One world full of endless options, and with a little effort and small changes, you may save the environment and live better. When the only thing standing in the way of a better future are your choices, choosing well is imperative. From big to small, read on to see how you can be of help!
Thanks to leading companies shifting towards more sustainable modes of operation and style, opting for non-plastic is now fashionable and affordable. Plastic is a soft and easily molded substance during production. It’s mainly synthetically made from polymers- long molecules built around chains of carbon atoms, making plastics hard to decompose. At first, plastics were welcome, for their practicality and economy now create world waste problems that have grown out of proportion.
How to make the switch: 1) Buy a portable bottle, even if it’s plastic, that will equal less individual plastic bottles. 2) Bring your own utensils when going to the drive-through or ordering takeout. 3) Support enterprises that recycle. 4) Reuse your grocery bags or buy one more sustainably made. 5) When possible, pick out materials without the extra plastic covering or packaging. And because not all plastics are created the same, if having to use plastic, buy recycled, like PETE, HDPE, LDPE, and PP. With those simple switches, you’ll alleviate the amount of plastic waste on our oceans, lands, and eventually food.
Growing up, veggies made you grow strong and healthy, now they also keep you good and strong, but they give you a better environment. Research has highlighted that eating fewer quantities or servings of meat reduces the amount of greenhouses gasses released into the atmosphere. That is because to maintain livestock, you need plenty of space, water, and food, plus, when nature calls, you get tons of manure from the animals. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions come from maintaining livestock.
If that calculation isn’t staggering enough, a third of all arable land- fertile land- is used for grazing. This equals deforestation and water pollution, killing fishes and contaminating those that survive. Also, the processing of the meats and products derived by animals requires plenty of water. For example, according to the Water Footprint Network, one gallon of milk will use 1,000 gallons of water. So, next time add more greens and less meat when you want to eat meat.
Like if you needed another excuse to run errands or go to work or Uni with a friend blasting your latest playlist. But, just in case, here are some other reasons to carpool: fewer cars that equal less traffic, which translates into less stress. It alleviates both the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere for cleaner air and your stress levels for a better day. And to put things into context, according to Illinois Green Fleets, 2,376,000 pounds of Carbon dioxide a year could be deterred if just 100 people opt to carpool. Carpooling can also mean choosing to commute on for or by public transportation.
Somedays, you just want to close your eyes and pretend that your shower head is a waterfall. But fantasies have a cost, and your daydream is wasting lots of water- approximately 2.5 gallons of water per minute with a regular shower head, according to Washington Post. So, enjoy the somedays, but take a smart shower a most days thing. How to master a quick shower? Easy. Some options are, don’t turn the water on while you strip down or get your bath essentials, turn the water off while you lather your body, and opt for cold water or switch one day hot, one day cold.
Besides being a therapeutical and practical hobby to foster, gardening gives back to the Earth and the environment. Plants naturally clean the air and ground around us by turning carbon dioxide into oxygen. Depending on the size and type, a large tree or bush may provide a nice shade for you to chill by during hot seasons instead of turning on the AC. It also replenishes nutrients in the soil, provides a habitat for birds and insects, and neutralizes noise pollution. So, invest in a garden for naturally grown foods and a lovely environment.
It’s bad to recycle ill feelings and habits, but it’s great to recycle old letters, bottles, and energy! In simple terms, recycling takes waste and reprocesses it to make new materials. The most common recycled materials are iron and steel, aluminum, glass, paper, wood, and plastics. By recycling, you reduce the number of natural resources being extracted, such as petroleum, natural gas, coal, mineral ores, and trees. To effect, by reprocessing the same materials, less waste goes into landfills, and fewer pollutants reach water and airways.
One easy way to reduce waste is by restricting how much you use, which translates to how much waste you produce. By reducing and reusing, you reduce the number of materials needed to be extracted, the greenhouse gas emissions, and further aids in removing excess trash in landfills. Some ways you can do this is by buying secondhand and buying unpackaged or consciously packed materials. Other methods include reusing bags and upcycle or create something new with the scraps you already have.
Sometimes we just walk into a room and switch the light on, but what we don’t see is the amount of energy used to produce lighting. But, not all light bulbs are the same or waste the same amount of electricity. If lights are part of your home’s aesthetic, opt for LED lights, they last longer and consume less power, which leads to less heat energy released. This ripples to power plants, releasing fewer greenhouse gases. This switch will also save you money by reducing your power bill. So, next time you leave a room, switch it off or switch it entirely to a different lighting system.
If you think about it, it doesn’t make much sense to buy something new when you are only going to use a few times or maybe even once. Now, like everything, there should be moderation, and buying something new can be equally beneficial as purchasing something used. Many brands like Beyond Retro upcycle secondhand clothing into cool and stylish apparel while preserving the vintage feel. Other companies like Patagonia give name to ethical fashion. Patagonia uses recycled plastic to create lovely and practical attire. By supporting these businesses, you manipulate the system into adopting ethical manners of production and conservation. Plus, you look good and feel good.
Food prepping is not just for gains anymore; it’s also to conserve. Food prepping means strategically planning your meals for an extended period by cooking and storing your meals. Because its a planned effort, you’ll most likely use all the ingredients you buy. Which is good because throwing away food isn’t just throwing away money or a potential plate someone else could’ve enjoyed. It’s also filling up landfills with, yes, natural and decomposable, but equally contaminating waste and gasses into the airways. You also learn to use what you have and create incredible food combos.
Maybe you’ve grown or outgrown your style and have clothing or decorations that are left unused. On these occasions, donate your well-used appliances and contribute to the environment by reducing waste and production and helping someone in need. You can donate materials to the Salvation Army, extra food to the food bank, and money to researching or cleanup centers and time by attending a beach cleanup, or the likes.
Cleaning is critical, and as we have seen in modern developments, an essential and rigorous process. But in the process of disinfecting, chemicals are being released. Organic detergents are mostly made of natural and simple ingredients that clean without toxicity. Switching to organic detergents is an extra benefit for people with allergies or sensitive skin. And by increasing positive consumer patterns, more companies will opt for an eco modality, which is better for the environment, and ultimately, you.
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