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With Earth Day arising in a few months, I assumed it was a good time to mirror on how we are able to reside like day by day is Earth Day. Final 12 months I wrote a submit with 8 Methods to Make Each Day Earth Day and right this moment I’m following it up with 6 extra solutions on find out how to reside extra sustainably.
In terms of caring for the planet, we are able to all play an energetic position by making small decisions to reside extra sustainably. Whereas these actions could appear small, if everybody turns into just a bit extra acutely aware in regards to the easy modifications they will make, it might probably result in huge outcomes over the long run. Beneath are some easy, however efficient methods to convey sustainability into your life in order that we are able to reside joyously on Mama Earth for years to come back!
One in all my favorite methods to scale back my carbon footprint is by saving my glass jars from issues like pasta sauces, salsas, spices, condiments, and different merchandise. Simply take away the label, run the jar via the dishwasher (or hand wash), and also you’ve obtained an ideal storage container for every thing from grains to spices to tasty leftovers .
Not solely are you retaining trash out of the landfill, however glass is a safer different than plastic for meals storage, because it doesn’t include poisonous components that may disrupt our endocrine programs.
Joyous Tip: I like to label my jars and use them to prepare my spice cabinet and pantry–it’s sustainable and it appears so fairly! In addition they make nice choices for portioning and storing your meal prep. Growing a weekly meal prep routine helps scale back meals waste and saves cash–a win-win for you and the planet!
2. Ditch the Plastic Wrap
Do you know that it takes most plastics not less than 4000 years to decompose?
Meaning nearly each plastic ever made nonetheless exists on Mama Earth not directly. A research printed in 2017 discovered that of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that has been produced up to now 60 years about 6.3 billion metric tons has grow to be plastic waste.
A lot of the expansion in plastic manufacturing is because of the demand for plastic packaging. It accounts for 40% of all non-fibre plastics worldwide. What’s even worse is that solely about 9% of all plastic waste is recycled. 79% of this waste leads to landfills or the atmosphere whereas 12% is incinerated, releasing a ton of poisons into the environment.
If our present obsession with plastics continues, scientists estimate there will probably be 12 billion metric tons of plastic waste within the atmosphere by 2050.
Whereas these numbers could appear overwhelming, this data is definitely extremely empowering! If a lot of the plastic produced globally is required for packaging, we are able to do our half to decrease our footprint by utilizing sustainable alternate options like beeswax or silicone wraps to retailer meals. It’s also possible to use these glass jars you saved as a good way to retailer leftovers and set up your pantry.
It’s vital to keep in mind that plastics aren’t simply clogging up our landfills and polluting the oceans, in addition they include dangerous chemical compounds, comparable to phthalates, that may have long run adverse results on well being and hormones. Take heed to this nice podcast episode with Dr. Shanna Swan on the hyperlink between phthalate publicity and fertility.
Joyous Tip: See for those who can go plastic free for a complete week. Store for produce that isn’t wrapped in plastic, skip the plastic luggage on the retailer, purchase merchandise that are available glass or cardboard, and fill up on bulk objects utilizing reusable jars–see beneath for extra bulk purchasing ideas! And get your self some beeswax wraps! I’ve had the identical ones for years and they’re superb for objects like cheese or simply to cowl a meals container, mainly anytime you’d use plastic wrap, you need to use beeswax as a substitute. I do discover that beeswax wraps which can be a mix (typically they’ve cotton) are much more sturdy and do not break down after a few months.
We all know how a lot waste is created via single use plastics so a good way to be extra sustainable in your habits is to begin buying merchandise in bulk. There are outlets popping up in every single place that promote issues like shampoos, conditioners, hand soaps, dish soaps, all function cleaners, physique washes, lotions, bathtub salts, and therapeutic massage oils. The truth is, there are a couple of bulk shops (refilleries) that promote our Good day Joyous merchandise!
These outlets are an excellent place to begin reducing your plastic consumption and probably get to strive some enjoyable new merchandise as nicely! As a bonus, most zero-waste outlets supply clear, sustainable merchandise so it’s really a win-win scenario.
One other space the place it can save you some plastic is by looking for meals merchandise in bulk. Most grocery shops have a bulk part and there are additionally many outlets which can be particularly designed as bulk purchasing places. Meaning you may fill up in your wholesome faves, like nuts, seeds, legumes, grains, and different goodies, all whereas caring for the atmosphere.
