New year, new me: 10 easy ways to reduce waste without becoming a different person

January has a way of making us feel like we should reinvent our lives overnight. New routines, new goals, new everything.

But if you’re trying to live a bit more sustainably this year, you don’t need a full personality transplant. Every time we speak to customers, we say the same thing: you don't need to be perfect and you definitely don’t need to bin everything you already own and “start fresh” (please don’t do that).

The alternative means: New year, new habits. Tiny ones but the kind that stick.

So here are a few realistic, low-effort ways to reduce waste in 2026 and feel low-key good about it.

Start with the easiest win: use what you already have

The most eco thing you can do this week is, not buying anything new. Weird for a shop to be pushing this but it's true.

Before you replace “everything plastic”, have a rummage. That old tote bag, the half-used shampoo, the mystery jar collection in the cupboard, these can all be used, reused, re-purposed or refilled before they go in the bin. 

Try this:

1. Finish what’s open before buying replacements
2. Keep a “use-it-up” basket in the kitchen/bathroom
3. Make a small list of what you actually run out of (not what you think you should own)

Pick one area, not your whole life

The fastest way to burn out is trying to do 100 swaps at once. Pick one "zone" and make it easier, not harder.

Good starter zones:

• Bathroom basics (shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste)
• Kitchen staples (tea, coffee, pasta, rice)
• Cleaning products (washing-up liquid, laundry, sprays)

When one zone is switched and you can feel like it's sustainable within your own life/daily habits, then move onto the next.

Make refills your autopilot, not your willpower

Sustainability works best when it’s the easiest option. If you refill, try setting yourself up so it becomes the default. We've tried our best to make it as easy as possible for our customers but here are a few reminders to make it the default: 

• Keep your refill containers visible (not hidden at the back of a cupboard)
• Store them clean and ready to go
• Add “refills” to your regular shopping routine (same day, same time) or if you're local, add a reminder to WhatsApp us for your regular top up! 

Remember we don't need an order via the website, you can WhatsApp us! Or set a reminder to go onto our website and add food to your cart. If you want your plastic-free pasta, pantry staples like jam and cooking sauces, toilet cleaner/washing up top ups AND EVEN a veg box (for Thursday customers) all in one, we've got you! 

The goal is to remove the mental load. If you have to “remember to be eco”, it won’t stick.

Do a “one new habit” month

If you like a proper New Year challenge, this one is simple and effective. When you're used to doing something for a whole month, you can then add another without it being too overwhelming, while hopefully remembering what you learned during the previous month.

January: do a "trash audit", see what you throw away and be mindful of package-free alternatives

February: swap one thing you buy often to a refill or lower-waste option (toothpaste to toothpaste tabs, deodorant to a refillable option etc.)

March: make sure every take-away coffee is in a reusable coffee cup (bonus points if you make yourself a PF sticker chart)

April: make Easter 100% plastic-free, we're talking all compostable or recyclable packaging for your eggs (foil, card, compostable materials, paper etc.) and plastic-free roast dinners. Did you know, if you take your reusable containers to most butchers or deli counters, they'll refill them for you - avoiding the packaging? 

May: no mow-May! Try and support your local wildlife by leaving those lawns long! OK not plastic related but important none-the-less 🐞

June: try a plastic-free date day. Picnics can be made even more fun by creating all the snacks the night before with loved ones or little ones, ready for your adventure. Here are some great plastic-free snack ideas:

• Homemade hummus + vegetable sticks
• From scratch crackers: here's a good recipe
• Easy bakes like cakes and bread - remember you can refill olive oil in most refill shops and you can by butter in cardboard boxes like Lurpak! 
  

July: Plastic-Free July! It's like our Christmas! This month, take inspiration from the Plastic-Free July website and use their guides to support your journey. 

August: start looking at your cleaning products and/or laundry products. Do the ingredients have 80,000 words you don't understand? Or do they say harmful or come with warnings? Why not try a whole month with no-tox cleaning products like white vinegar and bicarb or citric acid. Or switch over your laundry products to skin-kind options like our refillable options from Fill and Choose2Eco and you'll notice a big difference for your family/household.

