Negosentro | Eco Impact: 6 Small Changes You Can Make to Help the Environment | The rate at which we are destroying our environment is alarming. And when all the facts are laid bare, it can sometimes feel as though there’s nothing we can do about it but throw in the towel and surrender to the inevitable.
While it’s good that governments, environmental agencies, and activists are constantly lobbying to save the planet, Mother Earth can benefit more from the collective efforts of individuals like you and me.
You can start small by upgrading to eco-friendly cookware and using less energy and water. To keep the positivity rolling, here are a few more strategies you can use to help the environment:
1. Drive Less
Reduce greenhouse gases by biking to work instead of driving daily. Public transportation is another viable solution. Alternatively, you could start a carpooling group with co-workers, neighbors, or family members.
2. Reduce Food Waste
Know which foods can quickly spoil, and you have the information you need to reduce how much you throw away. Use this valuable data to plan what you want to buy and what you will use ahead of time. Then, you can make meal plans, so everything cooked can be eaten or safely stored as leftovers. If you have a lot on your hands, see if you can share it with a local kitchen.
3. Use Less Plastic Packaging
Plastic is one of the most significant environmental pollutants, spoiling everything from the air we breathe to the soil and the oceans. Tiny plastic particles even end up in human organs. That’s why reducing your plastic consumption is one of the most significant and effective ways to have a positive impact.
For example, avoid disposable plates and ketchup packets, and bring your own cutlery and cups for coffee and meals at work. Nonplastic water bottles will also reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles in landfills.
4. Be an Environmentally Conscious Shopper
Boost your positive eco-impact by choosing items with recycled labels and bringing cloth bags when heading to the grocery store. Although seemingly small, efforts like this can help cut back on the 56 gigatons of greenhouse emissions expected by 2050.
You can also avoid harmful cleaning substances, such as bleach, as these chemicals hurt the environment and your health. Additionally, it’s best to opt for clean and environmentally friendly cosmetics, pay attention when buying furniture, and only go for reclaimed or sustainably sourced wood.
5. Reuse and Recycle
Instead of adding to the 500 million straws used daily in America, go for reusable straws made from copper, silicone, bamboo, or glass.
When packing your food, opt for reusable silicon bags that are dishwasher-safe, easy to clean, and durable. These bags are also free of the toxic chemicals found in single-use plastic.
Recycle plastic or paper shopping bags and invest in reusable bags. Keep old jars and bottles for planting veggies or plants, or use them for storage.
6. Start a Backyard Composting System
Eating from your own garden or having more greenery in your backyard can positively contribute to the environment. So, consider starting a small garden. Just be sure to avoid all chemicals by making your own compost with leftover food or yard waste. You can then use that organic material for growth.
Weeds, nut shells, paper bags, and grass clippings can all be composted, along with rotting veggies and fruits. You can compost outside in your backyard or use a composting bin indoors.
Sadly, our species is ruining the planet, but there are small actions we can take every day to impact the environment positively. It starts with reducing our carbon footprint, having more eco-friendly routines, and voting with our dollar.