Joyous Tip: You should use your clear glass jars as containers to buy and retailer your bulk meals objects. Many shops will weigh your reusable containers upon arrival in an effort to save the plastic and retailer your merchandise safely.
One other vital consideration when residing a sustainable life is by supporting meals producers who make the well being of the planet a precedence of their practices. With farmer’s market season quick approaching, it’s a good time to get to know your native farmers. Discuss to them as you store and ask about their rising practices for meals and livestock. Then you can also make knowledgeable selections to help the growers who’ve sustainable practices in place.
As a bonus, shopping for native meals reduces your carbon footprint and helps the native financial system. In case your native space doesn’t have a farmer’s market, search for licensed natural and humanely raised merchandise on the grocery retailer. We help the superb Sunday Farms who ship pasture-raised, ethically sourced native meats proper to your door. I really feel assured feeding their merchandise to my loves as a result of they’re assured to be freed from GMOs, pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. You’ll be able to actually style the distinction in high quality of their merchandise and we love figuring out the animals had been raised with care and compassion.
Joyous Tip: Lower your expenses and help Canadian companies by buying your staples from Rise Market. They’ve a strict vetting course of and all producers are additionally required to satisfy their requirements for manufacturing, environmental footprint, and firm mission. In addition they supply these superb merchandise for 20%-40% cheaper than the grocery retailer. It can save you 20% off a yearly membership with the code JOY20.
5. Store Sustainable Clothes
Investing in long-lasting, sustainable clothes is a good way to maintain textiles out of the landfill whereas supporting sustainable agricultural practices. The truth is, about 80% of Vienna’s clothes is produced from sustainable bamboo or second hand. I really like shopping for merchandise produced from bamboo as a result of they’re delicate and comfy as could be and develop tremendous quick, making this textile a planet-friendly alternative.
A theme you’ll have observed on this checklist is decreasing our reliance on plastics. Not solely are plastics endocrine disrupting and main contributors to air pollution, they’re additionally fully reliant on fossil fuels for manufacturing. If we wish to transfer away from the consequences of fossil fuels right into a world of sustainable vitality, decreasing our reliance on plastic merchandise is a vital step.
What does plastic need to do with clothes? Properly I guess you didn’t know that clothes produced from artificial supplies is a significant contributor to plastic air pollution. This stuff shed microplastics as they’re worn, washed, and dried. Microplastics are tiny, however they will have a huge impact on the atmosphere, particularly the well being of our oceans. For all the small print on the soiled secrets and techniques of the quick style trade, hearken to this podcast episode with Kristi Soomer , the founding father of Encircled, certainly one of my favorite native, gradual style manufacturers.
Although sustainable clothes could also be costlier up entrance, it is going to sometimes final quite a bit longer and it received’t shed dangerous microplastics into the atmosphere. I’ve had one gown from Encircled for over 5 years and it nonetheless appears superb, regardless of common put on.
Joyous Tip: Store for garments produced from different sustainable textiles. Along with bamboo, search for garments produced from natural cotton (typical cotton is among the world’s most extremely sprayed crops), natural hemp, natural linen, tencel, or recycled cotton.
If looking for sustainable clothes produced from bamboo or natural cotton isn’t in your price range, you may nonetheless assist maintain textiles out of landfills by embracing the fun of thrift purchasing.
Yearly there may be an estimated 92 tonnes of textiles which can be wasted and in regards to the equal of 1 rubbish truck’s value of clothes leads to a landfill each. Single. Day.
Making a swap from quick style to thrift purchasing is a good way to buy sustainably and nonetheless discover distinctive and cute clothes. Do not forget that a tailor is your greatest buddy on the subject of thrift purchasing. Just a few fast stitches can take one thing from drab to fab very quickly.
Joyous Tip: Thrift purchasing isn’t simply nice for clothes. Yow will discover every thing from furnishings to residence decor to books and kitchen home equipment at thrift outlets, in on-line marketplaces, or on commerce web sites comparable to Bunz. The joys of the hunt for the proper piece makes thrifting enjoyable and sustainable.
I hope the following tips encourage and empower you to take small actions to reside extra sustainably. We solely get one planet to reside on and if we don’t maintain her, who will? I do know I wish to go away behind a world for Vienna that’s wholesome and delightful, which is why I’m dedicated to residing these practices day by day.
Pleasure xo