Purchasing sustainable products can be a great way to reduce waste and pollution, but what about not purchasing anything at all? Learn about No-Spend Weeks and some ideas on easy sustainable choices and switches you can make today. Reminder: this will look different for every individual – do what you can with the resources and abilities you have!

What Is A “No-Spend Week”?

During a no-spend week, you commit to only buying absolute essentials, such as groceries and gas. Although sustainable products can be great eco-friendly alternatives, lowering overall consumption rates is the best way to live sustainably. Remember to reduce and reuse whenever you can!

Fashion and Clothing

• Learn how to mend clothing to patch up holes and give clothes a new life.
• Be an outfit repeater instead of purchasing new items. Browse Pinterest or Instagram for styling inspiration!
• See our past Action of the Weeks to learn how to extend the life cycle of your clothing.
  • Switch Up Your Laundry Routine
  • Develop a Zero-Waste Laundry Routine!
  • Make Sustainable Fashion Choices

Household

• Use old clothes or fabrics as rags for cleaning to reduce paper towel purchase and waste.
• If you don’t have silicone reusable bags, wash and reuse plastic zipper bags.
• Use old glass jars, plastic takeout containers, and plastic food packaging as storage, planters, decoration, etc.
  • Tip: learn how to remove sticky labels from glass jars!

Miscellaneous

• Save any gift bags and tissue paper you receive to use for the next present you give.
• Repair broken items instead of buying new products. View our previous Action of the Month to learn how!
• Create DIY decor using household items, such as a dried citrus ornament.

 

Info from Going Zero Waste (Kathryn Kellogg) and University of Arizona.