I’ve been talking to alot of Mums recently and they’re telling me that green living advice can sometimes feel like a mountain of pressure. Swap this, buy that, overhaul your whole life… all while you’re just trying to get through the day with little ones in tow. No wonder so many of us mums end up thinking, “I’ll try later” (and then feel guilty for not doing enough).
Here’s the truth: you don’t need to do it all. You don’t need to be perfect. The biggest impact comes from the tiny things we do every day, the things we can actually stick to without burning out. Building habits takes time.
These are 7 simple swaps you can start using right now — no pressure, no guilt, just gentle steps that make life a little greener and easier.
All of the brands below follow our ethos of small, sustainable changes made over time and are fully dedicated to making the most positive impact they can on the environment and the people who use it.
1. Switch to Reusable Water Bottles
Instead of grabbing single-use bottles, keep a reusable one in your bag or the buggy.
✨ All Out Option: Ocean Bottle is working to stop 7 billion plastic bottles from entering the ocean. Every bottle bought funds 25lbs of plastic collection from the sea – providing much needed income to coastal communities.
💚 Lower-Cost Option: Sho is founded on a mission to create reusable bottles that are repairable too. Buy once – use forever.
✂️ DIY Version: Rinse and reuse a sturdy glass juice bottle. If you’re feeling crafty you could reuse some fabric to personalise it.
2. Bulk Buy Your Basics
Buying in bigger packs means less packaging and usually saves money. Start with one thing and work out a rhythm that works well for your life. It doesn’t need to be glamorous or ellaborate – but it does need to work for you.
e.g. Starting from the bottom up (haha!) – how about switching up your loo roll?
✨ All Out Option: Who Gives a Crap toilet paper subscriptions. These are as loud and funky as the name suggests. At roughly 27p per 100 sheets, it rivals premium loo roll brands like Andrex. They donate 50% of their profits to charity and have already donated over 9million to causes that aid proper sanitation – their mission is to give everyone in the world access to clean water and a toilet.
💚 Lower-Cost Option: These guys have really nailed the cost element that can be so tricky to manage when making greener choices. Naked paper unbleached bamboo loo roll (UK-based, slightly cheaper). These are around 22p for 100 sheets which will get you a product which is unbleached, made without any fossil fuels and is the lowest climate footprint loo paper available right now.
✂️ DIY Version: If subscriptions aren’t for you and you need something you can bung in the trolley during the weekly shop – Tesco’s luxury soft is 100% recycled paper with 50% recycled plastic packaging and comes in at around 16p per 100 sheets.
3. Go Bag-for-Life (and Actually Use It)
We’ve all got a stash of bags-for-life. The trick is remembering to use them. Personally, I do this much more effectively if I actually love the bag I’m using. I once bought a limited edition Orla Kiley patten tesco bag for life and I’ve never stopped using it – people even comment on how nice it it.
✨ All Out Option: Rapanui Cotton Totes (organic, UK-made). Regenerative, made to order to prevent over-production and circular. A fantastic company who like us at Bloom Well at Home, believe that with good design, a waste-free world is possible in our lifetime.
💚 Lower-Cost Option: Committed to helping customers to adapt to reducing, reusing and recycling, Eco Chic bags are made of recycled plastic bottles, starting at around £6. .
✂️ DIY Version: Old rucksack, a free tote from an event, or you could make your own, if you’re feeling creative.
4. Second-Hand First
Kids grow so fast — new clothes barely last a season.
✨ All Out Option: Vinted (easy-to-use second-hand app).
💚 Lower-Cost Option: Oxfam Online Shop, facebook marketplace or local charity shops. My MiL is often bringing home 50p bargains for my little one to wear – all in excellent condition.
✂️ DIY Version: Ask at toddler groups, swap with friends, or set up a “mum swap bag” in your local area – WhatsApp group, peanut app and facebook are great for these.
5. Meat-Free Mondays
Even one veggie meal a week makes a difference.
✨ All Out Option: Mob Kitchen Veggie Recipes.
💚 Lower-Cost Option: Jack Monroe’s Budget Veggie Recipes (brilliant, affordable ideas).
✂️ DIY Version: Keep it simple — lentil soup, baked potatoes with beans, or a veggie stir fry with whatever’s left in the fridge. Get inspiration from our pinterest boards for this!
6. Switch Out the Suds
Eco detergents are kinder on skin and planet.
✨ All Out Option – Stripwash Eco Strips is a really easy eco swap. These UK-made sheets are plastic-free, biodegradable and community-minded. They cost more (around 29p per wash), but you’re paying for convenience, clean clothes and real eco ethics.
💷 Budget Option – Re:gn Laundry Sheets is the perfect budget swap at just 10p a wash. They’re plant-based, gentle, and even come unscented for sensitive skin. Simple, affordable and a great first step into eco laundry. Check out Nimble too, created by a detergent scientist determined to add “gentler than gentle” to our “whiter than whites”- it’s affordable and designed to be friendly to families and the planet.
🌱 DIY Option – Soapnuts are nature’s detergent. For the lowest-cost, low-waste wash, soapnuts are brilliant. Just pop a few in a cotton bag and reuse them for several loads. 100% natural, compostable, and super budget-friendly. This starter pack will keep you going for 480 washes, at 16p a wash – and has scent options and a stain remover included in the price.
7. Borrow, Don’t Buy
Before spending money, ask around.
✨ All Out Option: Library of Things (tool/kit lending in UK cities).
💚 Lower-Cost Option: Fat Llama (peer-to-peer renting, usually cheaper than buying).
✂️ DIY Version: Ask in your local Facebook or WhatsApp mum group — most parents are happy to lend.
The Secret? It’s About Progress, Not Perfection
You don’t need to do everything at once. In fact, please don’t — that’s the fastest way to burnout. To make this stick – just pick one swap that feels easiest and start there. Once that’s part of your normal, you can add another.
The point is to make greener living fit into your life, not the other way around. And the magic is — every little change you make ripples out: your kids see it, your friends notice it, and slowly, you’re part of a bigger wave of change.
Ready for More Gentle Swaps?
For more tips and encouragement, sign up to the eco-ish mama newsletter to get a monthly update, and our welcome bundle worth £21 – free to you right now – Greener, Gentler Days digital mini-guide — packed with simple tips for mums who want to live a little lighter without the guilt or overwhelm, and our Life Lines, 1 line a day printable journal.
Because being eco doesn’t have to be hard. It can be simple, doable and joyful.
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