Green Organizing: Eco-Friendly Decluttering Tips
Organizing has become somewhat decorative as more and more tools become available to try and assist in getting organized. Walk into any store and you’ll find different-sized and shaped bins, collections of containers, pouches, and even label makers. It seems that organizing requires collecting more things to organize the things you already have. These things not only take up more space, but often come in boxes and bags, wrapped in plastic, cushioned in more plastic, and shipped to a store or your house from across an ocean. The retail sector accounts for roughly 25% of global emissions, with much of these emissions occurring in the retail value chain. Amazon, Walmart, and other large retail chains promote organizational tools that may appear enticing, but they often contribute to damage done to the environment. For the environmentally conscious person, this can seem counterintuitive to achieving any goal. Thankfully, organizing doesn’t have to be this complicated or damaging to the environment. Read on for some eco-friendly decluttering tips for your home.
Recycle and Donate
When decluttering to organize your space, pay attention to what you can recycle and donate. Once you’ve sorted out what you no longer want, try and find a way to send it somewhere other than a landfill. Old clothes or other fabrics can be donated to goodwill, as well as functional appliances you no longer use. Broken electronics can be recycled at your nearest landfill. Other objects can be given away or repurposed for some other use. Throw away objects only as a last resort.
Reuse Objects to Organize
Rather than buying new appliances or tools to organize what you already own, try reusing what’s on hand as forms of organizing. Old jars and take out containers can store leftovers; baskets or small bowls can hold loose change and other small items you want to keep on hand. Shoeboxes can be used as storage, and jars can be used to hold pens and other desk materials. Avoiding buying new materials will save you money and prevent more plastic from being used and pollution from being spread.
Invest in Reusable and Natural Products
If you are in need of organizational tools, try looking for products made of natural materials like wood or metal instead of plastic. You can also look into reusable materials for storage such as reusable zip locks, napkins, and grocery bags. You can also look for items at thrift stores to repurpose or reuse rather than buying it new.
DIY
Whether you need a new organizing container or you’re trying to find eco-friendly cleaning methods, going DIY is a great way to declutter, reuse or upcycle items you already own. Youtube has great tutorials for creating your own items, and many use it as a creative outlet as well as a way to stay eco-friendly.
Go Paperless
Paper mail makes up a surprising amount of the clutter we receive. It’s not just junk mail; mail from schools, doctors’ offices, and credit card companies can fill your mailbox and result in tons of paper being printed and thrown away. Many places are now providing the option to go paperless. This can lessen the mail you receive and help prevent waste.
Shop intentionally
As you continue the process of decluttering and organizing your home, you’ll notice that your space contains less. While this can feel unnerving at first, resist the urge to refill your house with things you won’t use or don’t need. The process of decluttering can help you better understand what you actually want to own and what you use day to day. From there, you can shop intentionally and mindfully, avoiding buying things just for the sake of owning something. While it’s easy to get caught up in the feeling that you absolutely need this, when you really get down to it, normally you find that you don’t. If you’re really interested in buying something, wait a day or two. If you still want it, then that’s a good sign its worth buying. More than likely, you probably won’t remember that you wanted it in the first place.
Decluttering and organizing your home doesn’t have to be damaging to the environment. Often, the two can go hand in hand. A little time, patience, and investment can go a long way in supporting an eco-friendly and stress-free home.