At Clean Dezign, we specialize in selling stylish, eco-friendly and practical houseware ranging from bread boxes, salad bowls, kitchen canisters, cutting boards among many other products. Unlike many of the modern-day manufacturers, we make our products from materials that are renewable and not harmful to the environment. In a nutshell, we make and sell eco-friendly and environmentally friendly products.
We value a clean home the same way we love a clean earth.
In the recent times, there have been numerous campaigns promoting the use of these eco-friendly products but do we know what the noise is all about, or we are just the usual victims of knowing too much but comprehending too little?
So, what are these Eco-friendly Products?
Environment-friendly, eco-friendly, green, and nature-friendly are all terms which can be used interchangeably. These terms are sustainability and marketing terms which refer to commodities and services, policies, laws, guidelines and activities which render minimal or no harm to the environment or the ecosystem. In as much there are entities and governments which use these terms so as to champion for environmental conservation, there are quite some businesses which use them so as to push their commodities considering that a good proportion of buyers are tending towards environmental consciousness.
In other words, these eco-friendly products reduce environmental pollution. They can be made right from scratch, or they can be made through recycling materials. You don’t have to think about eco-friendliness regarding global warming and other big terms. No. You can think of it in terms embracing some basic home practices that are more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, some people do stubbornly believe that it takes a lot of money, effort and time to make a home more eco-friendly. However, in reality, there are quite some products you can start using at home to reduce assault to the environment and hence securing safe planet for future generations.
Let’s us have a look at some of these eco-friendly products.
Cloth Napkins
The world disposes of millions of napkins and diapers in a single day after just a single use. This can be fixed through using reusable napkins normally made from bamboo or clothes. Cloth napkins are easy to wash and lack some chemicals conspicuously present in classic diapers.
Cotton or cloth shopping bags
Supermarkets and convenient stores are moving away from using plastic bags for packaging. These plastic bags are non-biodegradable and release toxic gases into the atmosphere when burnt. Therefore, shopping outlets are embracing cotton and cloth shopping bags and are charging more for those who still use plastic bags so as to discourage usage.
Wooden watches
These watches are made from 100% recycled timber which includes mahogany, Indian rosewood, teak and coffee tree. They are devoid of any toxic chemicals and encouraging enough, not a single tree is felled for their manufacturing.
Rechargeable batteries
These are the perfect alternative to the conventional batteries which are complicated to recycle and contain dangerous metals in them for example; lead. Rechargeable batteries are more expensive than the other batteries, but they are protective of the environment in the long run.
House cleaners
The typical products used in the cleaning of houses contain chemicals which are harmful to the environment. This problem can be solved through using vinegar, baking soda, water and tea tree oil which guarantee the same level of cleanliness but with a better concern to the environment.
Reusable water bottles
This makes total sense instead of littering the environment with non-biodegradable plastic bottles. These water bottles are made of glass, stainless steel or aluminum. You retain the bottle but replenish the water.
Reusable coffee cups
Think about the number of coffee consumers in a day and the number of non-reusable coffee cups lying at dump sites. Also, think about the level of environmental pollution they cause. Reusable coffee cups will go a long way in saving the environment. They are made of 100% food safe silicone.
Biodegradable sneakers
Shoes from many manufacturers contain plastic and other materials that are extremely tough to break down. However, there are some sneakers which are 100% biodegradable. What’s more, these sneakers are just as elegant as those other environmentally toxic sneakers.
Biodegradable garden pots
These containers are made from recycled materials, and they are known to decompose in a year. They help to keep your garden free from pollution caused by plastic and rubber garden pots.
Recycled toilet tissue
This tissue is made from 100% bamboo, sugarcane or recycled paper fibers. They are known to save trees, water and reduce carbon emissions into the environment.
Disposable waste bag
This comes handy for dog lovers who’ve been grappling with the non-biodegradable waste bag.
Reusable sandwich wrappers
These wrappers save the environment from the intense pollution caused by using plastic sandwich wraps to pack lunch for the millions of school-going children.
Organic Pillowcases
These pillowcases are made from responsibly-farmed cotton. They help reduce pollution caused by synthetic cotton which is the material used to make a majority of our pillowcases.
Recycled floor mats
These mats made from natural and reclaimed rubber material are more durable than the synthetic floor mats. For this reason, they can be used in porches, garages, and warehouses.
Recycled Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foils never lack in our homes.
This kind of foil is made from 100% recycled Aluminum, and its manufacturing consumes 95% less energy than the conventional synthetic foil.
Eco touch screen computer
This computer has a carbon footprint that is 70 times lower than the average personal computer. We can also use other eco-friendly computer accessories such as keyboards, cases, and mice.
17. Solar powered products
Examples include; lawnmowers, windmills, attic fans and charging stations.
18. LED bulbs
These bulbs conserve energy as compared to the high-energy fluorescent and halogen bulbs which are way cheaper.
19. Eco flow showerheads
These showerheads which have a low-flow functionality are important in conserving water.
