastic at the grocery store or when getting food is INSANE. Everything seems to be wrapped in multiple layers of plastic wrap or plastic trays or plastic bags, it makes me crazy! Even if you buy something off of a street vendor, they immediately stick it in a plastic bag, or multiple wrappings. So I do what I can to refuse as much excess plastic as possible. A big thing everyone can do is refuse plastic straws. They are a single use item that wind up on beaches and oceans, and they are just terrible. I also want to start buying wood/bamboo/biodegradable toothbrushes, but I've only seen them in one place and haven't gone back to buy them.</p> <p>Other things we do: I have been using my own grocery bags for over a decade. We don't have a dryer so we air dry everything. I buy local and local organic when I can. We have fans in every room so we try to run those to cut down on our A/C use. We don't eat a lot of meat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/eco-friendly-lifestyle#post-2823007 Wed, 16 May 2018 22:01:21 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2823007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Who has been working on "greening" their lives? I am really trying to cut back on plastic usage, less paper towels, and using my cloth diapers full time Goals are to continue to consume less meat and improve in that way, and eat less dairy. I am terrible about the dairy, I eat so much of it! Recently I ordered some more wet bags to use with my pumping supplies at work. I would love to try some of those beeswax wraps and I have my eye on the stasher bags as well! I would love to end my baby wipe habit too, but cloth wipes never catch on for me.</p> <p>Whats been working for you, what changes have you wanted to make, what else? Any tips? </p>