The environment is a big deal. It’s something that we need to take care of, and there are so many different ways we can do this. We can recycle and reduce waste, but there’s also the issue of clutter.
If you’re looking for a way to declutter your home while also helping out the planet, then eco-friendly organizing is an excellent solution!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Sustainability is crucial for the future of our planet and reducing waste is an important part of that. |
| Minimalism combined with eco-friendly organizing can lead to significant benefits, not only for the environment but for our mental and physical health as well. |
| Avoiding waste and decluttering mindfully can help you to reduce your carbon footprint. |
| Storing items in an environmentally responsible manner is crucial when organizing your home sustainably. |
| Eco-friendly organizing is compatible with small spaces, and you can learn numerous tips and tricks to declutter and implement sustainably regardless of the size of your space. |
Start Sustainably By Re-assessing Your Habits
The first step to getting started is to take stock of your current habits, and how you feel about them. Are you happy with the way your life is going? Or are there things that could be made better, or even eliminated entirely?
If there’s something that’s just not working in your life right now, it might be time to make some changes. But if everything seems okay but still isn’t quite what you’d like it to be or if you’re looking for a new way of living but don’t know where to start it’s time for a little re-assessment.
Ask yourself: What would I like my ideal day-to-day life look like? Do I want more time alone? More time with friends? A job outside of the home (or inside) instead of being at home all day long with kids running amok around me while I try desperately not get sucked into their latest dramatic plotline (which includes “someone stole my backpack”).
Or do I want less stress and more relaxation by having someone else do household chores for me so I can focus on taking care myself instead?
Going green is essential in today’s world, and organizing your home environmentally is crucial for a sustainable future. Learn how to combine minimalism with living sustainably with Unified Orderly’s guide.
Take The Junk Out To The Curb
The first step of any organizing project is to take everything out of the space you’re working with or thinking about. This can be a daunting task, but it’s important to remember that this is not a permanent arrangement.
Remember, there’s no such thing as perfection! If your organizational goals include minimalism and sustainability, then cleaning out your stuff will be part of this process.
As you go through the items in your home or office, ask yourself if they add value to your life: Do they spark joy? (Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has some great advice on how to determine what sparks joy.) If an item doesn’t spark joy for you anymore or if something new simply sparks more joy than an old item then get rid of it!
It’s also important not to worry about what other people think about what you’ve done or whether their opinions will change over time (they won’t).
And don’t worry about how this will impact others either (again: they won’t). It’s easy to think that our lives are impacted by so many different factors beyond our control; however, when we take stock of all those things that are actually under our control such as our own possessions it becomes apparent how much power we do have over them.
If you want to create an eco-friendly environment, it is important to take steps to reduce your waste. Decluttering for the environment is an excellent way to start to create a sustainable home, and the experts at Unified Orderly have shared some easy tips to get you started.
Donate And Re-home Items
Donating or re-homing items is a great way to get rid of clutter and make space for new things in your home. If you have gently used clothing, toys, furniture or other items that are in good condition but no longer need them, consider donating these items to charity.
Some charities will pick up donations from your house while others will only accept donations from the thrift store locations of their organization.
Depending on where you live there may be one or more options for donating items:
- thrift stores (Goodwill)
- animal shelters/rescues (Shelter Me)
- local schools (Donors Choose)
It can also be fun to give away some of your unused stuff as gifts!
| Benefits | Approach |
|---|---|
| Positive environmental impact | Donating items keeps them out of landfills and reduces waste |
| Helping local communities | Charities and non-profits rely on donations to help others in need |
| Tax deductions | Donations to non-profit organizations are tax-deductible |
| Feeling good | Donating items can bring feelings of satisfaction knowing you’ve helped others |
| Creating space in your home | Getting rid of items can free up physical and mental space |
| Redirecting unneeded items | Instead of trashing items, donating allows someone else to give them a new life |
Donating or rehoming items in good condition to charity is a responsible way to get rid of clutter while also benefiting others and the environment. It can help local charities and non-profits support their communities while making you feel good about helping others.
Additionally, donating to charitable organizations can provide tax deductions. Donating items you no longer need also creates space in your home and prevents waste from entering landfills, promoting a more sustainable way of living.
Focus On What You Truly Need And Love
The first thing to do is to get a good idea of what you actually need. This can be difficult because we often feel like we “need” something, but after some thought, it’s not really necessary for our lives at all.
For example, maybe your mother gave you that really ugly sweater as a gift. Or maybe there’s an old piece of furniture that has been sitting around the house for years and now takes up space and is just taking up more room than it needs to.
The next step is to figure out what items in your home bring joy or happiness (or at least don’t cause any stress) when they’re around. These are items that you should keep around in your space they’re important!
But there may also be some things hanging out in storage closets that aren’t necessarily useful but still bring a smile onto your face when they’re brought out again (and these are okay too).
Reduce, reuse and recycle – this is the mantra for anyone who aims to live sustainably. The Sustainable Decluttering Guide by Unified Orderly contains numerous tips and tricks to help you streamline your home’s possessions, reduce your waste, and progress towards a more sustainable way of living.
