It’s 2024, and by now, we all know how to do our bit for the planet. We recycle, turn off the tap when we brush our teeth and boycott single-use plastics. But what else? There must be more to sustainability than cycling to work and tote bags. Here’s five weird ways to be sustainable, some of which you might not have heard of before. Let us know if you’re brave enough to try any of these out for yourself. 

Paperless toilet wipes 

That’s right, at the top of our list of weird ways to be sustainable are paperless toilet wipes, aka wipes for when you wee. If you’ve ever tried reusable makeup wipes, these are the same thing but bigger, not for your face. 

You can buy cloth wipes made of cotton or bamboo that are incredibly soft and washable. Many people who use a bidet already use these types of wipes, but you can also use them to cut down on the amount of toilet paper you use. The idea is you use paperless toilet wipes when you wee, and ordinary toilet paper for the rest.

According to The World Counts, 184 million toilet rolls are used globally annually. The production of all this paper is at the expense of 1,165 million tons of water and 712 million trees. If you want to reduce the amount of paper you use, try paperless toilet wipes. Most of us use between 8 and 9 squares of toilet roll every time we go to the toilet. If you can, try a few squares less, or none at all!

Plant milk makers 

Many alternative milk companies use Tetra Pak cartons which are notoriously difficult to recycle because they are made up of mixed materials such as cardboard and plastic that are hard to separate. In their latest sustainability report, Tetra Pak stated that out of 192 billion cartons sold last year, only 50 billion were recycled. This means over 140 billion cartons are still scattered worldwide. 

Swap Tetra Pak cartons for alternatives, like making your own plant milk trying out new plant milk makers on the market. These quirky pieces of tech help you make your own dairy-free milk at home. Part blender, part strainer, plant milk makers are a step up from the humble cheesecloth. They’re fun to use, self-sufficient, and you’ll save money on all the store-bought milk you no longer have to buy. 

The main issue is that Tetra Pak often has to be collected or taken to a recycling centre with the right machinery to take apart each material, something that not every local council has. You can always post your Tetra Pak to be properly recycled, but this is neither a priority nor time efficient for most people. 

Investing in a plant milk maker also means getting creative with the leftover pulp and baking delicious goods like cookies, pancakes, and banana bread!

Kintsugi 

Next on our list of weird ways to be sustainable is an upcycle project that isn’t weird at all. Kintsugi is a beautiful Japanese tradition that celebrates breakages and breathes new life into broken items. Cracked or chipped pottery is glued back together and adorned with powdered gold before being left to dry. 

The practice of Kintsugi dates back to the 15th century when a man called Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa was said to have broken his favourite Chinese tea bowl. He immediately sent the bowl to China to be repaired with gold. Today, many fashion and interior designers take inspiration from kintsugi and try to imitate the asymmetrical gold lines in their own work.  

The art of Kintsugi is about more than aesthetics, it’s an acceptance of imperfection. If you want to try a traditional way to be more sustainable, try mending something in your home. Of course, make sure the item is still usable and safe. Spend some time fixing a dish or plate or even paint some old furniture you might otherwise get rid of. 

Potatoes for your plants and home 

Back to our ways to be more sustainable - save nutrient-rich potato water for your plants. Instead of draining the water used to boil your potatoes, simply let the water cool down and give your plants a boost of starchy goodness. 

When boiled, certain foods like potatoes, pasta, and rice will release starch - a complex carbohydrate. Starch is a great energy source and will help your plant grow and produce larger, greener leaves. Boiled potato water is a natural fertiliser that contains minerals such as potassium, iron, and phosphorus.

Ensure you don’t salt your water if you plan to do this! Large amounts of sodium can cause your plants to dry out, burn and stop growing. 

Speaking of potatoes, if you have a few gnarly and knotted spuds lying around, you can use them on light stains and rust as an eco-friendly cleaning product. Potatoes contain oxalic acid, a common ingredient found in household cleaning products. Oxalic acid can help to remove small stains and is even better at removing rust. If a potato is halved, the flesh can be used to rub pots, pans, and kitchen sides. 

Compost your and your pet’s hair! 

Last on our list of how to be more sustainable is to compost your body’s organic materials, aka your hair! And, of course, your pet too. The same goes for your fingernail clippings and, yup, dead skin. All of it can be composted or thrown into your food waste bin. 

If you don’t already, composting is great for the environment. The UK wastes over 9.5 million tonnes of food every year. Most commonly, bread, dairy, and potatoes. You can turn your own food waste into a natural fertiliser for your garden. Human hair is a protein high in nitrogen, which makes it great for green compost, alongside food waste, and grass trimmings. 

We hope you try one of our weird ways to be sustainable and tell us how it goes. If you want to learn more about sustainability and how you can help save our planet, read about the biodiversity crisis nobody is talking about. And have you ever wondered what cities can do to become more sustainable? Read about how Sheffield got its green status.