Living Sustainably: Tips and Tricks from Goodwill

April is Earth Month, and we all want to do our part to protect the planet and keep our communities beautiful. Sustainability is the practice of using natural resources (such as water, clean air, soil, and forests) responsibly to preserve them for generations to come.

Good news — being more sustainable doesn’t require an upheaval of your entire lifestyle! It’s as simple as reduce, reuse, recycle, and repurpose:

#1: Reduce: Use Only What You Need

Overusing resources can harm our environment. To live more sustainably, make every effort to only use what you need. For example, instead of grabbing a handful of paper napkins, take only what you need. When brushing your teeth or washing the dishes, don’t leave the faucet running longer than necessary. Turn off the lights when leaving a room, and unplug electronics and appliances when not in use.

Simply being aware of how much or how often we use natural resources is a huge step in the right direction!

#2: Reuse: Avoid Disposables!

Whenever possible, avoid using single-use paper and plastic products that will be thrown away and left in landfills, where they can take years to break down. Here are a few ideas:

• Switch to a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottles.
• Use cloth dish towels or rags instead of paper towels or wipes.
• Carry a lunch box with reusable containers and utensils instead of using disposable plastic.
• Get a reusable straw that can fit into your bag or purse.

#3: Recycle & Repurpose: Donate to Goodwill!

We all have items that we no longer need, use, or want in our homes. Instead of throwing them away, consider donating them to Goodwill in Cincinnati!

Your Goodwill donations will be repurposed and resold in our retail stores, where someone else will purchase them and give them a new life! Anything we receive that cannot be resold is recycled responsibly with help from our recycling partners. The proceeds from the sale of donated items help support Goodwill’s mission to provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and our nation’s veterans.

It’s a win-win for you, the planet, and your community!

Ready, Set, Go Green!

This April, we challenge you to take one of these steps toward sustainability — we’ll be there to support you all the way!

Whether you shop in a Goodwill thrift store in Cincinnati to give gently-used items a new purpose or make a Goodwill donation, you can be confident that you’re making a sustainable and meaningful choice. Thank you for choosing Goodwill and being a job creator in your community!