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by Janelle Rolke @sustainablestepswithjanelle This is the third chapter from "Lead a Circular Lifestyle By Practicing the R's of Sustainability" The amount we consume is excessive, so let’s slow it down.   Overconsumption is a real problem. Many of us have found ourselves constantly spending money on things that are not truly necessary and using too much product… I write this as I use WAY too much honey in my tea. Yes there are far worse things, but it’s a nice reminder to slow down and only use what I need.   I mentioned previously that the R’s of sustainability are connected. ...

by Janelle Rolke @sustainablestepswithjanelle This is the second chapter from "Lead a Circular Lifestyle By Practicing the R's of Sustainability" Just say “NO” to single use plastics, freebies, and sales. Just because it’s a “bargain” does not mean you need it.   There are numerous studies that have revealed that the more “stuff” you have can decrease productivity and distract you from spending time doing things that matter. Enter minimalism.  Along with many other topics I’m discussing, leading a minimalist lifestyle is a process. For most this process will take years, but the rewards are well worth the effort! The main...

by Janelle Rolke @sustainablestepswithjanelle As children we were taught a fluffy version of an ugly reality happening in the world; “If you Reduce, Reuse and Recycle you are being a superb environmental steward.” However, as adults, we learn that it is far more complicated than that. For instance, the recycling industry is broken, food insecurity continues to be a growing issue, meanwhile food waste is higher than ever, plastic is toxic to produce, consume and recycle, and the concentration of CO2​​​​​​​ in our atmosphere is the highest it has been in human history. The current state of the world is unsettling,...

FOR 2021 UPDATE SCROLL DOWN People say it's hard to get rid of plastic. Tell me about it! Hi, I am Sabrina Auclair, the ower of Unpacked Living and this is my plastic-free journey. When I decided to cut plastic out of my life, I knew it was going to be a long process and I had very realistic goals about it. I knew it wasn't going to happen over night, I knew I needed to know exactly how much plastic I had to begin with, and I knew I was not going to buy any new plastic unless absolutely...

UPDATE: This blog has been edited to fit the current COVID situation we are experiencing so basically all outdoor activities, concerts, and experiences had been changed.     Sometimes buying presents feel like a burden and you find yourself going around malls, searching online for hours and still have no idea what to give to someone either for graduation, kids' birthday parties, baby showers, and most importantly, the holidays.   Everyone loves presents. I know I love to give presents to my family and friends but most of the time we don't have in mind the "waste factor" of a...