Sustainability is a really important facet of our lives, and simply being aware allows us to think outside the box when it comes to repurposing things. We don't have to be perfect or completely zero waste either. When we all do small things to reduce and reuse packaging, it can go a long way!

You've already started your sustainability journey simply by using Young Living products. The company is committed to sustainable farming practices, regenerative farming and more when it comes to stewarding the earth. We want to be good stewards of the earth everyday in our homes as well, so here are a few simple tips, tricks and DIYs you can implement today!

One simple way to work towards sustainability is to purchase products that are concentrated, making less packaging need to be recycled. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Thieves Household Cleaner (makes about 20 bottles of all purpose cleaner!)
• Thieves Laundry Soap (small bottle that does 64 loads)
• Thieves Foaming Hand Soap refill (this bottle fills 3-4 hand soaps) Also, with just about all of the Young Living products, a little goes a long way! So we are purchasing less single use plastic, recycling what we can and finding unique uses for the rest.

WAYS TO REUSE PLASTIC BAGS

• Rinse and use to store non-food items in the home.
• Cut off the zip top (recycle it with plastic bags) and use the clear plastic bag as a gift bag! Add tissue or paper to the bottom, then add items and tie at the top with ribbon.
• Recycle them with plastic grocery bags. (Many food packaging bags can be recycled this way as well. Just check the bottom of the bag!)

WAYS TO REUSE PLASTIC PACKAGES

• If you change your own oil in your vehicle, the Thieves Foaming Hand Soap bottle makes a great vessel for collecting oil! You can cut off the top if needed. Think of this long bottle as one with a built in funnel of sorts, and you'll find uses for sure.
• When your Thieves Household Cleaner is empty, keep the bottle and add a spray top to use in DIYs, for the garden, or mix up a second bottle of cleaner to keep in the bathroom.
• Refill empty hand soap bottles and give to friends.
• Recycle any bottles you can't repurpose.
• Use Thieves Hand Sanitizer bottles for travel size shampoo and conditioner! Just wash out and fill with anything for a travel size option.
• Use empty Thieves Mints containers to store supplements on the go.
• Use larger bottles to grow herbs! Take a Thieves Foaming Hand Soap Refill bottle, and cut off the top. Add some drainage holes to the bottom, plant desired herbs, and place in a sunny spot. You can also use the Thieves Laundry Soap, Thieves Household Cleaner and Thieves Dish Soap bottles.

WAYS TO REUSE GLASS OIL BOTTLES

• Use them as small vases.
• Use to create pre-made diffuser blends.
• Add a dropper top to use for DIY serums or diffuser blends.
• Refill them with the same oil and keep at a different location in the home.
• When bottles are empty, place in some epsom salt (mix them all in a large jar together!) to remove any remaining oil. OR place them in a jar of water and use the water in the diffuser.
• Use clean, empty bottles to make a windchime!

WAYS TO REUSE CARDBOARD & PACKING TUBES

• Use the tubes to start seeds/seedlings for your garden.
• Make spy glasses, telescopes or other creative toys with the cardboard tubes
• Use the circular ends of tubes to paint interesting shapes
• Use the tubes to store paint brushes or other small items.
• Gather multiple tubes, then tape onto a wall or a poster board in various arrangements, connecting some to each other, and let toddlers place soft balls through them like a marble maze. Here is an example!
• Compost or recycle the boxes and tubes.
• Use the cardboard as a weed block in garden and flower beds. Simply lay it on the ground, cover with leaves or small mulch and allow it to sit before adding dirt and plants.
• Make a cardboard box tower by taping multiple boxes together, then let your kids paint it!

No matter which of these suggestions you choose (or if you come up with something on your own), taking small steps everyday adds up to a big impact!