September: Second-Hand September! This is a great time for a wardrobe review as we go into the cooler months. Check out Vinted, Thrift+ and your local charity shops to revamp your wardrobe. Have a hole in your favourite sweater? Try and repair it with sewing tutorials on YouTube! 

October: Halloween is up there with one of the most "wasteful" celebrations of the year. This is the perfect time to try a costume swap with other local families, or upcycling what you have! Also switch to plastic-free candy (paper wrapped or in cardboard) or head to your local refill shop and fill up little bags! 

November: sack off fireworks. This is a controversial one but fireworks are not only incredibly wasteful, they also contribute to pollution and are harmful to wildlife. It's an incredible stressful time for pet owners (we know first hand), and they can cause long-lasting effects on your local wildlife.

December: we recently found an amazing Instagram account (Ruth Randall - @consciously_curated_home) she's someone who thrifts ALL of her gifts for friends and family, for birthdays and holidays. She has some great inspo and we'll definitely be doing this! 

One swap a month doesn’t feel dramatic — but by the end of the year it’s a completely different baseline.

Become obsessed with reducing food waste (it saves money too)

If there’s one eco habit that pays you back immediately, it’s wasting less food.

A simple routine:

1. Do one “fridge audit” day a week (10 minutes)
2. Plan 2/3 meals around what needs using
3. Keep a “bits” box in the fridge (half onions, sad carrots, leftover herbs)
4. Freeze bread, leftover sauces, and “nearly there” veg for soups/stocks/stews

OK it's not the most glamorous, but unbelievably effective!

And if you've got leftover food waste, why not try composting?

We're not going to pretend to be the most savvy at composting, but our hot bin has provided our garden with lots of nourishment. Not every composting option might be suitable for your needs but we've found a great blog post that can help you decide. 

Choose swaps that feel good, not punishing

If a swap makes you miserable, it won’t last. There are plenty of options that are more enjoyable, not less.

Look for:

• Products you like using
• Scents/textures you actually want in your home (i.e. linen, cotton, not overpowering synthetic perfume)
• Solutions that work with your routine
• Sustainability should feel like an upgrade, not a chore.

Try the “pause before purchase” rule

This is a big one for waste reduction (and bank balance wellbeing). Before buying something new, ask:

• Can I use what I already have?
• Can I borrow it, rent it, or buy it second-hand?
• Will I still want this in a month?

If the answer is “maybe" then wait 48 hours. You’ll be amazed how often “maybe” becomes a “nah, I'm okay, I'll put the money towards something else” like a break or a subscription.

Don’t let perfectionism bully you

You will forget your bags sometimes. You will buy something in plastic occasionally. Life will happen. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed!

This is a long game. We’re aiming for “better”, not “flawless”. Sustainability is a sliding scale and we can't be perfect, it's impossible. One step forward is better than not doing anything at all!

Make it social (or at least shared)

If you live with someone, get them involved in a low-drama way. Not as “you should”, more as “this makes life easier”.

Try:

• A shared refill list on the fridge
• A box for jars/containers so they don’t wander
• A “top-up” routine (when one runs low, add to list immediately)

The most sustainable habits are the ones that don’t require nagging.

A simple New Year eco checklist

If you want something you can actually tick off, here's a good list to start:

1.  Use up one open product before buying another
2.  Put a bag somewhere you’ll remember it
3.  Choose one refill swap for each month (as above)
4.  Plan one meal a week around “use it up” food
5.  Start a simple regular refill shopping list
6.  Try one second-hand purchase before buying new
7.  Give yourself permission to do this imperfectly

The most important bit is to remember that you don’t need a “new you” - you just need a slightly easier system. Small changes done consistently beat big changes you abandon by February.

If you’d like help picking your “one swap for January”, pop in (or message us) and we’ll point you towards the easiest options for your routine, whether that’s refills, simple bathroom swaps, or low-waste essentials that just work.

Here’s to a calmer, less wasteful year - without the guilt trip.