Sustainable living is part of our mission at Better Booch. We do our part to nurture Mother Nature by using recyclable packaging (hello, kombucha in a can!), working with local farmers who also use our post-brew tea leaves as compost, and shipping you your booch in Earth-friendly packing materials when you order from our website. We know there’s no such thing as perfect, but we do believe that all the tiny actions make a big impact. 

With that said, here we’re sharing seven eco-friendly ideas we can all implement to live a more sustainable lifestyle, because just like kombucha doesn’t have to taste bad, going green doesn’t have to be hard. Cheers to a healthy future for the next generations!

1. Go paperless

Between monthly bill statements and receipts, paper clutter can pile up fast. The worst part though is that they usually end up crumpled up in the trash. One no-brainer way to reduce your carbon footprint is by going digital whenever possible. Many stores will email you receipts instead of printing them out then and there. You can also sign up for paperless billing for recurring payments, and sometimes you’ll even score a little discount when you do. 

2. Plant some succulents

A lush lawn is great, but you know what’s better? Succulents. They require way less maintenance – sayonara, lawnmower! – and small amounts of water to maintain. You can still get creative with landscaping and have the best-looking yard in the neighborhood. Native plants to your region are another option that’s great for the ecosystem because they are designed to thrive where you live. Plus, native plants also support the local animal and insect population. 

3. Borrow instead of buy

We love a good shopping session, but borrowing is a much easier, cheaper, and more sustainable way to go. Let’s say you have an event to attend. Instead of buying a dress or a new outfit to wear, that let’s be real, you’ll likely only wear the one time, borrow something from a friend or rent an outfit from an online clothing rental site. The same goes for things like books, toys for the kids, or sporting equipment. Not only will you be preserving the Earth’s precious resources, but you’ll also save money and reduce the clutter in your home. It’s a win, win, win. 

4. Buy from eco-conscious brands

That said, if you are going to buy something, be a conscious consumer and shop from brands that implement sustainable practices. Where you put your money matters. Do your research. Do they make their products out of renewable or recyclable materials? What about their headquarters? Do they follow mindful protocols to reduce their carbon footprint? What type of packaging do they use? For instance, we offer our kombucha in a can because they are 70% more likely to be recycled than glass and they have a lower carbon footprint than glass bottles. So, if you’re looking to support a more sustainable booch, shop Better Booch.

Above all else, choose the brands you shop with wisely. Because being a picky shopper can actually help save the world. 

5. Shop local food

We’re lucky that our local grocery store is filled with lots of yummy foods, but sometimes we forget the tremendous amount of energy and resources it took to get that food to us. It’s usually grown hundreds or thousands of miles away and then transported for days, literally. One simple swap you can make is shopping for groceries at your local farmers market more often. Buy what’s local and in season. Challenge yourself to try new recipes with the fresh ingredients. Who said a sustainable lifestyle had to be boring?

6. Conserve energy

The energy we use in our home also makes an environmental impact. Some simple things you can do to practice sustainable living is turning off lights and appliances when they’re not in use, investing in energy-efficient appliances, opening up the windows instead of turning on the air conditioner, and washing your laundry with cold water. The time you do use energy also matters. Try to use larger appliances like washing machines and dishwashers during the day instead of the evening during peak hours to reduce the load. These tiny changes save energy, but they’ll also save you money on your monthly energy bill. 

7. Switch to reusable, zero-waste products

Move over disposable, single-use products! Reusable goodies are the new cool kids on the block. Seriously, have you seen the super stylish reusable water bottles out there? With so many cool options, we’re never going back to plastic water bottles. Single-use products such as paper plates, napkins, razors, straws, sandwich bags, plastic water bottles, and coffee cups create an enormous amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Take an afternoon to do a quick audit of the things you have at home and see what you can replace with reusable versions—every little swap counts. Reusable items also make great gifts for friends and family to spread the love while spreading your eco-conscious mission. 

So there you have it: seven eco-friendly ideas to step up your sustainability game. Tell us—which one will you be implementing today?