I was born on Earth Day, so I like to joke that I was meant to care about the environment. But in reality, we should all care about our planet since we, you know, live here. Recent research has discovered that we have about 11 years left to reverse or to prevent the damage to our environments before these effects become permanent. If this doesn't motivate you to make some very simple yet effective life changes, I don't know what would.
Before I offer some easy ways to be more eco-friendly, I wanted to mention that no one is going to be perfect (including myself). Embracing a totally zero-waste lifestyle is all but impossible and you should never be hard on yourself for not being one hundred percent perfect all of the time. Every small change or attempt will make a bigger difference than you can imagine, and having a thousand people being imperfectly eco-friendly is better than having one hundred people leading perfectly zero-waste lifestyles. Also, some people may not have the means or ability to do some of these things--and that's okay. Every little step counts.
reusable straws
I'm sure that everyone has heard about the push to reduce our consumption of one-use plastic straws. Most straws end up in the ocean and harm marine life. These little bits of plastic are not only harmful and cannot be recycled, but are unnecessary for most people. I use stainless steel straws when I'm out or at home. I've even had a few waiters comment on how cool they are. However, I also want to mention that some people may need plastic straws, such as people with disabilities. But if you can switch to silicon or metal straws, then you definitely should. It is an easy swap to make and helps protect our sea animals such as turtles.
say no to plastic
Single use plastics are one of the most wasteful and often unnecessary products we can use. I'm talking about things like plastic utensils, containers, coffee stirrers, etc. Single use plastics are exactly what they sound like: plastics you use once before throwing it away or recycling it. The great news is that there are a ton of swaps for these products so you don't have to use them. Here's a list of easy alternatives. If you can opt for containers that are glass or metal rather than plastic, that's a great way to help. My favorite yogurts, Oui by Yoplait, come in reusable glass jars instead of plastic ones. There are also shampoos and deodorants that come without packaging.
water bottles and bags
Here's a couple that I'm sure you've heard of countless times before. While it seems to be common knowledge that plastic water bottles and grocery bags are harmful, I still see many people using them. It is so much easier--and cheaper--to switch to a reusable water bottle. I especially like the ones that keep your drink hot or cold for hours. While some families, like my own, reuse plastic bags, other simply toss them out and contribute to growing landfills. Reusable fabric tote bags for shopping are available at nearly every store. Use them!
reduce and reuse before you recycle
We all had the phrase "reduce, reuse, and recycle" drilled into our heads as children. While recycling is fairly common, it is not the solution. Recycling still costs a lot of energy and water, so while it is far better than throwing items out, it isn't the whole answer. Try to reduce your consumption of items and reuse those that you already have before you recycle.
donate
Do not throw away clothes or other objects that can be donated! A lot of people tend to just toss aside things that can either be donated, sold, or mended rather than ending up in a landfill. There are dozens of charities and stores that accept pre-owned possessions and you can also sell clothing on apps like Depop or Poshmark. Re-homing unwanted objects rather than throwing them away helps reduce waste and also gives another person a chance to love them.
eat less meat
You don't have to be a full-on vegetarian to eat less meat. Simply reducing your consumption of meat, such as eating one less meal including meat a week, is extremely effective. Diet is such a personal choice, but you do not have to convert to a specific diet in order to help. The meat industry is one of the biggest polluters and produces greenhouse gases. The production and processing of meat also requires a huge amount of energy, water, and fuel. Moreover, the amount of land required to support this industry has led to an increase in deforestation. If you want to read more about the harmful effects, here's an article detailing the facts and statistics.
buy less and buy locally
Our mass consumption and consumerism is unnecessary and contributes to climate change and waste. With all the advertising and the presence of social media in today's world, over-consumption has become the norm. But think about it: what percentage of the stuff that you own do you actually like and/or use? It's simple: the more you buy, the more you tend to waste. You don't need to be a minimalist to buy less and buy better quality/more sustainable options when you do. A good way to do this is to buy locally, which also helps to support small businesses.
Do you have any tips to become more sustainable?
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