Personally, I love New Years Eve. There is something about those hazy days between Christmas and January 1. Time sort of stops mattering and I don’t know what day it is. I’m usually reading a new favorite book and drinking a lot of tea after too much food on Christmas Day. It is a time when I really focus on what has happened in the last year and what I can do better with the next one. This year, I’m focusing on waste free living.
For Lil Helper, its no different, only we are reflecting as a whole company. We started out more than 10 years ago as a cloth diaper company, and now we are so much more. And in the last year we’ve released a ton of new products from our SleepSaver Crib Sheets to our Hyps Menstrual Pads. Add in to the mix our first experience going viral on Tik Tok, and we are loving every minute of getting to know all the people just discovering us, and learning what we can do to better empower more waste free families in 2022.
So, if you’re interested in taking steps to go waste free in the coming year, this is a great place to start. Remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. But don’t do nothing just because you can’t do everything. Find solutions that work for you, your family, and the environment. We promise to do our part by making multi-functional, long lasting products that help your family by being environmentally and economically friendly while meeting your needs.
Step 1 to a More Waste Free 2022 - Ditch the Ziplocs
We have bags that are prettier, eco friendly, and less mess too.
The thin plastic from Ziploc bags breaks quickly and is really the peak of single use. Some people stretch them out by rinsing them and reusing them as many times as they can before they tear. But really, if you’re going to do that, why not just switch to a reusable option that will last you 300+ uses?
Added bonus, our Bite Bags feature your favorite snaps so they can attach to strollers, backpacks, and more for less mess and lost snacks. Plus, they are much safer for little ones who might be likely to chew on them etc.
Step 2 - Go Minimalist
Use what you have first, but when it comes time to replace your stuff invest in quality that lasts and fewer items. Don’t throw out your Ziplocs and buy Bite Bags, use what you have and then make the switch. Don’t toss your box of Always, but use them while you build a stash of Hyps until you are comfy.
This is what drove us to develop our SleepSaver Sheets. If you can have a better product, that lasts longer and replaces multiple items, it will have less waste across time. So instead of buying a crib sheet, and a mattress protector, both wrapped in plastic, you can buy our all in one SleepSaver that comes in a more ecofriendly package.
We can sometimes be tempted when turning over a new leaf to go big/all in, and toss out the old to bring in the new. But this can be more wasteful. Go slow, and use what you have. Try a trial diaper and see what you think before you invest in day packs. Small steps over time create longer lasting change, so you’re more likely to stick to it.
Step 3 to a More Waste Free 2022 - Come to the Cloth Side
Reduce your paper towel usage. Stop buying Kleenex. And don’t endure any more sore noses this winter season. Switch to a system of cloth wipes for your kitchen and bathroom.
Not only will you save money using these over and over again, they are softer and tougher than the disposable options. I can’t stress enough what an impact this has had on our kitchen. I still use paper towel, but a roll lasts me three times as long as it used to because most of the time, I can reach for cloth instead.
Balance and baby steps is everything. When trying waste free this new year, go easy on yourself, because habit changing takes time. But we think you’re awesome every step of the way!
What is your favorite waste free living tip? Let us know in the comments!
