Dec 26, 2016

2017 Green Resolutions

Someone asked me about my Green Resolutions for 2017 and I realized that I didn't have any, so I should make some! I've made a ton of progress in 2016 and learned a lot of things, but in some ways I feel like I've stalled and haven't been pushed to move much further in my endeavors toward being plastic free or zero waste. So in honor of the new year and saving the environment I'm listing my Green Resolutions!

1. Get reusable napkins 

This is something I've been wanting for a while. We don't have any and I can see the utility of them. We aren't heavy disposable paper people, but we do generally use either paper towels or decorative cocktail napkins when we need a napkin. In reality neither one of those would be completely replaced by a reusable napkin, but we'd likely use both a lot less. I envision us primarily using them to replace cocktail napkins that we using during sit down dinners. If we got enough of them, we might even be able to have them out for parties and forgo the cocktail napkins all together.

2. Pack my lunch at least twice per week

I've been really bad about buying my lunch at work. And our cafeteria needs some work in the 'green' department. Not only to they rarely serve people on plates, but they rarely have real silverware. My heart aches at the amount of Styrofoam and plastic is used even when eating in the cafeteria. I've got to walk the walk and this is one area that I can relatively simply make a change. Bringing my own lunch will help the environment. It may even help our wallet if I'm using up leftovers or cooking efficiently. And, if I bring healthy foods it may even help my waist line! Triple win.

3. Shop at the bulk store at least once a quarter

Remember my hunt for local bulk stores and how I found one? Well I'm embarrassed to say I've not actually used it! The store is a little further out of the way and in the opposite direction from how we normally go. It's just been habit to go keep going to Publix. So my resolution is that I'm going to commit to shopping there once a quarter. I'm hoping that by setting the bar low, I can crush this resolution and, ideally, that would become our new grocery store full time.

4. Purchase reusable menstrual products

This has been on my radar I'm thinking if I get a cup and some pads that will cover most of my needs. It would be awesome to reduce all the waste associated with periods! Do you have a favorite product to recommend?

5. Make a food product each month

There are a number of food items I've been wanting to try, but just never seem to make the time. I'd love to make yogurt, bread, English muffins and bagels. But I'm sure other things will strike my fancy. When the chickens were producing more, we tried our hand at mayonnaise which was awesome, but I'd like to try other condiments like ketchup or mustard. Or anything really there are so many things that we just blindly buy at the store not realizing that someone used to have to make that by hand! I look forward to experimenting with this.

So there are my green resolutions. Hopefully you can stick around and see how well I accomplish them. What are your green resolutions?

Shared on Going GreenWaste Less WednesdayHome Matters


  1. All great ideas, and so doable.
    We are working on reducing our weekly kitchen trash bag to one a week.
    Hoping to compost more in the new house and be able to repurpose more things.
    Best wishes on your resolutions!

    1. Thanks I tried to make them realistic. I'm all about baby steps. I can't wait to hear more about your new place!

  2. Great ideas and I wish everyone would make a similar Green list for their lives. If we all took even the tiniest of green steps the world would be a much better place for it. Happy New Year and all the best for 2017.

    1. Absolutely! Best wishes for your resolutions.

    2. Thanks for adding this post to my #GoingGreenLinky :) 💚

  3. I think in the UK cloth napkins are far more common place and paper ones are only used at home when you're having buffet parties. Quite a few of mine I made myself by simply hemming edges on squares of fabric I bought as remnants.

    1. Interesting. I'm not very well practiced with a sewing machine, but I bet yours turned out great!