5 Things I Wish I Knew When I started Going Plastic-Free ♻🌏

When I ventured into a plastic-free lifestyle, I was overwhelmed with the idea of overhauling my entire lifestyle to line up with my values. I didn't understand how if I cared so much about sustainability then how the way I was living so far from the path I "should" be on. Overtime with many internal debates, research, trial and error I have learned a few things that I wish someone had told me sooner - so I am telling you, in hopes that it makes your journey just a little bit easier. So here are five key insights that can help you navigate your own path to reducing plastic waste and living a more sustainable lifestyle.

Perfectionism doesn't exist here.

We’re constantly bombarded with curated images of “perfect” homes and lives — whether it's a sparkling clean kitchen on Instagram, a minimalist pantry restock video, or even a friend’s house that was probably frantically cleaned right before you arrived. But let’s be real: those moments are staged. Life is messy, unpredictable, and chaotic — and that’s okay.

Sustainability isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning to live in harmony with real life — and real life is rarely Instagram-ready. Adopting a low-waste lifestyle often means unlearning a lot of what we’ve been conditioned to believe. That perfection you see online? It’s just marketing — and sometimes, it’s marketing that convinces us to buy more in the name of consuming less.

So let’s hit delete on the mental image of those fridge restocking videos, laundry bead rainbows, and shelves load with the same water bottle in every color. Ask yourself: how many water bottles do you actually use? Do you really need a new organizer — or just less clutter? Is a brand-new “sustainable” cutlery kit more useful than the perfectly good utensils in your kitchen drawer?

I fell into that trap, too. I thought going zero-waste meant purging everything I owned and buying all these shiny, new, eco-looking things. But I was wrong. Sustainability doesn’t mean buying more “green” stuff — it means rethinking your habits, reusing what you have, and resisting the pressure to be perfect.

Small changes can have a Big impact

Let’s take a moment to think about your daily routine. What’s one item you use every single day that might not be the most sustainable? The most common answer? A single use water bottle.

Now, if your water bottle is plastic but reusable — guess what? It’s already sustainable. The most eco-friendly thing you can do is use what you already have. That mindset shift alone can stop so much waste. The idea that we need to replace everything we own with “better,” more “eco-friendly” products? That’s part of the same overconsumption problem we’re trying to solve. If you "replace" the chances of it ended up in a landfill are incredibly high.

If you’re still using single-use plastic bottles, check your cabinets — chances are you already have a reusable bottle hiding in there. Don’t? Ask a friend or family member if they have one they don’t use. I promise you — someone does! (And no, it’s not weird to “adopt” a water bottle. Think of it like using silverware at a restaurant. You wash it. It’s clean. You move on.)

If you do end up needing to buy one, try to find one secondhand or choose something durable — like stainless steel — so it’ll last for years. A simple change like switching from single-use to reusable bottles can have a massive impact. If you drink the recommended eight cups of water a day, that’s roughly three plastic bottles. Over a year, that’s more than 1,000 bottles per person — or near zero if you make the switch.

The point is: don’t underestimate small actions. Little changes can have a big impact. You don’t have to do it all to make a difference. Focus in on one area at a time that feels like the right move for you in your life. The truth is one person alone won’t save the planet — but millions of us making small, conscious shifts can make a difference. We just need a whole lot of people making their own little ripples to create a wave. So don't focus on massive life uprooting problems you can't tackle when you have tons of baby steps that you most certainly can. Start with what you do most often — like eating, drinking, laundry, cleaning. Your biggest impact will come from the things you repeat every day. Don’t get overwhelmed trying to fix the world. Start with what’s in your hands. The most impactful changes will always come from the habits you repeat the most.

Do it right, and you SAVE money.

Reuse it. Refill it. Repair it. Upcycle it. These aren’t just sustainability buzzwords — they’re

real-life strategies that can seriously save you money. A lot of what you see advertised to save you money in a greener lifestyle is simply a marketing tactic to get you to buy into the product. Sure, some of them are truly a great option but many of them are just trying to get you to open up your wallet. So be smart about what you use, buy, and do and it will truly add up and save both your wallet and the planet.

Take your appliances, for example. Regular filters cleanings, basic maintenance, and using them properly can extend their life by years. That’s money saved not having to repair or replace something major like a fridge or washer — and it means fewer machines ending up in landfills. A real life example from just a few weeks ago for me was my vacuum which is 5 years old now. It hadn't been sucking up the dirt as well for quite some time and here I was just thinking it was old. Well the power button ended up loosing its spring and stopped working. I looked up the model number and found the exact button to replace it for $7. I replaced it and while it worked again the suction was still mid. I decided to pull it all apart and turns out all it needed to be returned to its glory days was a good old filter cleaning. Simple maintenance I ignored could have convinced me to buy a new $200 vacuum when all I needed to was filter rinse, and a $7 button!

