emlEco-friendly swap refers to a switch of habits or products to more environmentally friendly options.
One of my life goals is living a sustainable life. My current lifestyle is nowhere near the ultimate sustainable and zero-waste lifestyle. But, I am working on it and aim to be one step closer every day.
So, I would like to share with you the swaps that I have been made and stick to until today. And, are they money-saving or do they cost more.
Guide on:
Waste Level: Zero Waste/ Low Waste/ Normal Waste
Swap Level: 60% to 99%
Effort Level: Additional effort made for the swap
Money-Saving: Save or Cost more as compared to the price of my original product before the switch
Eco-Friendly Swap:
1. Hair Conditioner
Swap Product: Conditioner Bar
At first, I was only giving it a try. It turns out the conditioner bar suits my hair and it really did what a conditioner did.
It does smooth the hair but without the artificial smoothness or sliminess that normal hair conditioner has. My back acne also got better after changing to the conditioner bar.
However, there are a few cons of using a conditioner bar.
First, it took a few minutes more to apply as you need some time to rub on your wet hair to apply evenly.
Second, you need to make sure it is kept in a well-drained place or it will become mushy. I did not pay attention to this once and it grew mould on it. (Yucks)
Third, my conditioner came in a wrapper made from biodegradable PET packaging. It is not 100% zero waste. I hope I could get them totally zero waste soon. I do consider it as an eco-friendly swap as it produces a lower waste when compared to commercial conditioners that came in plastic bottles or packaging.
Waste Level: Low waste (Biodegradable PET wrap packaging)
Swap Level: 95%
Effort Level: 3 minutes more to apply
Money-Saving: Save 50% compared to my previous bottled conditioner
2. Body Wash
Swap products: Body wash from zero waste shop, soaps
I normally would buy the commercial body wash in a refill pack. I still do as my family is still using them.
However, most of the time, I am using the body wash I bought from zero waste online store which came in reused clean bottles or soaps.
The body wash, it made of 100% plant-based ingredients. It works like normal body wash, but it forms lesser bubbles and does not have synthetic fragrance.
For soaps, it came in biodegradable wrap packaging. (Product from the same company as the conditioner bar). It lathers up better if you use it with a soap bag and last longer too. Same as the conditioner bar, always keep it well-drained.
Waste Level: Zero Waste to Low Waste
Swap Level: 70%
Effort Level: Same
Money-Saving: Cost 33.33% more
3. Plastic Bags (Especially the disposable one)
Swap products: Recycle bags, Tote bags, hand held
Plastic bags are my major eco-friendly swap. A few years back, Penang state stop providing free plastic bags for certain days during the week. In January 2021, they level up the plastic-free initiative, each plastic bag will cost RM1.
At the early stage of this plastic-free initiative, we starting to use recycle or tote bag every time we went groceries shopping. While I am in college, the more I read about the damage that plastics caused, the more mindful I am of plastic use.
I started to bring my tote bag with me everywhere. I would reject any extra packaging not only plastic bags. Although I did not 100% get rid of using disposable plastic bags, I cut off using them whenever possible.
Waste Level: Normal Waste Level (But reduce waste produced over time)
Swap Level: 70%
Effort Level: Effort to carry them with me around all time
Money-Saving: One-time cost for the tote or recycle bag. Save RM1 for every plastic bag.
4. Takeaway Packaging
Swap product: Stainless Steel Food Containers, Glass Containers, Bottles or avoid takeaway and food delivery as much as possible
I tried my very best to bring lunch to work in my stainless steel food containers for almost one year. It does work well to contain the food safer than the one-use disposable takeaway packaging. I worry less about splitting my lunch as compared to the plastic packaging.
Most of the hawker stall owner does not mind or judge when you bring your food containers to them. Some stalls even give a discount of RM0.50 to RM2.00 discount when you bring your own containers.
It would be harder in certain restaurants. It also takes some time to deal with other people judgement.
Still, I need to warn you, it would be better for you to make a mark or “guard” your food containers. There have been a few times, I lost my food containers or the cover switched with other food containers of another customer, and so on.
Waste Level: Low waste
Swap Level: 60%
Effort Level: An effort to bring the containers and remind the restaurants or stall owners
Money-Saving: One-off cost for food containers. No difference to RM2 per order (It depends)
5. Physical Receipts, Bill or Statements
Swap products: Electronic Receipts, Bill & Statements or reject receipts
This swap can be a bit tricky some times. Even when you rejected a copy of receipts or bill, some businesses will print them out anyway, which they’re still creating waste.
The best we can do is keep rejecting and politely ask them do not print them out. If you are at the ATM machine or parking paying machine, choose not to have the receipt.
The zero waste shop I went to, they provided the receipts to customer by emailing to them, which is great.
Other than all above, we can also opt to receive an electronic version of monthly bill or statements through the email or account. If you are still receiving bills or statements in your mailbox, it is time to consider cancelled all the mail subscription.
Waste Level: Zero waste
Swap Level: 75%
Effort Level: An effort to reject a physical receipt or bills and switch to an electronic subscription
Money-Saving: No difference
6. Disposable Straws
Swap products: No straw and drinking straight from the cup, stainless steel straws or glass straws
I bet some of you might know the campaign of “Tak Nak Straw”. This initiative is to encourage Malaysian to reduce the use of a disposable one-use straw.
I started this swap after the plastic bags one. It is simple, just avoid the use of disposable whenever you can. I am yet to achieve ditching the disposable straw 100% but most of the time, I will have my own straw with me.
I do found that it is harder to avoid straws in kopitiam when I order drinks. The staff either forgotten about my request of “No straw, please.” or they will just get me one no matter what. It is easier to ditch the straws in the self-services restaurants, like the fast-food chain.
Waste Level: Low waste
Swap Level: 75%
Effort Level: An effort to reject a straw and bringing own straws around
Money-Saving: One-off purchase of Reusable Straw set. No difference after the swap.
7. Disposable Bottle Water
Swap product: Reusable Water Bottle or any reusable water container
Since I was a kid, I already had the habit of bringing my own water bottle. This swap supposes to be a no-brainer swap to me, yet, the issue is, I have always forgotten to bring my bottle with me.
Now, I would remind myself to bring a bottle of water with me whenever I am out of the house. It’s been more than one year I did not buy plastic bottled water due to forgotten of my water bottle.
Waste Level: Low waste
Swap Level: 90%
Effort Level: An effort to carry a water bottle all the time when I am out
Money-Saving: One-off purchase of a reusable bottle. Save at least RM30 a year (Whenever I forgot my bottle, I used to buy flavoured drinks instead of drinking water.)
8. Tooth Brush
Swap product: Bamboo toothbrush
Although the swap level I set as 99%, (1% is for unforeseen circumstances) I now only use the bamboo toothbrush.
Zero effort, as all you need to do, is switch the normal commercial toothbrush to bamboo toothbrush. The easiest eco-friendly swap I ever made.
Waste Level: Low waste
Swap Level: 99%
Effort Level: Zero effort
Money-Saving: Save 36% compared to the commercial toothbrush I have been using
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As above, not all swaps are money-saving. There are some which cost me more than the usual commercial products. As long as I am able to afford the swap and it does reduce my impact on the environment, I don’t mind to spend a few Ringgits more.
Of course, there are more swaps here and there, but some of them does not stick and some still in the progress of trying out.
These eight swaps are easy swaps that most beginner could start with.
Share with me below if you have made any swaps.
Featured image by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
eco-friendly swap
eco-friendly swap
