It’s that time of the year. When we start to think about how we might like to be better than yesterday as we head into the New Year.

 

There’s never been a more important time to make sustainable choices for yourself and your family. Here are Good Change, we believe that every small change is a step in the right direction.

 

And just Imagine if we took that small step together – together, we’d leave a pretty big footprint.

 

Here’s our round up of small changes you can commit to in the New Year to live your best, sustainable life in 2023. There’s no time like the present to make a Good Change.

Waste not, want not. Make your Post-Christmas Cleanse Go Further.

Getting into the post-Christmas purge? Nothing feels better than starting the New Year with a cleansed, clean house. Start as you mean to go on, right 😉 When you’re getting into the sprucing spirit, think twice about items you may once have chucked out for landfill.

 

Is there a little more life left in it? Could you up-cycle? Regift? Donate to your local Thrift or Op-Shop? You know what they say – one person’s trash is another’s treasure.

 

Here’s a handy link to our Ultimate Eco-Cleaning Guide – complete with tips, tools, and a FREE printable cleaning schedule to last you all year long.

Choose to Shop Second-hand

Make a pact with yourself to buy more second-hand items than new this year. With thrifting becoming easier with platforms such as Facebook Marketplace for home and lifestyle items, and Designer Wardrobe for great quality clothing – you’re sure to find what you’re looking for pre-loved and at a fraction of the cost.

 

Extra tip…after two years in intermittent lock downs and cancelled gatherings, it’s highly likely your social calendar is looking a little busy this summer. Go one step further in your sustainable choices by renting outfits for special occasions rather than buying. Sites like Designer Wardrobe and The Borrowed Collective are great options!

Find Multi-Purpose Health, Cleaning and Lifestyle Products

Find products that you can use for lots of different uses around the house – bonus points if you can find something natural, reusable AND compostable.

 

For example, you’ll find uses for our Reusable Bamboo Towels in every room of the house – whether its cleaning and dusting or as a face cleansing cloth, there’s no wonder these towels have been dubbed the ultimate habit changer.

Buy in Bulk

One of our Co-Founder, Stine's, favourite tips – buy in bulk.

Buying in bulk is a great way to save on dollars, and waste. If you have the storage available, bulk deals often cost considerably less than buying one-time use products.

 

It’s also a great excuse to Marie-Kondo your pantry with reusable storage jars and top up with your bulk buy whenever you notice your stock getting low. You’ll save having to throw away individual single-use plastic packaging too.

 

If a well organised, labelled, and sustainable pantry doesn’t bring you joy, we’re not sure what will!

Keep Track of your Carbon Footprint

A great way to raise your awareness about your impact on the environment is to track your carbon footprint. Why not start from 1 Jan and see first-hand your environmental impact for the year?

 

Maybe you don’t make a change right away, but we’re willing to bet that when you notice what everyday activities are contributing to your footprint, change will come naturally.

 

Another way to keep your footprint low is by supporting companies who are proactive in this space too. Choose to support brands who are genuine and practice transparency around their environmental impact, such as Ethique or Aotearoad.

 

At Good Change, we have a range of initiatives that support our natural environment and mean that your purchase with us goes further. That includes providing clean water for a family in Cambodia for every product we sell, providing carbon negative shipping on all online orders and more.

Find out more here.

Invest in Reusable Drinkware

This one’s a given. If you aren’t using a reusable drink bottle at least, this is possibly the easiest and one of the most impactful Good Change’s you can make.

 

Our advice here – invest in a bottle you really love, even if the price is a little higher. That way it’ll become a staple at home, at the gym and out and about.

 

Why not go one step further and add a coffee cup to your reusable drinkware collection? Our personal favourites are made by Fressko and Frank Green!

Go Meat Free on Mondays!

While it is possibly the most sustainable choice of diet, going vegan overnight can feel both a little daunting and a lot overwhelming.

 

There’s lots to learn about supplementing meat for beans or legumes, ensuring that you and your family are getting all the necessary healthy nutrients required for a balances diet.

 

Why not try committing to a meat free Monday in 2023? One day a week where you cut meat out of your diet.

 

Seems doable? Yes it does.

 

And you won’t be alone. Today, Meat Free Monday, or Meatless Monday, is supported by millions of people in over 40 countries. That’s what we call small changes for big impact!

 

Who knows, it could inspire you to try going vegan for good…!