Repair your clothing. Mending a hole with a patch on a high-quality shirt keeps it out of the trash and saves you from repurchasing it. I say high quality because that's the direction I recommend going when purchasing new clothing which we might need to do from time to time. Even with second-hand clothing I try to find higher quality items like linen, wool, cotton etc.. Natural fibers made by reputable companies with quality craftsmanship will out wear any fast fashion crap you see. Natural fibers are better for you body, prevent microplastics entering the waterways via your washing machine, and honestly just hold up.

Refilling can almost literally refill your wallet when compared to traditional consumer practices to replacing. For instance instead of spending $5 on a new jar of cayenne pepper you can bring your empty jar to bulk refilleries and just refill it for a fraction of the price since you don't need to pay for a second jar! Then if you are a jar hoarder like me you don't have yet another jar waiting for its new purpose in life in the "cabinet of lost jars." You can also usually get great deals without having to purchase in bulk so it takes the stress of having to get through 5x the amount you really needed to begin before the expiration date.

The bottom line is this: when you slow down, take care of what you have, and make intentional swaps, the savings follow naturally. Sustainability isn’t about buying more, it’s about doing better with less.

You learn a LOT about greenwashing.

There will be loads of products out there that are targeted to you especially as the algorithms learn your new or growing interest in a greener lifestyle. Your feed will quickly flood with “eco-friendly” this and “sustainable”. It may seem exciting at first with all these easy solutions right at your fingertips but its important to note that this isn't a fad for you like it is for some. You are serious about bettering yourself for the earth and the easy way out usually isn't the right way or honestly the easiest.

Greenwashing is real, and it’s sneaky. Brands slap words like natural, eco, and sustainable on products just to get your attention. The truth is, those terms aren’t well-regulated, so almost anyone can use them — even if the product doesn’t align with your values. Its also a marketing tactic that is becoming more prevalent than ever so you must put on your super star consumer glasses and ask the tough investigative questions to know where you put your dollar aligns with your values.

Take the extra minute to look at that things you are considering in the store and its claims. Ask yourself:

• Is it really eco-friendly if its made out of new plastic?

• Is it still a greener machine if it requires frequent non recyclable battery changes?

• Do I truly need a new item or do I have something at home that already works?

This isn’t a trend for you — it’s a commitment. So slow down. Read the fine print. If you’re unsure, research the brand or ask questions. You’ll start noticing patterns quickly and develop a radar for marketing gimmicks vs. actual sustainable choices. In the end, the most eco-friendly choice is usually the one that doesn’t need to be bought at all.

Community makes it easier.

There will be times when you genuinely don’t know if something is a sustainable choice or not and that’s okay. Some decisions might require a little extra consideration. You might find yourself stuck over what the “right” move is and that's where community comes in. Think about all the times in life you needed a second opinion like a high school prom dress or a color for the kitchen walls. You relied on your community, which would be 1 person or 10 to weigh in on that decision and give you their opinions, suggestions, feedback, and sometimes just support.

The truth is any lifestyle chance can get overwhelming. And it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.

Lifestyle changes, especially ones that challenge convenience or what's considered "normal", can cause burnout just like any 9-5 job. That’s where community comes in.

Having a friend, a group, or even just an online space where people share similar values can make all the difference. You can ask questions, celebrate your wins, vent about what’s not working, and get new ideas from people who have been there. Sometimes what works for someone else won’t work for you — but just having someone say “I get it” can give you the sigh of relief you need to keep on going. Because the truth is, no one is doing this perfectly. But together, we can all do it better.

You're not alone in this Sustainable Journey.

If you’ve just started your low-waste journey, you’ve stumbled into the right corner of the internet. This space shares monthly tips, tricks, and hacks for living a lower-waste lifestyle — without the guilt, pressure, or perfectionism.

Yes, I run a sustainable shop, but my mission and values are deeply rooted in every product I offer. I’m still on this journey too, learning as I go and finding new ways to be a little greener every day. Many of our customers are also on this journey and share their wins and losses with me too. We help lift each other up and keep on going. So be kind to yourself. Take it one step at a time. You don’t have to do it all to make a difference. You got this. ♻️