Lake Bluff Library Winter Reading Club 2021: LibGuides: Zero Waste Resources

• Commute - Sustainability has never been easier with so many people working from home. A study in 2019 showed that the average U.S. commuter wasted up to 21 gallons of gas each year sitting in congested traffic (Entrepreneur). If you have to go into work consider walking, bicycling, or taking public transportation to work (as safety restrictions allow). If you have the ability to work from home please do so to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
• Plants - Something as easy as adding more plants to the office (or even a show-stopping living wall) can improve air quality without emitting anything but oxygen. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that plants boost productivity, too (Entrepreneur).
• Paper - An easy way to conserve paper is printing two sided. We know how silly this sounds but the average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year and 45% of paper printed in offices ends up trashed by the end of the day (Record Nations). Better yet go paperless and send them an email. Having a digital office makes it easy to access your documents from anywhere with an internet connection. When you are traveling or out of the office a digital office makes it very simple to retrieve any necessary documents.
• Reusable cups/silverware - Bringing your own thermos, water bottle or reusable cutlery/straw to work is an easy way to avoid adding more plastic to landfills. Though plastic silverware is recyclable it's a lot more fun to up the style elevation of your meal breaks by purchasing travel cutlery from Etsy.com.

There are so many ways to make sustainable switches at the office we couldn't possibly fit them all. Take a look at this website for more ideas how you can make your work place more environmentally friendly.

• Chemicals - Many cleaners are made from chemicals that are harmful for humans, plants, and animals. These chemicals include phosphorus (which constitutes about 30 to 40 percent of dishwasher detergents), nitrogen, and ammonia. (Blue and Green Tomorrow). Instead, consider name brand alternative cleaners such as Seventh Generation, Method, Mrs. Meyers and Iowa based company called Whoa Nelli that take sustainability into consideration when making their products. (Important note: If you are disinfecting household or commercial surfaces to remove the Covid-19 virus, be sure the bottle says 99.9% effective and refer to the CDC's recommended list of chemicals.)
• Sponge - Purchase a biodegradable kitchen sponge or brush that can be washed in the dishwasher for a longer lasting usage. Scotch-Brite is a common brand, and there are other options listed here. You can also take old t-shirts or fabric scraps and cut them up into medium size squares to use as rags. Instructions here. 
• Food Purchase/Bulk Buy - If possible, consider buying in bulk, or purchase your food at a local co-op. This helps cut down cost and single use plastic wrappers. Or bring your own produce bags and market bags to the grocery store. Most stores right now won't accept reusable bags but they will if you are willing to bag your own or ask for paper. Avoid plastic bags whenever possible.
• Plastic Free - More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day – a total of about 22 billion last year (Container Recycling Institute). If you are looking for a stylish replacement, some popular brands include Hydro Flask, Swell, Corkcicle, and Yeti. 
• Reusable Containers / Food Storage - Reusable food containers are an efficient and stylish way to keep your leftover food fresh, although the key is to avoid plastic. Think about switching to a Pyrex glass food container storage or Oxo brand containers, which are stylish and come in a large variety of sizes. Another on-the-go option is Stasher, which creates reusable bags that can be washed on the top rack of a dishwasher and come in a ton of fun colors and holiday designs. If you are looking to keep produce fresh, consider solutions like bees wax wraps, food covers or reusable cellophane replacement. Or, use the mason jars you likely already have at home. 
• Appliances - If you're looking to replace an appliance, consider Energy Star certified appliances for your kitchen or laundry room. You can even receive additional rebates on your electricity bill. Find out more on the Energy Star website.
• Baking - Consider replacing parchment paper and tinfoil with a reusable silicone baking mat or alternative parchment paper if you have to use something while baking. And even though tin foil is technically recyclable, If You Care Aluminum Foil made from 100% recycled materials.
• Paper Towel - Think about using unpaper towels or old t-shirts as a reusable option. Here are some cute options on Etsy.

Find more fun and stylish kitchen alternatives on this list.

