Is leading a more sustainable lifestyle one of your 2022 resolutions? Then you can't miss this blog post. In it, we'll talk about how to continue evolving in the zero-waste world. Let's delve a little deeper into this concept.

DO YOU ALREADY HAVE THE BASICS?

You may already have the zero waste basics we all start with:

• Shopping bags , whether for transport or bulk purchases.
• Bottles and reusable cups to consume your drinks
• Wooden toothbrushes and natural toothpastes
• Loofah sponges andscrubbers
• Solid soaps and shampoos
• Food carriers or wax wrappers

Here are some examples. We'd love to know what your zero-waste essentials are . If you'd like, tell the world about it on your social media and tag us so we can see it. It seems silly, but when we do this, we're showing other people sustainable alternatives they might not have thought about.

If you want to continue moving toward a more sustainable lifestyle, we're going to suggest a series of changes that can help you evolve.

MAKE YOUR OWN HYGIENE, COSMETICS AND CLEANING PRODUCTS

If you've been following us for a while, you'll know we're big on potions. In fact, we have a section on the blog called "Alma Eko's Potions," where we show you recipes for hygiene, cosmetics, and cleaning products that you can make at home, always with natural ingredients . We've linked the latest potion to you here . You'll find links to all the others at the end of the post.

To make your own homemade recipes, you'll need some basic ingredients . If you browse through our previous posts, you'll see that many ingredients are repeated from one recipe to another. That's why, with just a few ingredients , you can make tons of different recipes .

But we don't want to put pressure on you. Don't overwhelm yourself. We suggest you choose a recipe, gather the ingredients, and then see what other recipes you can use up your leftovers. We don't want you to accumulate products in your house that you won't use . That's not sustainable at all! We want the opposite: for you to shop wisely and make sure you'll use what you have.

Here's a list of the ingredients we use to make these recipes. We think they're already basic, but you can start with much less:

• Essential oils

They're great for adding a pleasant aroma to your creations and also adding healing properties . We'll tell you all the details in this guide to getting started with essential oils.

• Vegetable oils

Coconut oil is essential for us. and shea butter. But we'd also like to take this opportunity to recommend one of our newest additions to our catalog: avocado, sweet almond , castor, and jojoba oils . We 're looking forward to sharing what we're doing with them in future posts.

• Natural cleaning products

Of course, baking soda can't be missing here . It's the most basic and has the most uses. But if you combine it with sodium percarbonate and citric acid , you can do a ton of things.

We can't resist mentioning the cleaning soaps , which are also multipurpose and all handmade.

Another option is washing nuts , which you'll find in different formats and which, in combination with guar gum and the ingredients mentioned above, will also provide you with multiple solutions.

GOING OUT OF THE HOME

When we leave the house, whether for work, errands, or leisure activities, it's easy to fall into the habit of consuming unsustainable items . When we leave home and aren't accompanied by our belongings, we may need something and end up buying uneco-friendly options.

Here, a little planning is essential . Bringing the things we already have at home will save us money and avoid generating waste. We don't want you to become a snail, carrying the house on your back. Simply, implement the habit of thinking for a couple of minutes more, before leaving home, or even the night before, how you think your day will be and identify what objects would be good to take with you. This way, in addition to bringing your reusable bottle , you may decide to bring your own food (which will surely be healthier than what you can buy somewhere) and accompany it with light cutlery and reusable, and even transport it in plastic-free thermoses orlunch boxes .

We want to encourage you, within this section, to switch to reusable tissues . Especially if you're an allergy sufferer, this gesture will not only free the planet from a considerable amount of waste, but your wallet will notice.

Finally, regarding trips away from home, we want to emphasize that any travel impacts the environment. We reflect on this in this post , in which we present the option of traveling by van or camper van as one of the most sustainable and, in times of pandemic, safest.

PERSONAL CARE

This section could be summed up as: 'Do it for the planet, but also for your health.' When we switch to organic or bio products for personal care, the health benefits come hand in hand and are undeniable. What if you choose one of the following suggestions to be more sustainable in 2022?

• Natural deodorants

If you haven't yet switched to non-toxic, plastic-free deodorants , we urge you to make this the next step in your zero-waste lifestyle. Finding the right natural deodorant for you the first time isn't always easy. Therefore, here's a brief guide that explains the different options available and delves into the benefits they offer for your health and the planet.

• Sustainable menstruation

This step is truly important and requires doing it when you feel ready. If you think you are, we encourage you and are available if you have any questions. This post can help you decide where to start. If you take the plunge, you'll see that it's not only better for you and the environment, but it's also a journey of self-discovery.

• Makeup made with natural ingredients

If you wear makeup, making changes to this section can be a great idea. It's a category in our home that easily fills up with products we don't use, that have expired, that have deteriorated over time...

We challenge you: review your makeup products, get rid of what's no longer useful, and identify what new products you need. Think carefully. What items do you really need in this section of your bathroom or vanity?

If you already know what you need, look for sustainable options to fill your drawer. Here are plenty of options made with natural ingredients and packaged with environmentally friendly materials.

• In-depth oral hygiene

You probably already use wooden toothbrushes and Toothpastes made with natural ingredients. We encourage you to maintain a more thorough oral hygiene routine, while continuing to include natural ingredients and plastic-free products. You can achieve this withdental floss and mouthwash . You can find detailed information about this in this post .

• Natural cosmetics

Although we encourage you to try making your own homemade cosmetics, the truth is that it's not that easy to find the right formula for your skin type. If you don't feel like experimenting or aren't into making homemade recipes, cosmetic brands are there for you. At Alma Eko, we have a wide variety of cosmetic products always made with natural ingredients , packaged without plastic, and produced in an environmentally friendly way , mostly by hand.

If you ask us to recommend a specific brand, our first choice would be Matarrania products. It's a safe bet. You just have to identify your needs, identify your skin type, and choose your products accordingly. And, of course, if you have any questions, just ask us.

Oh, we've got more things left to recommend, but we'll leave it here to avoid further delay. Above all, we'd like to talk about the basics and not-so-basics of a zero-waste kitchen. Would you like to see us cover this topic on the blog soon?