Research shows that most people’s carbon footprints are more than twice the global average. If you want to improve the planet, consider improving your lifestyle. Making simple changes in your everyday life will have a positive effect on the environment and can even save you money while doing so. Here are some simple ways to do just that.
Examine your eating habits
Eating local and unprocessed foods is one of the cardinal rules of eco-friendly living. This means ditching the boxed cereals and canned goods in favour of organic fruits and vegetables, fresh eggs (if desired), rice, beans, whole grain pasta/loaves of bread, nuts/seeds. It also means avoiding all processed meats (hot dogs, pepperoni), packaged snacks/meals (crackers with cheese slices).
Look for brands that use natural ingredients and do not add things like MSG or high fructose corn syrup. When possible, opt for organic produce and free-range eggs. And lastly, when it comes to seafood, go for sustainable choices whenever possible.
Use Wool Reusable Dryer Balls
Dryer sheets are not only harmful to your health, but they are also bad for the environment. They leave behind a chemical residue that coats fibres and doesn’t allow them to breathe properly. You can easily go without them by using reusable dryer balls instead. These wool dryer balls speed up drying time, decrease wrinkles and static cling, save energy, soften clothes naturally with no chemicals added – which means you will also cut down on fabric softener use/costs.
Get a Shower-to-Shower Shave
Electric razors are better for the environment than disposable ones because they have a lasting effect. However, if you want to take your green shave to another level, consider going shower-to-shower with a wet blade razor. It’s the closest and safest way to get a close shave without wasting multiple blades on just one hairy situation.
Be Mindful of Your Hygiene Products
Choosing eco-friendly dental care products is important to reduce your carbon footprint. The sugar present in most commercial tubes of toothpaste and mouthwashes not only promotes bad breath and plaque buildup, but also feeds harmful bacteria living in your mouth and gums (which result in worse problems like heart disease). Opt for a natural toothpaste that uses ingredients like baking soda and coconut oil to effectively clean teeth without causing harm to your enamel or adding excess sugar into your system. To save even more water when showering, switch from a soap bar to a liquid body wash – no need to use as much!
Go Green with DIY Cleaning Recipes
Do you know how many chemicals are found in conventional cleaning products? Have you ever read the ingredient list on a bottle of glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner or laundry detergent? Unfortunately, most commercial cleaning items contain harmful chemical compounds. Not only are these chemicals bad for your health, but companies use non-renewable resources to produce them – creating even more pollution. This is why it pays to make your own green-cleaning supplies using natural ingredients like grapefruit seed extract, baking soda and vinegar. The best part is that they are safer for the environment and cheaper too! Here is how to make your own:
- Window Cleaner – Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of liquid soap and 4 cups of water.
- Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Pour several drops of vinegar (all the way around the inside) into your toilet bowl, scrub with a brush then flush. The vinegar kills germs and leaves behind no harmful residue like commercial powders do.
- Fabric Softener – Add 20-30 drops of lavender essential oil to each load during the rinse cycle for naturally softened clothes minus the harmful chemicals found in commercial liquid softeners.
Use Reusable Straws
Plastic straws are used once and then thrown away after being used. Every year, millions of plastic straws end up in landfills due to their non-biodegradable nature. To lessen your footprint try using reusable metal/bamboo/glass straws that you can carry with you wherever you go. Plus they come in handy when you want to drink iced or cold beverages – just pop them in the freezer until ready for use!
Use Public Transportation More Often
Every day, buses, trains and subways take millions of people from place to place – most often run on diesel fuel which emits carbon dioxide into the air. If more commuters switched over to public transportation it would help reduce carbon emissions and the air pollution found in major cities.
Replace Plastic Bags With Reusable Grocery Totes
Grocery store plastic bags not only harm the environment (especially considering their low recycling rate), but they can be dangerous to animals and marine life as well.
To stand up for the environment and your pocketbook, opt for reusable grocery totes that you can carry with you every time you go shopping. They’re sturdier than most plastic bags and best of all, they will last a long time – plus you’ll look stylish carrying them around too!
Use Reusable Utensils Instead of Disposable Ones
Plastic utensils are commonly handed out at fast-food chains which result in unnecessary waste generation. If you plan to patronize these businesses frequently consider bringing your own utensils from home to help lower your carbon footprint. To make clean up quick and easy never leave home without a re-usable fork or spoon tucked into your bag for convenience.
Donate Old Clothes You No Longer Need
Do you have a closetful of old clothes that no longer fit your style or size? Or have you been hanging onto a pair of jeans just in case they come back into fashion? If so, then it’s probably time to donate them. Clothing donation services are always in need of gently used clothes that can be redistributed to the less fortunate. Not only does donating your old clothes help the environment by recycling textiles, but it also helps others in need while saving you money on storage space! Plus the added bonus is that you’ll earn a tax write-off in the process! While you’re there, consider shopping at a thrift store for yourself as well! You can find marvelous deals on well taken care of clothes that may fit your style and save money in the process.
Plant A Garden
Not only is gardening a great way to get your hands dirty, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to grow your own fruits and vegetables. Not only will you have access to fresh produce from your garden all year round, but it will help reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic bags used for transporting food from supermarkets or other commercial vendors. Plus crops grown organically are safe for the environment!
Consider Backyard Beekeeping
Backyard beekeeping is a rewarding way to support the environment and encourage biodiversity. By setting up a small hive, you can create a safe habitat for bees, which are essential pollinators for many plants, improving local crop yields and supporting healthy ecosystems. Beekeeping offers a hands-on connection to nature and allows you to produce your own honey, reducing your reliance on commercial products. Whether you start with a traditional hive or use a bee nuc (a small starter colony), this eco-friendly hobby helps protect local bee populations. Before you begin, check local regulations, attend a workshop, or consult with experienced beekeepers to ensure a successful start.
Get Your H20 From The Tap Instead Of Buying Bottled Water
There are several options available today when it comes to drinking water – including spring water, filtered water and tap water. While some may argue that bottled water tastes better than tap water, remember that every time you purchase a bottle of water you’re adding to the increase in non-biodegradable waste. If you would rather not drink tap water, consider purchasing a reusable water bottle and filling it with filtered or spring water from home to keep on hand while at work or school. You can even use a filtered pitcher which is cost-effective and reduces the amount of harmful plastic bottles that end up in landfills.
While most of the suggestions outlined in this article are easy to do, they will still have a positive impact on the environment. A few small changes here and there can go a long way towards lowering your carbon footprint – leaving you with peace of mind that you’re doing something good for yourself and planet Earth.
