Wanting to be more ecofriendly but not sure where to start? A lot of the options seem daunting? Well, I'm here to help! Read along for three simple tips that make a huge difference :)
~ONE~
If there's a plastic free option, go for that one. Or if there's an option that has less plastic than another, opt for that one.
Plastic, even though some of it is recyclable, is not sustainable and frankly not good in any form. Even if it gets recycled into a new plastic bottle or into clothing, each time it rubs on something or goes in the wash, little bits of it wares away. These don't truly break down and just persist in the ecosystem, often making their way to waterways. Furthermore, most of the plastic in the world doesn't make it to be recycled. Plastic is toxic and unfortunately, all over the world, in just about every organism. Not to mention that it's petroleum based and buying plastic products benefits those huge, destructive corporations. So, long story short, steer away from plastic whenever you can.
~TWO~
It's probably not news to you, but animals take a lot more care and have a much larger carbon, water, and methane footprint than plants. Consume less meat and other animal products where you can.
If you can choose even one meal per week that is vegetarian or vegan, the impact is significant. It takes so much land, grain, water, and energy to produce meat. While protein from beans or quinoa, on the other hand, take about as much care as growing the food that's fed to the cows, chickens, etc. we eat. If you are an absolute meat lover and don't want to cut down at all, be conscious of where the meat comes from. Is it organically raised? This benefits the soil AND means there would be less chemicals in the final product. Is it ethical? So you can feel better about the life of the animal AND the product has less stress and a healthier body you are consuming. Better yet, find out what invasive species live in your area. Eat those!
~THREE~
Finish your food. Food waste is HUGE issue, especially in the USA.
Be aware of what you have already and perhaps consider meal planning. Try to avoid going shopping when you're hungry. Find yourself buying in bulk and ending up having to throw away half of it? Or leftovers getting lost in the back of your fridge? If something looks like it's getting on the edge before you an eat it, put it in the freezer to save for later, give it away, or better yet, use it as an excuse to invite friends over for a dinner party! If something has already gone bad, don't fret. Search around for people that have chickens and pigs. They tend to eat a lot of things. Of course, check in with their owners and there will most likely have to be some sorting because there is a threshold when it should just be put in the compost. If this interests you, check in soon because there will be post on lowering your waste in the kitchen!
Of course there's a million little things we can all do to lower our impact on the earth but every choice makes a difference. Every action we take in the right direction is huge. Add these simple practices to your life and we will all be grateful! <3
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