• Toilet Paper - We rarely think about toilet paper and the impact it has on our environment, but the reality is that toilet paper manufacturing can have a negative impact on the environment. As an alternative option, Who Gives a Crap is a subscription-based company that provides bamboo toilet paper in paper coverings instead of plastic.
• Reusable Face Wipes - Switching to reusable face wipes is a fun stylish product you can put on display in your bathroom. Etsy offers multiple options for a fabric reusable wipe.
• Reusable Tissues - Let's get a little old school and talk to your grandparent for a moment, because reusable hankies are where it's at. Switching to a cloth based product helps keep your runny nose waste from the landfill. Take a look at these cute options on Etsy.
• Replace Your Loofah - Loofahs don't completely dry out, so they can contain bacteria and fungal organisms that lead to skin infections. They also aren't recyclable - try a natural loofah or a rag you can wash.
• Body Wash & Hand Soap - This list provides a list of natural soap options if you prefer to stick with liquid soap. If you prefer bar soap, companies like Lush and the Soap Distillery provide eco friendly products in either reusable containers or paper coverings. For hand soap, Mrs. Meyers and Method provide eco-friendly options.
• Q-tips - Plastic q-tips are not biodegradable and often end up in our ocean, killing fish and other wildlife. Try a reusable LastSwab, which comes in a variety of shapes and colors. All you do is wash it off when you are done.
• Floss - Did you know most regular floss is made out of plastic? But don't worry, this list provides multiple sustainable options. 
• Feminine Hygiene Products - Feminine hygiene products are a big problem for sewage and landfills. Most contain some type of plastic or chemical that is bad for the environment. In the United States alone, approximately 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are discarded each year. These articles provide some reusable options. 

• Shop Thrifty - The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry. Here are some more sustainable shopping solutions:
  • Shop at consignment shops or thrift stores to find something new (but old). Try one of these Lake Bluff-area thrift stores: Forest and Found, Cedar Chest Thrift Shop-Lambs Farm, and Changing Closet. Or shop at your local Goodwill. 
  • Check out yard sales, flee markets or rummage sales. The First Presbyterian Church in Lake Forest is hosting their rummage sale virtually this year. Check out their website for more information. 
  • If you're expecting a baby, maybe friends or family members have some baby clothes they are willing to part with from their children.
  • You can also try purchasing second hand items online from sites like Postmark or Facebook Marketplace.
• Wardrobe Remix - Try a 30/30 or 15/15 wardrobe remix/capsule challenge! It's a fun, easy challenge to change up what you already own into new outfits you never thought of. You pick 30 pieces from your wardrobe (tops, bottoms, shoes, boots, bags, dresses and jackets) and discover how many different outfits you can try over the course of a month. For information and inspiration, check out this blog. Or search for ideas on Pinterest!
• Mending Matters - Mending really does matter. Check out the book Mending Matters by Katrina Rodabaugh, which provides plenty of inspiration. Katrina describes the book as “A slow fashion guide for a well-loved wardrobe.” There are some directions for discreet mending, but most of the projects involve visible stitches that celebrate the clothing and the mending process. This book is a great way to take your favorite pair of sadly ripped jeans and giving them a second life. Place a hold on this book through our catalog!

• Mindful of Waste - Similar to the fashion industry, crafting and art creates a lot of waste. When working on a new project, be mindful of how much waste you have left over. Find another project you can use leftover supplies for, or participate in a local craft swap or donate to charity. Here is a fun list of DIY projects for left over fabric. Or go the second-hand route and search for craft materials at your local thrift store. 
• Face Masks - A great way to help out your friends and neighbors fight COVID-19 is to make a reusable face mask. Disposable face masks are meant to be worn once and then thrown away due to contaminated air particulates. Follow this easy at-home DIY video we put together to make your own.
• Mason Jar Crafts - There are a hundreds of crafts you make out of reusable mason jars. Here is a fun list of ideas, or a holiday idea list you can try at home.
• Reuse Broken Dishes - Did you just find a chip in one of your favorite mugs or bowls? There are many great ways to repurpose and reuse broken items in your home. Use a chipped bowl as a planter for a succulent, a broken mug as a unique candle holder, or find some extra inspiration on this list.
• Repurpose Sweaters - If you are looking for a fun sewing project, you can find old sweaters at thrift shops and turn them into your new favorite mittens or Christmas stockings.
• Reuse/Upcycle Other Household Items - Check out this list for lots of ways to turn common household items into something new. Need some more crafting ideas for upcycling? Try this list for more ideas.