The impact of human pollution is becoming evident every single day. Issues such as water shortage, extreme temperatures, increasing ocean temperatures are so rampant. The recently released Netflix original “Seaspiracy” also goes into details about the terrifying impact of our choices and not just on marine life but the entire planet.
So, How Can You Make a Difference?
Going green is one of the best ways of conserving the environment. There’s so much you can do at a personal level to make a significant impact in your community and the whole world. And you don’t even need to make huge sacrifices if you’re not ready to. You can start with small steps and increase your efforts gradually.
Here are six easy ways to go green:
1. Recycle and Reuse
Recycling and reusing common household items is one of the best ways of reducing ocean trash. As you go grocery shopping, be conscious of the things you are buying and their packaging. Avoid buying foods packaged in plastics as much as possible. Plastic is a problematic material, and a majority of the plastic you put in your recycle bin never makes it to recycling industries.
What about the plastic bottles that I already have in my house? Well, try to reuse them for as long as possible. You can also repurpose some plastic items. Find ways to make those plastic containers and bottles useful either in your house or outdoors.
When you finally dispose of the plastic, replace them with reusable glass jars and bottles. You should also buy reusable shopping bags and carry them whenever you are going grocery shopping.
2. Go Digital
The whole world is going digital, with virtually everything being done online. So, why are you still reading your physical newspapers? Why are you taking paper receipts instead of having them emailed to your inbox? These small changes pile up to make a massive difference.
If you have to use paper for whatever reason, make sure you recycle them. You should know that some papers cannot be recycled. A good example here is a greaseproof paper which can be very problematic to deal with, as discussed at Beeco.green, but luckily, several alternatives can make your life in the kitchen a lot easier without negatively impacting the environment. Something else you should do to avoid paper production is buying digital versions of your favorite book. Yes, purchase ebooks and even audiobooks in place of physical copies.
If you have to buy the book, try your best to get a used book instead of a new one. Sure, a used book may not look as amazing on your shelves as a new one, but it is so much better for the environment.
3. Use Natural Detergents
Cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that can be dangerous to you and your developing children. Buy naturally formulated detergents.
And guess what? You can do even better than that by making your own cleaning products! Yes, there are many DIY detergents that will leave your house looking sparkling clean without posing any dangers. Most of these recipes are actually cheaper than the chemical-based products in the store.
4. Buy a Reusable Water Bottle
1 million bottles are bought every single minute in the world. Do you want to take a random guess on how many of these are recycled? According to this report, only 23% of the plastic bottles in the US are recycled!
You need to buy a reusable water bottle today.
5. Plant Your Own Garden
Planting your own garden limits pollution in different ways. First, you will reduce the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. These are big contributors to Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS). Second, the transportation of produce from the fields to processing industries and retail stores leaves behind a massive carbon footprint. You’ll help reduce this emission. Finally, when groceries are in your backyard, you’ll never deal with the plastic materials typically used in packing groceries at the store.
You should seriously consider growing your own produce if your living situation allows.
6. Conserve Energy and Water
Switch off the lights when they’re not needed. Run the washing machine when you have big loads only. Turn off the tap when you’re shaving or brushing. Try using bowls when you are washing the utensils and reuse the water in something else like watering your garden.
Those are simple but effective ways of conserving water and energy. If you have a bigger budget, switch to renewable energy.
Do not underestimate the impact your efforts have on the planet. Start making these small changes today.
