Karl Lohnes: Eco-friendly products to make your home greener

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Every spring I remember the new growth, as the gardens begin to bloom and the little birds fly out into the world. It’s really magical, and for me, Earth Day is the official launch of the season. Although we should be kind to the planet every day, this annual celebration on April 22nd is a powerful reminder that we need to take care of our little orb to ensure that those flowers and birds come back every year for future generations.

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As a home décor expert, I am delighted to see companies in my industry working to create products that are better for the earth. As consumers, it is our duty to ask how the products we buy for our homes – both their materials and their manufacture – affect the planet, and for how long will they last. We’ve got some environmentally consciously designed items that will help you help the earth, whether you’re renovating your kitchen or cleaning your clothes.

Thinking about the future

When planning major home renovations, I always keep in mind the footprint created by items that will need to be replaced in the future. There are two rooms that are updated at least every 10-20 years which are the kitchen and bathrooms. Among my favorite shower wall paint products, the kitchen countertops and backsplashes are made from quartz and engineered stone.

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Silestone by Cosentino leads the way in cleaning up the manufacturing process of this beautiful and durable material. Its latest surfacing products are made with HybriQ technology – a manufacturing process based on 99 percent reused water and 100 percent renewable electric energy, while ensuring that the atmosphere and local water sources are not polluted.

In terms of composition, the surface cells of manufactured quartz are made from raw minerals and recycled materials (which provide durability equal to or better than regular quartz). One such group of Silestone is called Sunlit Days, which is also a carbonless variety. Good for the environment and beautiful for your home? I would consider this an excellent start to help make the planet a better place.

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Daily Choices

As someone who cooks and bakes constantly, I use a lot of storage bags to freeze food, store, or give away. I find them to be more flexible than reusable storage containers, and they take up less space in the fridge and freezer. Although plastic bags are recyclable, Ziploc recently launched a new compostable bag. They provide the same functionality, but are fully compostable (including zippers) in industrial composting facilities. Choosing compostable products helps reduce landfill waste and create a valuable soil supplement. This means I can make the planet a greener (and delicious) place with every batch of baked goods.

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I am always amazed at how many cleaning products I use per week. From washing dishes to cleaning the floors or doing laundry, there are a lot of chemicals that seep into sewers and get into our sewers. A few years ago, I discovered Ms. Mayer Clean Day products. The packaging is attractive, the product always smells great, and it works great for a great clean.

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The last thing I liked was the new Rain Water laundry detergent. It’s made with plant-derived ingredients and enzymes that fight dirt and stains, while delivering a fresh scent (floral notes hint at the wonderful scents soon awaiting us in the garden). With additional plant-derived ingredients like coconut or olive oil—Ms. Meyer’s products don’t contain any chlorine bleach, petroleum, or parabens—I love keeping my laundry clean, smelling great and allowing me to help protect our planet’s waterways, and all the plants and animals that live in Water, a harsh chemical.

Do you have a decor dilemma or want more decor ideas? Follow Karl on Instagram at @karl_lohnes.