Even though it could be a fresh start for us mere mortals, it’s not for nature. We can ignore it all we can but the fact is nature is suffering and deteriorating from our hands and unless we act to prevent it, it’ll keep spiraling downward. If you’re not the type to join organizations and scoop dirt out of the ocean, maybe you could settle comfortably in your home and do these:

1. Buy a steel straw from SIP

Reusables will always trump disposables. Help save the planet one metal straw at a time with SIP steel straws. They have regular straws and milk tea straws which come with their own cleaning brushes to shame their single-use plastic straw counterparts. Recently, SIP also introduced the Burrito, a canvas wrap containing utensils made of bamboo and a set of steel straws.

Hopefully, this paves the way for a plastic straw-free country. We wouldn’t want to see another turtle like this now, would we?

2. Try the search engine Ecosia

If you use Ecosia to search the web, you’re also helping plant a tree. The search ads generate income which is then used by Ecosia to plant trees worldwide. As of writing, the community behind Ecosia has planted 19 million trees! Helping Mother Nature while using the internet? Hitting two birds with one stone.

3. Make a habit out of Ecobricks

Your meriyenda waste of a plastic bottle of soda and that wrapper of chips can be turned into ecobricks to help build classrooms and houses. Ecobricks are plastic bottles packed to the brim with other non-biological waste. These bottles can then be used and reused as building blocks for fences, gardens, walls, classrooms and even houses. The Plastic Solution is a local organization where you can donate your ecobricks through drop off points in the metro.

4. Be stylish while also being eco-friendly

Habi Footwear makes 100% Filipino-made environmental-friendly footwear shoes with parts from woven scrap cloth from shirt factories. They buy the woven mats directly from four communities of weavers, making sure these weavers earn five times more than they would earn with middlemen involved.

With a goal to reforest the Philippines, buying any of Funk Trunk’s wooden products will help plant a tree. Their products include functional phone cases, bamboo tumblers, watches, and eyewear, all of which are made from recycled and sustainable materials.

Rags2Riches is a fashion and design house empowering community artisans. They partner with local artisans across the Philippines to create eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled, overstock cloth and indigenous fabrics.

5. Shop for amplifiers at Loudbasstard

Electricity empowered speakers are too mainstream! This sound amplifier is made of bamboo and handcrafted by Cebuano artisans. Loudbasstard is an eco-friendly gadget which acts as a natural amplifier, you just need to insert your phone into the slot and the bamboo’s cuplike shape will do the rest.  Shop for their products here.

6. Patronize eco-friendly beauty products

Human Nature not only makes your skin feel good, it also makes the earth feel good, and by extension, your heart. Their line of beauty and skincare products (which have now evolved to include home care and lifestyle) reflect their stand as responsible stewards of nature.

Venus and Mars Naturals, or better known as V&M Naturals, is the first Emu oil-based skin care line in the Philippines. They offer facial care and bath and body products for every skin type.

Leiania House of Beauty is another skin care brand that offers products 100% natural and organic. Their products include handcrafted soaps, moisturizers, hair care, body care and natural cosmetics.

7. Get into Aquaponics

Grow your own vegetables in the comfort of your home! Aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics or raising fish and growing plants in water. In other words, it grows both fish and plant in one system. The plants act as a natural water filter for the fish while the fish waste acts as an organic food source for the plants.

You can grow any leafy lettuce, basil, kale, and many more in your home. You can also start small and build an aquaponics system via a mason jar or an aquarium. Read more about building a DIY aquaponics system here or you can buy products here.

8. Shop at ECHOstore

ECHOstore is the first concept store of its kind in the Philippines, it’s also fast growing into our go-to store for natural and eco-friendly products. Their shelves both physical and online have everything you would ever need. From skincare, beauty products, home essentials, books, food, you name it, they have it! For your convenience, you can shop for their products online here.

Got anything more suggestions? Share it with us in the comments below!