Jacqui Lewis

I joined Mayo Designs in 2016 and ever since then I’ve learned so much about sustainability and how to take steps to better our planet (and our health!). To me, sustainability and health can go hand in hand…it just depends on how you perceive it.

My biggest realization over the past 3 years is that consuming less can have a positive impact on the planet, my bank account and my health. Here are a few examples:

• I cook more than I eat out–this saves a TON of money. It also reduces the amount of time that I ask for a to go box when I don’t finish my meal at a restaurant. I consider myself a foodie, so I actually love grocery shopping. But being a foodie also makes it hard to turn away from all the snacks. Once I reduced the amount of snacks I was buying I realized how much more money I was saving, and how little food waste I was accumulating.
• Choosing beeswax food wrap over plastic wrap or tin foil–this was a no brainer to me. Beeswax food wrap last up to a year. Think of how much plastic wrap or tin foil I’m not using or buying. Of course, tupperware is another great alternative.
• Using rags/hand towels instead of paper towels or napkins–honestly, this took some getting used to for me and it doesn’t make it any easier when my roommates still use these products. This is just another item that doesn’t get added to my grocery list. Instead, I use hand towels to dry my hands and bamboo cloths to clean with.
• Homemade deodorant–my boss, Carrie taught me this one. It’s so simple and I had all the ingredients already in my cabinets. 1 jar of it lasts me longer than 1 stick of deodorant. Not only does this save me money but it’s also much safer and healthier than store bought deodorant that has aluminum in it.

Those are just a few examples. The hardest part can be starting to take steps like I mentioned above, but the commitment and dedication is what has kept me at it.

I give a lot of credit to Carrie Mayo for bringing a sustainability mindset into her business and my world. This just goes to show that sharing your knowledge and passions can go a long way!