Hey there, everyone! Happy Earth Day 2020, the 50th Anniversary!
I know I can get overly ambitious in wanting to save the planet. I’ve told myself I want to compost, I want to go zero-waste, etc etc… It’s NOT easy and you shouldn’t hit yourself over the head for trying and not getting it down perfect. Today we celebrate the Earth and thank her for the resources she has provided us to live our lives. Today we should also take the time to educate ourselves and others on the current environmental issues around the world.
So do you want to give thanks? Here’s 5 EASY habits to adopt and live an “Earth” friendly, sustainable lifestyle RIGHT NOW.
1. Stop Buying Disposable Water Bottles: This is the most obvious one that everyone suggests, but it makes a difference. “According to the Container Recycling Institute, 86 percent of plastic water bottles used in the United States become garbage or litter.” Not only is it wasteful, it could potentially be harmful to your health! When plastic water bottles are left exposed to high temperatures (ex. leaving it in your car, having a case of water sitting out in the sun), “chemical bonds in plastics like plastic bottles, and those chemicals can migrate into beverages they contain” . If you can, opt for a regular cup, or invest in a non-plastic water bottle.
2. Bring Plants into Your Home: Ok, BIOLOGY 101: Plants give off oxygen, and absorb carbon dioxide. There are plenty of low maintenance plants that you can bring into your home like the snake plant or pothos plants. Here’s some other plants you may be interested from The Sill. Various plants can help with air purification, have shown to improve mood, productivity, and creativity, and so much more! If you’re interested, check out WebMD’s slideshow of the health benefits of houseplants.
3. Wash Your Laundry Using the Cold Water Setting: According to the EPA, “Hot water heating accounts for about 90 percent of the energy your machine uses to wash clothes — only 10 percent goes to electricity used by the washer motor.” Using the cold water setting is actually better for keeping the color of your clothes too. If you REALLY want to get into it, sort your clothes by FABRIC NOT COLOR. By doing so, you’re actually washing your clothes more efficiently since all your items are getting equal TLC in the washer. Also, if you have the option to: skip the dryer and hang dry your clothes.
4. Buy Second Hand Clothes: In a world of fast fashion, trends come and go. Many clothing pieces are made so cheaply nowadays out of polyester or acrylic (both forms of plastic). Invest in clothing that will last you a lifetime. Look into clothes made of more natural materials. I would suggest thrift stores, but since they’re closed at the moment… try online, like ThredUp! It’s one of the largest online second hand stores. You can potentially find name-branded clothes for only a fraction of the original price. You can also sell or donate your clothes to them.
5. Eat What’s On Your Plate: Have you ever heard the saying “Don’t bite off more than you can chew?” Well it actually applies to being eco-friendly. According to the USDA, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply in the United States. When organic matter (food) mixes with other waste and decomposes together this generates methane (CH4), which can hold 25 times more heat than carbon dioxide (CO2). And according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “On a global average, per capita food wastage footprint on climate in high income countries is more than double that of low income countries, due to wasteful food distribution and consumption patterns in high income countries. ”
I guess this this counts as a sixth tip, but I just want to conclude by saying Use What You Have, THEN Invest in Reusable/Eco-Friendly Alternatives. I’m tired of seeing people purchase a whole bunch of “eco-friendly” things and then tossing out their plastics and other non-ecofriendly products. Instead of buying a crap ton of metal straws, how about opt for NO STRAW? Stop trying to be aesthetic with your eco-friendly purchases and just use what you already have. If you already have plastic containers that you use to store your food, don’t toss them all out to get that bamboo or aesthetically pleasing glassware. The resources and energy to create those plastic things has already been done. Use it till the end of its life. Don’t purchase new things unless truly necessary because it just means we’re using more of earth’s resources. Remember, you don’t need to do things perfectly. Just as long as you start…as long as you try /endrant.
Feel free to DM me via Instagram @heytherecarmi to have more Earth talks. Until next time! Happy Earth Day and thank you for continuing with me on my journey to somewhere…
Journey to Somewhere 