The Beginner's Guide to Eco Swaps: 5 Simple Steps to get you Started.

5 quick and easy tips to make your first steps into eco swap shopping as easy and straight forward as possible.

The whole point of Easy Eco Swaps is to help people make sustainable changes for life. These are not quick fixes or "one-hit wonders"; they are simple, effective, and practical products that can replace the big-name brands you use every day, for good. If you’re anything like me, you’ll feel a rush of enthusiasm and want to change everything at once. However, I can tell you from experience that this approach doesn’t work. Swaps get forgotten, new habits fail to stick, and old habits creep back in - especially when you have a husband who's prone to nostalgic tendencies!

Here are 5 tips to help keep you on track and ensure that eco swaps become part of your daily routine:

1. Take it Slow

tart with a couple of swaps at a time, allowing them to become second nature before adding more. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. The goal is to build a solid foundation and gradually expand. That's why I recommend beginning with the simplest swaps. Once you're comfortable with those, the more challenging ones will feel much easier to integrate.

2. Tackle One Room at a Time

You'll notice my swap guides are categorized by rooms, and there’s a reason for that. It's much easier to assess the products in a single room and think about how they can be swapped for more eco-friendly options. You may have already started on your eco-swap journey, but if you’re looking for inspiration, feel free to explore the site for new ideas.

3. Don't Start from Scratch

If you're like me, you probably have a bunch of products to finish before diving into eco swaps. Don't be tempted to toss everything away (unless it’s old or expired). Use up what you have, then begin fresh with your eco-friendly alternatives. This way, you avoid waste while making a gradual transition.

4. Set up a recycling bin for your bedroom/bathroom

It doesn’t have to be a traditional bin. I use a small wicker basket next to the sink where I toss empty product containers. You can recycle more items than you think these days. The next time you visit Boots (or a similar store), take those containers and drop them into the beauty recycle bins.

For more information on what to recycle and where, check out this blog post -> [Link to post].

5. Stay committed!

It's easy to feel like individual actions are insignificant, but they’re not. We need to start holding large corporations accountable for the environmental damage they've caused. These companies often prioritise profit over sustainability, and without pressure from consumers, they will continue down this path unchecked. Governments are failing to regulate them effectively, which makes our voices all the more important.

Remember, this isn’t just about individual action—it's about the power of collective change. There are millions of us, and together, we can make a real difference.