Make eco bricks a habit

We’re used to so much plastic that it’s going to take decades to change the habit, but we can do our best to eliminate plastic waste one day at a time. Making eco bricks is one of the ways you can dispose of your plastic trash and make sure it doesn’t clog the ocean or get swallowed by sea creatures.

Eco bricks are plastic bottles packed to the brim with other non-biological waste cut up into small pieces. 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 eco bricks through drop off points in the metro.

Your meriyenda waste of a plastic bottle of soda and that wrapper of chips can be turned into eco bricks to help build classrooms and houses!

Be fashionable in pre-loved

Did you know that creating a single shirt has a huge environmental impact? It requires 22 bathtubs of water to produce and takes 30-40 years to decompose! Buying brand new clothes isn’t a sin, but with eco-consciousness in mind, pre-loved clothes are better.  After all, one person’s underused clothing can be another person’s treasure.

At Carousell they believe that buying pre-loved clothes and changing the way people consume things can make life more meaningful. Fashion Revolution, a global movement that educates consumers on the impact of their clothing purchases, reinforces this belief and calls upon Filipinos to put an end to over-consumption.

We are far from the days of messy ukay-ukay that some would look down upon. Buying pre-loved is not only eco-conscious, but also a way to create a unique style far–from the over-produced pieces in malls. And with Carousell, buying and selling pre-loved is made easy with just a snap of a photo!

Join the pre-loved movement with Carousell Philippines and Fashion Revolution Philippines in their online and offline activities. Check out the Online Treasure Market in the Carousell app from May 4 to 6.

Switch your bath essentials

Do away with shampoo and conditioner in plastic containers; aside from adding trash that would take years to decompose, these products are actually full of chemicals that could harm your skin and hair more than rejuvenate and soften it.

@lushcometicsph and @beachbornph on Instagram make soap, shampoo, and conditioner in the form of bars some on tin cans and you can carry them anywhere. Their products are also natural and chemical-free!

Going all-natural and environment friendly doesn’t mean giving up on pampering your skin. Rraw PH’s soap bars are made to exfoliate and moisturize your skin while being rich in natural ingredients. And look at those lovely colors almost tempting to you eat them!

Eco-friendly hygiene

Reusable cotton rounds in different beautiful prints and affordable prices are available at @greenpadsph on Instagram. They also have reusable panty liners and napkins so you can do away with plastic disposable ones. Not used to it? Don’t worry, having an environmental friendly life doesn’t happen overnight! Just remember to take one step at a time, you’ll be used to it soon enough.

If cloth napkins aren’t your thing, then maybe you can venture into the world of menstrual cups. Sinaya Cup, a local menstrual cup brand, aims to change the way Filipinos think about trying one. We’re so used to pads that we neglect to see all the benefits menstrual cups provide. It lessens your expenses, for one, and it could stay untouched for 12 hours. These cups are clean and hygienic and won’t give you toxic shock syndrome thanks to its medical grade silicone.

You could also dispose of your plastic shavers and use stainless steel shavers instead. It lasts for years with proper care and needs only a blade for a replacement. Get yours from Rraw PH or from Lazada.

These pretty bags for shopping

You don’t have to sacrifice your fashion for sustainable living, there’s so much you can do! Bags from Rraw PH and Sac MNL are perfect for anything: shopping, going to the beach, everyday use, and groceries, especially your produce! It would look pretty and aesthetic on anybody’s shoulder in the market, and did we mention it’s super affordable? You can also use reusable tote bags if you prefer but these net bags look way cooler.

Follow people on social media who promote sustainable living

It’s encouraging to see social media content creators showing their own journey in being environmental friendly. They use their platform to share tips and tricks of their own and promote local eco-friendly brands. Sometimes it’s where you’ll discover underrated brands you would come to love.

Follow Kimi Juan (@kimijuan), a travel photographer, on Instagram and be a witness to her zero waste life. She promotes buying vintage, especially linen to help keep mother Earth waste-free. Kimi also shares eco-friendly and also local brands she loves, you might want to check those out too!

Get educated on being environmental friendly by following these brands: @zerowastehub and @plasticbattle on Instagram. Whenever you can, it’s also great to share your journey with your friends and possibly encourage them to set off on their own.

Create a garden in your home

Sure it would be the most convenient thing to rely on supermarkets for anything but do you realize how much you could save if you start your own mini garden at home? It’s not even that hard to try in the city! Travel photographer Kimi Juan often updates her Instagram followers on her journey of planting in the comfort of her home in the concrete jungle. She uses tin cans (some are the ice cream container from Yellow Cab) where she watches her herbs grow and harvests them after a few months.

Anyone can start their urban garden! Check out Qubo and MNL Growkits– they’ve got everything a city-dweller needs to grow their own herb garden. Now you can get ingredients from your mini garden for your pizzas!

Cultivate these other habits

Little things go a long way in saving the environment; cultivate the habit of being environmental friendly in everything you do.

Do away with Tupperware containers and swap them for steel or glass ones. Eco friendly tumblers and cups could also be purchased at Klean Kanteen, Frank Green Philippines, or Cupping Initiative. Yes they might be a bit on the expensive side but we have to make efforts, right?

Of course, we can’t avoid plastic waste but we can try to minimize it whenever we can. If you’re out for a meal at fast food restaurants, bring your own utensils and metal straws. You could even bring your own container and ask the crew to put your meals there instead of on wax paper! It’s a bit of a trouble because they’re added items to carry with you but in the long run, you won’t regret you did it.

Got anything else to add? Share it with us below!