Enlist Help From Professional Organizers
If you’re looking for help decluttering, professional organizers are the way to go. They will come into your home or office and help you identify what is useful and what isn’t.
The right organizer can also help you determine where things should go in your space, so they can be easily retrieved when needed.
Professional organizers also have access to special tools that let them see how much space items take up in a given area, making it easier for them to find ways of saving space and getting rid of unnecessary clutter in your life.
It’s important that you choose an organizer who has been trained specifically for this kind of work—someone who will charge by the hour instead of charging by the project (which could end up costing more than necessary).
| Benefits | Approach |
|---|---|
| Unbiased perspective | Professional organizers can help you objectively identify what is useful and what isn’t |
| Personalized approach | They can create a tailored plan for organizing based on your individual needs and lifestyle |
| Expertise | They have experience and training in organizing spaces and can offer valuable insights on storage solutions and space management |
| Time-saving | Professional organizers can help streamline the decluttering process, saving you time and stress |
| Accountability | They can provide accountability and motivation to help you stay on track with your organizing goals |
Hiring a professional organizer can help you declutter and organize your home or office with a personalized approach. With their expertise and experience in organizing spaces, they can offer time-saving solutions and a valuable unbiased perspective.
Professional organizers can help you stay accountable and motivated throughout the process, making the decluttering process less stressful and more effective.
Ditch Those Single-Use Items
Single-use items, like paper towels and plastic drinking straws, are not sustainable. They’re bad for the environment, your health and your wallet.
Plastic bags and bottles: These single-use plastics are used to package food and beverages that often end up in landfills.
Plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills — if they ever do at all! Many end up in our oceans where they float around for hundreds of years before breaking down into tiny pieces that harm marine life.
Single-use water bottles can be recycled but most people don’t recycle them because it’s inconvenient or there’s no recycling center nearby (such as on a beach). On average Americans use 167 single-use water bottles per year — this is equivalent to an entire year’s supply if you bought each bottle individually!
Living an eco-friendly life benefits not only our planet but ourselves as well. If you want to declutter and reduce your carbon footprint simultaneously, check out the Eco-Friendly Decluttering Method on Unified Orderly’s guide.
Swap Out Paper Towels For Reusable Ones
Instead of using paper towels, opt for reusable cloths to clean surfaces and wipe up spills. And if you need something to dry off with after a shower, try using old T-shirts instead of paper towels.
If you like napkins for your meals, consider switching over to cloth ones in lieu of paper napkins. You can also purchase reusable fabric coasters (or make them yourself) that will save on waste from disposable drink coasters!
Use these same kinds of reusable items to clean up after pets as well as children—they’re great for wiping up messes both big and small!
Choose Multi-Purpose, Eco-Friendly Products
Multi-purpose products are a great way to save space and money. If you have an item that can be used in more than one way, it takes up less space in your home and gives you more options for how to use it. For example, a dish rack can also be used as a drying rack or storage container if needed!
Another eco-friendly tip is to choose products made from recycled materials or renewable materials whenever possible.
This reduces the amount of waste produced by our homes and businesses, which helps prevent pollution from plastic and other materials that take hundreds of years or even thousands to decompose in landfills.
In addition to being environmentally friendly, these products often cost less than those made from new materials because they’re easier for companies to produce on large scales, thanks to economies of scale (i.e., buying one machine for 50 different products instead of 50 machines for each product).
Finally, look for sustainable items when shopping so you know your purchases aren’t contributing negatively towards climate change (for example: many companies use unsustainable palm oil in their manufacturing processes).
It can be tough to keep your towels organized in a neat and tidy fashion, especially in a smaller bathroom. Fortunately, Unified Orderly has got you covered. Check out their Towel Storage Solutions guide and learn more about effective towel storage solutions to keep your bathroom in tip-top shape.
Be More Mindful Of Materials In Your Home
The next step to living a sustainable lifestyle is to be more mindful of the materials in your home.
Reuse and recycle existing products whenever possible. If you have a piece of furniture that you don’t want anymore, consider donating it to someone else instead of throwing it away. This way, the item can still be used for its intended purpose and someone else will benefit from it!
Use natural or recycled materials when possible. This can help cut down on waste because fewer resources are used during production and disposal (which means less pollutants emitted into the atmosphere).
It also reduces your carbon footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions during production/manufacture processes such as transportation/shipping cargo across oceans (particularly if importing products from overseas) since there won’t be any harm done due to shipping!
Buy products made with renewable resources whenever possible because this ensures that our natural resources will last longer than if we keep using non-renewable ones just like how trees need decades before they grow back after being cut down while plastic bags only take seconds before breaking apart again so never buy single use plastics ever again! Yay!!
| Benefits | Approach |
|---|---|
| Positive environmental impact | Reusing and recycling existing products |
| Saving money | By not constantly buying new items, you can save money |
| Supporting local communities | Donating items to local charities can help support those in need |
| Healthier living space | Choosing natural and non-toxic materials can make your living environment healthier |
| Encouraging innovation | Supporting sustainable products can encourage innovation and development of eco-friendly solutions |
| Reducing waste | Choosing materials that are durable and long-lasting can help reduce waste |
Being mindful of the materials in your home is a crucial aspect of living sustainably. By reusing and recycling existing products whenever possible and considering the environmental impact of the products you bring into your home, you can achieve a positive impact on the environment, save money, and enhance the living environment in your home.
