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3 *Eco* Habits For A Better Life

A few weeks back I wrote a blog post with recommendations of 3 Habits For A Better Life. As I was drafting it, I realised that there are a lot more of these I'd like to share, without making a single post too long. ''So why not turn this into a mini-series?'' - I thought to myself.

Since being eco-friendly is now more important than ever, today I will share my 3 practical habits/recommendations for a more sustainable life when it comes to plastic use. Did you know that, on average, it takes 450 years for a single plastic bottle to decompose?!

 Below are some products I genuinely use/have used and would recommend to anyone wanting to reduce their plastic consumption.
1. Water Filters

The Brita Water Filter

The Pros...
I feel like everyone has heard of the Brita water filter by now - it's cheap & widely available for sale + its convenient size means that you can literally put it everywhere in your home. For best results, it's recommended that the filters are changed every 2 months.

The Cons...
The small size of the jug meant that we would run out of water really quickly. If you're a household of 1+, I would recommend buying more than one.

Conclusion...
The Brita water filter is certainly a good start to your sustainability journey and an effective solution for those looking for an affordable way to stop buying all of those terrible plastic water bottles. However, for bigger households, I would recommend the Berkey Water Filter (below).

The Berkey Water Filter

 The Pros...
Berkey changed.my.life. and there is no exaggeration in this statement. Berkey Water Filters are the most effective and longest-lasting water filters on the market (they need to be replaced every 6 months or so). Based on my research, I believe that the quality of water produced by this filter is superior compared to others.

 The tanks are available in a range of sizes, the right one depending on the size of your family/how many people live in the house. I myself am using the Travel Berkey as it's perfect for 2-3 people households. It has a holding capacity of 5.7 litres and we have not run out of water thus far. 

 The Cons...
Just like with the Brita filter, if you forget to refill it in time, you might end up having to wait for your purified water, which I can imagine would be annoying when thirsty. However, the large size of the tank means that you'll get a lot more water out of it so it's much more unlikely that you'll run out at any stage.

 With this in mind, I would recommend refilling it before going to sleep to make sure that your water is clean and ready to drink when you wake up & throughout the day.

 The Berkey might also be viewed as quite expensive - the smallest tank available (Travel Berkey) is priced at €272 - but can you even put a price on saving the planet?! 

 Conclusion...
A long-term & safe plastic reduction solution for sure! Just make sure to pick out the right size for you and your family.

 2. Reusable Water Bottles

 Have you ever gotten a weird taste from reusing your plastic water bottle? It definitely happened to me before and it's because plastic pretty much absorbs the smell/taste of what's inside the bottle or its ''surroundings'' (e.g. a handbag). This is obviously quite toxic and bad for you, so a glass or stainless steel water bottle is a much better alternative.

 There are lots of these available on the market and you can pretty much buy one in any of the home or sports sections of shops or online. A lot of my friends are using Chilly's water bottles - the wide variety of designs offered means that everyone will find one they like. They also offer coffee cups for the coffee lovers out there (myself included!).

 3. Reusable Fruit & Veg Bags

 The average lifetime of a single-use plastic bag at a grocery store ends as soon as we arrive home and unpack our fruit and veg. The bag is then thrown into the bin and takes 10-20 years to decompose, which is a very long time considering how long it served us.

 You can now buy reusable cotton mesh bags online or even pick one up at Lidl. The so-called 'green bags' are priced at 69 cent for a pack of two. 

 On another note, something that I've noticed people overlook is that bananas do not need to be put into a plastic bag. Their thick skin means that it's okay for them to come into contact with the cashier counter or your cart!
***
So here are my 3 top tips for reducing your plastic consumption. Is there anything you think might be worth adding to the list? Let me know in the comments. :) 

 - Paula
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