8 Sustainable New Year's Resolutions That Are Actually Easy To Keep

The start of a new year often comes with new and big goals, and we’re here to encourage you to make at least one sustainable one! The sustainability lifestyle doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing to make a difference. Small, realistic changes add up over time and the most sustainable habits are the ones you stick with! 

Here are 8 simple and accessible resolutions that anyone can start this year: 

1. Switch to Refillable Cleaning Products

Many conventional cleaning products contain chemicals that can irritate the lungs and worsen indoor air quality. In fact, studies show that over half of common household cleaners contain ingredients linked to respiratory irritation. (1)

Refillable, non-toxic cleaners reduce plastic waste and help create a healthier home environment, and once you find ones that you like, they’re easy to refill again and again. As you are finishing up your current cleaning products, consider swapping to a more natural, refillable product instead! Plus, you can reuse your existing bottle or container.

Here at Tare Market, we carry a variety of non-toxic, natural, but seriously strong-acting cleaning products from all-purpose cleaners, foaming hand soap, laundry powders and nuggets, soap, and so many more.

SHOP CLEANING PRODUCTS

2. Buy Pantry Staples in Bulk

Packaged food is one of the biggest contributors to household waste. Buying staples like rice, pasta, spices, nuts and snacks in bulk allows you to skip unnecessary packaging and buy only what you need. 

Making a special holiday cookie and only need 1 cup of flour? Don’t be stuck with a whole 2lb bag! Bulk shopping is also great because it helps you reduce food waste, especially if you’re only cooking for one or two.

SHOP PANTRY

3. Replace Paper Towels with Reusable Alternatives

The average household uses over 80 rolls of paper towels per year, most of which end up in the landfill. (2) Switching to reusable cloths or unpaper towels for everyday messes can dramatically cut down waste while keeping your kitchen clean. 

4. Use Reusable Produce Bags

Those thin plastic produce bags add up FAST. The average shopper uses hundreds per year and these cannot be recycled curbside. 

Reusable produce bags are lightweight, washable, and easy to keep in your grocery bag so they’re always on hand for your next grocery shop visit. 

5. Switch to Bars

Liquid soaps, face washes and shampoos & conditioners are typically 80-90% water and packaged in single-use plastic. Bar versions last longer, use fewer preservatives, and eliminate plastic bottles altogether. Plus, they pack the same power and are easier to travel with, too! 

We carry a variety of bar soaps, face wash bars, as well as shampoo & conditioner bars here at Tare Market that make great swaps to your current liquid options! 

6. Start Composting!

In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. (3) Food waste, when in the landfill setting, releases methane as it breaks down, which is a potent greenhouse gas. 

Composting your food scraps and waste instead helps to turn the waste into a renewable resource: nutrient rich soil, which can be used again in the community. Whether you compost at home, through the city organics programs, or with a community drop-off, there are many ways to start composting so it fits into your lifestyle!

Check your local city organics to see if they have a curbside bin or community drop-off available. Or, if you have the opportunity to have your own compost bin in your yard to support your own gardening, this is a great way to start!

See our blog posts below for more info on how to start:

• Composting 101
  
• Composting in the Twin Cities
• 10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Compost
  

7. Shop Secondhand

Fast fashion is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions and is the second-largest consumer of water worldwide (4).  And, according to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emissions from textile manufacturing alone are projected to skyrocket by 60% by 2030 (5).

Shopping secondhand and participating in swaps with friends and the community helps reduce demand for new production while giving pre-loved items a new home. Shopping secondhand does not have to just be limited to clothing, you can find a variety of secondhand items new-to-you for your home, kitchen, kids, and more.

Check out your local thrift, vintage and antique shops, and look out for closet swap events in your area! 

8. Shop Small and Support Local

Small businesses help power local economics and by extension the local governments that depend on the tax dollars they generate. According to an economic impact analysis by the American Independent Business Alliance, up to 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses are recirculated locally, compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores, or 5-6% of purchases on Amazon. (6) This means that small independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales to the local economy than chain competitors.

Check out our recent post of small businesses to support in the Twin Cities. We wish we could highlight every single one, but this is a wonderful resource for businesses you can check out! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tare Market (@taremarket)

You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle to make an impact. Pick one or two resolutions that feel doable and build from there.

We’re here to support your low-waste goals all year long, whether you’re just starting out or refining habits you already have.

Here’s to a new year of intentional choices, small wins, and sustainable progress. 💚

SHOP TARE MARKET

Sources:

1. https://www.ewg.org/cleaners/content/findings/

2. https://www.statista.com/statistics/275731/us-households-amount-of-paper-towels-used-within-30-days/#:~:text=The%20data%20has%20been%20calculated,of%20paper%20towels%20in%202020.&text=Log%20in%20or%20register%20to%20access%20precise%20data

3. https://www.usda.gov/about-food/food-safety/food-loss-and-waste/food-waste-faqs

4. https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20UN%20Environment%20Programme%20(UNEP)%2C,all%20international%20flights%20and%20maritime%20shipping%20combined

5. https://unfccc.int/news/fashion-industry-un-pursue-climate-action-for-sustainable-development

6. https://news.d.umn.edu/articles/expert-alert-economic-impact-shopping-local