“We can sit back, do nothing and watch our planet be destroyed. Or we can take action, become advocates and start making lifestyle choices which are kinder to people and the planet.” – Kira Simpson
It’s common knowledge that our beautiful planet is in trouble. Landfills are overflowing, marine life is suffering, and forests are being destroyed. If we continue at this pace, future generations’ quality of life on Earth will deteriorate drastically. Fortunately, there’s still time to enact positive change through purposeful actions. Here are three helpful ways to improve our planet through reducing, reusing, and recycling.
- Avoid Single-Use Items
“It cannot be right to manufacture billions of objects that are used for a matter of minutes,
and then are with us for centuries.” – Roz Savage
If you order a meal to-go, you’ll probably find your food packaged in a disposable container, paired with napkins, plastic utensils, and a bag to carry it all in. The only problem is, after you’re done with your meal, everything that’s leftover will be trash. With scenarios like these playing out over and over again, there’s no wonder why we have a trash problem. Single-use items make up 30% of America’s trash, but we have the power to fix it. Make a conscious effort to avoid disposable items, and replace them with reusable options. Here are a few:
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper towels
- Store food in glass Tupperware, or reusable silicone bags instead of in Ziplock bags
- Shop at bulk stores and bring your own reusable containers and bags
- If you must use a single-use item, make sure it’s compostable or biodegradable
- Purchase Items Made of Recycled Materials
“Buy less, choose well.”– Vivienne Westwood
Recycling is an effective way to lower your carbon footprint. But if you want to take it a step further, try purchasing items that are composed of recycled materials. Many manufacturers are starting to rely on recycled paper, fabrics, and plastics to make everyday purchases more eco-friendly. Here are some common items that can be made of recycled goods:
- Paper towels and toilet tissue
- Printer paper
- Clothes
- Cups and utensils
- For more, click here
- Donate
“There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.”
– Annie Leonard
Did you know:
- The fashion industry is one of the leading contributors to the world’s pollution?
- Americans discard more than 12 million tons of furniture and decor each year?
- More than 66 trillion gallons of water are used to produce food that is eventually lost or wasted?
These unfortunate statistics are just the tip of the iceberg. Without much thought, many people contribute to the global crises of greenhouse emissions, deforestation, waste production, and water depletion. Seemingly harmless activities like decorating your house, restocking your fridge, or buying new clothes can negatively impact our planet, even if unintentionally.
In addition to making more conscious purchases and buying things made of recycled materials, you can help the planet by donating unwanted items instead of throwing them away. By donating unspoiled food to local food banks, giving old clothes to shelters, and gifting unwanted furniture to non-profit organizations, you can make a real difference.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”
– Robert Swan
Saving the planet will require a global effort. Everyone has a role to play. Do your part by using these three eco-friendly approaches to reducing, reusing, and recycling, and make the world a better place for generations to come.
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