A new year is a chance to reflect and make positive changes for the years to come. Many New Year’s resolutions don’t last and can many times be unrealistic but we’ve put together seven easy adjustments you can make to your lifestyle that can have a profound effect on the environment.
Stop the Shopping
The fashion industry has a massive impact on our environment. Dyeing and finishing contributes significantly to water pollution and of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. Garments made from polyester, nylon, polyamide and acrylic fibers also omit pollutants and microplastics into our water systems. Try creating new outfits with the clothing you already own, swap with friends or shop at consignment and thrift stores to give garments a second chance.
Eat Local and Reduce Your Waste
Choose food options that haven’t had to travel across the globe to get to your plate and give a boost to small businesses. Many studies have also shown that organic foods are more nutritious and contain much less pesticide residue. Better for the planet and your body.
When eating out or ordering take out, be sure to choose establishments that use compostable products for their containers, cups and utensils. Support the restaurants, food trucks, stadiums and hotels that are doing the right thing!
Start Composting
The amount of food that is wasted and thrown into landfills every day is staggering and this waste gives off harmful greenhouse gases (primarily methane). Composting is the easiest way to divert this waste. Check out this website to learn where to bring your scraps if you don’t have curbside composting pick up. Composting has many other benefits as well including improving soil structure and texture, reducing the need for toxic pesticides, and it recycles essential nutrients back into the soil.
Stop Wasting Water
There is a lot of water that is wasted at home. Low-flow toilets or dual flow toilets can reduce gallons of water usage. For a low-cost option, displace the water by placing a container filled with water or a rock in the tank to reduce the amount of water used on every flush. In the kitchen, be sure only run the dishwasher when it’s completely full. Remember to turn off the taps when brushing your teeth, doing the dishes and when you’re washing your fruits and vegetables as well.
Restore and Refurbish
Repairing and restoring furniture sounds a lot more intimidating than it is. It can be easy to make repairs to your own furniture, reducing the number of pieces that end up in the landfill. Americans throw out more than 12 million tons of furniture, creating mountains of solid waste that have grown 450% since 1960. Learn a new skill and make a difference.
Reuse and Recycle
More items can be recycled than people realize. We can recycle more than just cardboard, paper and plastics. Recycling electronics and textiles usually means traveling to a proper facility to ensure they are recycled safely, however the effort is worth the reward to divert waste from our landfills. If something can’t be recycled, consider repurposing it or donating it before you trash it. This blog post contains 80 blogs and websites to check out with a variety of upcycling ideas.
Walk, Run or Bike
Other than the health benefits of being more active, getting where you need to go without the use of a vehicle helps the environment by reducing greenhouse gases and the consumption of fuel. Even electric cars have an environmental impact, emitting toxic fumes from the batteries. Mining the lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite that the batteries are made of also has an environmental cost. Taking transit is also a better option if the journey is too far for your feet.
These small changes can have a dramatic effect, not only to the environment but also to your health and well-being. Try implementing these small changes to your daily routine and encourage your network to do the same. Together, we can ensure a healthy planet for years to come. Happy New Year Everyone!