In today’s world, everything is new — new technology, new clothes, and new buildings. This “flex” culture that society developed has left the world on fire and the climate crisis at an all time high. If we don’t get our act together soon, there might not be a way to save Earth and its resources. Because of this, we wanted to give you 5 things that you can do to be more environmentally conscious. One person alone cannot save the planet, but if we all come together and make being environmentally friendly the norm, we’ll be two feet closer.
1. Thrift your clothes more
Did you know that it takes over 20,000 liters of water to make one pair of jeans and one t-shirt? Not only are you using the world’s water resources to make clothing, you’re also using extra energy to create the new clothing. If you thrift your clothes when you can, you can cut down on water waste and energy consumption significantly.
2. Eat a plant-based diet
Livestock contributes to more than 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Whether that be harvesting the meat or collecting the milk from cows, it’s best to eat plant-based as much as you can. Try swapping out your 2% latte with oat milk! It’s just as creamy, but way better for the environment.
3. Live a low-waste lifestyle
What does low-waste mean? Anything you want it to! When the term “low-waste” gets thrown around, it’s easy to think of the extreme version of zero waste. This doesn’t always have to be the case. A low-waste lifestyle can look like anything you want it to, as long as you’re making a conscious effort to be less wasteful. A great example of this is Starbucks’ initiative to use strawless-lids. Not only does it help the sea turtles, but there is now a lower demand for straws, and less potential for them to pollute the earth.
4. Use reusable household items
It’s easy to want to use paper towels for every small thing, but instead of spending money on a product you’ll only throw away, why not invest in reusable paper towels? These thin and absorbent towels can significantly lower your waste. When used, simply throw it in the wash and it comes out good as new! You can even roll them up together to stand on your paper towel holder. Not to mention the plethora of designs they come in!
5. Recycle
You knew this was coming. Did you know that most cities give you a free recycling bin? Recycling things like glass bottles, cardboard boxes, and plastics can decrease your carbon footprint, too. And guess what– your pickle jar could be remade into a water bottle, a drinking glass, or a vase. Oh, the places it could go.
Being intentional about what you eat, purchase, throw away, and use is key to saving our planet. We hope this post has sparked some ideas of how you can be more eco-friendly in your day-to-day life. Thank you for helping us save the earth.
