Realistic Resolutions for Reducing Waste

It's that time of year again to make New Years resolutions! For those of you who want to make 2020 a less wasteful year, this might seem like a really big task. And we get it. So let's start out by being realistic: none of us could completely eliminate all of our wasteful habits in just one single year. It's okay to take it one step at a time. In fact, that's probably the easiest way to do it. Here are some tips for how to approach a New Years resolution to be less wasteful.

1) Set specific goals. For example, instead of saying "this year I'm going to be less wasteful", try committing to one specific goal each month such as, "in the month of January, I will bring my reusable bags to the store every time that I go". If you think you might forget to bring them, keep a few in your car! By the time February rolls around, you'll be feeling confident about using your bags, and you can set a new goal for the month ahead.

2) Celebrate the small accomplishments! Let's say you brought your reusable mug with you to the coffee shop all week instead of using plastic or paper cups...treat yourself to something you don't usually get to have!

3) Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to adapt.

"On average, it takes more than two months before a new habit becomes automatic...66 days to be exact." - Phillippa Lally, Health Psychology Researcher at University College London

So, don't be disheartened if it takes you longer than a few weeks to make a big step toward leaving a smaller footprint; it's going to.

Cheers *raising our reusable glasses* to a more mindful and sustainable 2020!