20. Wooden sunglasses
These sunglasses are stylish are reduce plastic pollution. They are made from sustainable materials such as cotton-based acetate, skateboards decks and certified wood.
Embracing the use of these simple items promotes environmental conservation. An art of environmental friendliness can be encouraged through the simple act of recycling. Recycling involves collecting processing materials that would normally be thrown away as trash and converting them into new products. This is beneficial to the environment and the community as a whole. Alternatively, recycling is as simple as reusing something.
Recycling involves three main steps; collection and processing, manufacturing and then the sale of products made from recycled materials.
What can be recycled?
Some of the recyclable items include;
• Plastic bottles
• Glass bottles
• Aluminum cans
• Plastic bags
• Paper and cardboard
However, we have some atypical recycling materials, and they include;
• Electronics
• Hazardous waste
• Batteries
• Demolition debris
• Metal
• Motor oil
1. It saves money
I know you are wondering how this is possible. In some states in the USA like; Michigan, Vermont, and California, people are paid up for turning in their materials for recycling. The compensation isn’t as much but what is the problem with earning few easy coins and having extra cash to spend on groceries or gas?
Moreover, in an economy, a waste recycling system is much cheaper in the long run for a government than a mere system of waste dumping. Also, manufacturing companies do save money by being part of waste recycling. The more people recycle, the less firms will have to spend on selling their commodities which will obviously cost less.
2. Creation of employment
There are plenty of jobs in the recycling and manufacturing business. Recycling firms do need machine operators, supervisors, clerks, label designers among others. Plus, there will be other people paid to make something out of the recycled products.
3. Saves energy
The energy used to incinerate some of these wastes could be channeled towards recycling. Again, recycling one aluminum can save enough energy to run a television for 3 hours. This is, of course, dependent on the energy consumption of your TV, but you get the idea. Energy saving not only reduces energy costs but also slows down global warming.
4. Has a positive impact on the environment
Recycling conserves natural resources like water, minerals, and timber. This helps to sustain the environment for the generations of tomorrow. Environmental pollution is also reduced because trash isn’t burnt and as such toxic gases aren’t released into the atmosphere. These gases contribute to adverse climate changes. Pollution is also curbed through reducing the need to collect new trash. The recycling of hazardous wastes as opposed to dumping them in landfills prevents their seeping into the ground thereby damaging the ecosystem and water supply.
5. Elimination of landfill wastes
Landfills in this age make us question the commitment of humanity to conserve the environment. Besides, having communities live near these smelly dumpsites is just sad. The days of putting trash in a hole on the ground are long gone. There are better ways of doing things.
Waste should be used to drive the economy as opposed to rendering land derelict. Through recycling, cans and paper are used to make more cans and paper while electronics are stripped and used for parts. A zero-waste kind of world is a better world.
Ways of becoming more environmentally friendly
This can be attained through utilizing eco-friendly products like the ones discussed earlier in this article and also embracing the art of recycling (also discussed earlier). However, these two aren’t enough. We can do more. Other ways of becoming more environmentally friendly include;
1. Planting trees
Trees are pivotal to survival. They are a source of oxygen, shelter, food and they also prevent soil erosion. Trees around your home will help you reduce energy costs through the provision of certain coolness even during summer. Besides, we need to steer clear from cutting trees unless it is necessary.
2. Exercising care in using our resources
We need to use resources while appreciating that tomorrow will come. This ranges to how we use food, fuel, water and other items. Wastefulness is a clear sign of lack of concern for the environment.
3. Water conservation
Water conservation is critical because a lot of energy is used to pump water from water bodies to our homes. We need to fix leaking pipes, close taps when not in use, recycle water at home and install water-saving appliances.
4. It is not a must we drive to work
Sometimes, we can take a bus to work instead of driving our personal cars. For those of us with offices around our homes, we can walk or ride a bicycle to work. This helps to reduce environmental pollution by exhaust fumes.
5. Using less fossil fuel based products
6. Minimizing the use of harmful chemicals
Such chemicals like oil, paints and ammonia have the potential to cause environmental pollution both air and water. Such pollution is detrimental to human health. Care should also be exercised when disposing of these chemicals. They should be disposed of in an appropriate toxic waste site.
7. Compositing
This helps reduce environmental pollution through landfills because we will be taking plant and kitchen wastes and converting them into nutrients beneficial to our garden plants.
8. Buying recycled products
This helps to promote the recycling industry thereby boosting its success. We can know a product is recycled through checking its manufacturing process to ensure it was made from recycled materials.
9. Participating in environmental awareness activities
It is not a must we hold placards demonstrating against a local manufacturer who is dumping wastes in the local river. We can do something as simple as educating school going children on the importance of using dustbins as opposed to care-free littering.
10. Protecting wildlife
We need to protect beaches, water bodies and forests because they are natural habitats for wildlife. Interfering with these places jolts the ecosystem. If we don’t take care of our environment, who will?