Donating items to local charities, investing in sustainable products and choosing materials that are long-lasting can lead to a happier and healthier lifestyle for you, while also benefiting the environment.
Bring Natural Elements Into The Home
Natural elements can be found in many places, including your backyard and local parks. If you’re looking for a quick fix that doesn’t require much effort, try bringing some items from these areas into your home.
If you want to go the extra mile and make sure that your new decorations are eco-friendly, consider making them yourself!
A lot of natural elements can easily be turned into crafts, from driftwood to sea shells. You can also add greenery in vases around the house or use plants as decoration on tables and shelves.
Adopt A More Minimalist Lifestyle
Minimalism is an approach to living that focuses on reducing the amount of possessions you have. It’s a way of decluttering your life and the world around you, by choosing what to keep and what to let go.
In general, minimalism is about living with less so that you have more time and money for the things that matter most to you. When applied in this way, it’s also an environmentally friendly lifestyle choice.
According to some estimates, up to 90% of Americans live with too much stuff! Clutter has been linked not only with mental health issues like depression but also physical ailments like arthritis not surprising given how much room clutter takes up in our houses!
Minimalism isn’t just about passing on items when they’re no longer useful; it can also mean donating them instead of throwing them out in order to reduce waste production even more quickly than recycling would allow (and thus help save energy).
| Benefits | Approach |
|---|---|
| Reducing stress | Decluttering your life and choosing what to keep |
| Saving money | Choosing to buy less and prioritize quality over quantity |
| More space | Removing unnecessary possessions and freeing up physical space |
| Positive environmental impact | Consuming only what’s needed and reducing waste |
| Enhanced creativity | Living with less can boost creativity and focus |
| Improved mindfulness | Being more conscious of what you own and purchase |
| Time saved | Making less buying decisions and dedicating less time to maintaining and organizing possessions |
A minimalist lifestyle involves reducing the number of possessions you have, which can lead to numerous benefits, including less stress, saving money, having more space, and contributing to a positive environmental impact.
By consuming only what’s needed and prioritizing quality over quantity, you can boost your focus and creativity and live a more mindful and satisfying life.
Don’t Get Discouraged! Every Little Change Helps
Don’t get discouraged! Every little change helps. When you start sorting your belongings, it can feel like an impossible task—but the more you do, the easier it gets. You’re doing a great job!
It’s important to remember that every step in the right direction counts; even if you can only make small changes at a time, those improvements will add up over time.
Conclusion
We know that decluttering and eco-friendly organizing can seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it all at once.
Start by taking the junk out of your home, then focus on finding more sustainable products for your life and work. Use these tips as a guide, but also know that every little change makes an impact—even if it’s just using reusable water bottles instead of disposable ones! Remember: slow down, breathe deep and enjoy living in harmony with Mother Nature.
Further Reading
Here are some recommended articles for more information on eco-friendly organizing:
How Decluttering Can Help You Live a Sustainable Lifestyle: This article discusses how decluttering can contribute to living a sustainable lifestyle and offers tips on how to start.
Eco-Friendly Organizing Ideas: This article from Better Homes & Gardens gives tips on how to organize your home sustainably while reducing waste.
Eco-Friendly Organizing Tips: Clutter’s blog provides tips to help you declutter sustainably while being environmentally responsible.
FAQs
How does eco-friendly organizing differ from traditional organizing?
Eco-friendly organizing focuses not only on decluttering and organizing your spaces but also on doing so sustainably. It emphasizes reducing waste, recycling, and upcycling.
What are some key benefits of eco-friendly organizing?
Decluttering and organizing with eco-friendliness in mind can help you minimize your environmental impact, make your home healthier, and enhance your overall quality of life.
What are some tips and tricks for eco-friendly organizing?
Some useful tips to keep in mind while eco-friendly organizing include decluttering mindfully, reducing waste, reusing items in creative ways, donating and repurposing unwanted items, and investing in environmentally friendly storage solutions.
How can eco-friendly organizing lead to a minimalist lifestyle?
Eco-friendly organizing encourages the practice of mindful consumption, which can ultimately lead to adopting a minimalist lifestyle. By focusing on quality over quantity, one can reduce the amount of waste generated and encourage a more sustainable way of living.
Is eco-friendly organizing suitable for small spaces?
Absolutely! In fact, eco-friendly organizing can be particularly beneficial for small spaces due to its emphasis on innovation and creativity. With the right mindset and storage solutions, it is possible to organize small spaces sustainably and effectively.
Hi there! My name is Hellen James. I’m a professional decluttering expert who loves to help people get their homes in order. I’ve worked with people from all walks of life—from high school students to retirees and everything in between—to help them clear out clutter and make the most of their space so they can focus on what matters most to them.