Sustainable Organization Products and Materials
Organization and Action Steps for Sustainable Organization
Our culture is shifting more toward using more renewable resources and making those resources durable and beautiful. There is hope that all storage product manufacturers will eventually adopt this philosophy. Look to The Uncluttered Life’s Declutter Deck® for tips and tricks about home organization.
Organization
Sustainability means two different things. The first meaning is: Can I sustain the process I have developed to manage it on my own? The second asks whether the organizing products and materials you choose are eco-friendly.
Durability and the ability to reuse an item for years to come help make things sustainable.
Bamboo is my favorite material. I use it in clothing, sheets and in many of my organizing products. Bamboo is not a tree. It is actually a grass that grows abundantly and very quickly.
The easiest way to reduce waste is to reduce consumption.
There is no perfect environmentalist. Do whatever works for you and your lifestyle, keeping in mind your ultimate goal of consuming less. And, when consuming, purchase products that require, for example, less packaging.
Action Steps
Marie Kondo shows us that you can use cardboard boxes in your home to organize your things instead of purchasing new. Reuse items that you already own in your home as opposed to buying new organizing products.
Reframe the language you use when organizing. Instead of calling everything you declutter trash, look at it as something you can keep in circulation. Remember that it is okay to let go and donate to others. This not only reuses the item, but many times people need items that they cannot afford to purchase.
Take the time to research and access local recycling resources.
Use creative ways to recirculate and donate items. This may include neighborhood no-buy groups, garage sales and clothing swaps. Look into your local charities that offer items at a discounted price to those in need. Consider donating to these groups.
Learn from past mistakes and purchase more carefully.