Every April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. Known as the birth of the contemporary environmental movement, the initial Earth Day was honored in 1970. Today, 51 years later, 1 billion men and women in 190+ nations mobilize to celebrate and safeguard our Planet Earth.
Earth Day is a fantastic time to discover more about what is at the moment taking place with our planet, to recognize how, as men and women, we can make an effect, and to commit to living a more sustainable life.
From the garments we put on to the meals we consume, living sustainably and decreasing our effect takes place in quite a few diverse locations of our life.
Looking for More Ways to Live Sustainably? Here Are 8 Simple + Creative Ways You Can Help Save the Planet
One tiny however immensely impactful step we can all take? Learning how we can decrease our consumption of single-use plastic devoid of possessing to make drastic adjustments to our way of living.
First – This Is Why We Need to Reduce Our Plastic Consumption:
Plastic has turn into one particular of the components we interact with the most.
Our consumption price of plastic is alarming. Only 14% of the 86 million tons of plastics produced annually is recycled.
What does the rest turn into? You guessed it: pollution.
Only 14% of the 86 million tons of plastics made annually is recycled.
Single-use plastic things are simple and hassle-free to use, but they come with a higher value. Plastic consists of harmful chemical compounds for our overall health, and we are all absorbing them every day. And if we retain going at this price, there is projected to be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.
The great news is that it does not have to be that way. We can all take action to safeguard Mother Earth. Read on to discover how you can do your element to decrease plastic consumption and pollution.
Here Are 8 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Consumption This Earth Day (And Always):
Not positive exactly where to start off this Earth Day? Let’s appear at some of the most prevalent single-use plastic things we use frequently and how to stay clear of them or replace them.
1. Replace Plastic Water Bottles with a Reusable Water Bottle
Lets start off with one particular of the easiest swaps you can make for eliminating single-use plastic waste: water bottles! Pack your reusable water bottle everywhere you go and say buh-bye to microplastics floating in the water you drink – and in the ocean for years to come.
2. Ditch Plastic Straws for a Bamboo or Steel Straw
Simply say no to plastic straws! Most of the time we do not in fact want a straw, but when you do want one particular, get a reusable bamboo straw or stainless steel straw.
3. Replace To-Go Coffee Cups with a Reusable Mug
Bring your personal mug and fill it up! It will retain your beverage warmer for a longer period of time anyway. ????
4. Swap Plastic Bags for Reusable Totes
Try to make a habit of bringing a reusable bag or tote with you when you go buying. You can fold it in your purse or retain a couple of of them in your vehicle so you generally have one particular on hand. Most grocery shops sell tote bags so even if you do overlook, you can grab a couple of on the spot!
5. Replace Produce Bags with Cloth or Net Bags
We do not want these plastic make bags all the time. And when you do want a make bag, get a cloth or net make bag that you can reuse.
The reusable mesh produce bags by Earthwise is a most effective seller on Amazon, and according to their web site, every bag has the possible of eliminating up to 1,000 plastic bags!
6. Swap Plastic Plates and Cutlery for Compostable Tableware
If you are hosting a party and want to use single-use cutlery and plates, go compostable! Eco-conscious brands like SellSage supply tableware is created from naturally fallen sustainable palm leaves and are compostable in your personal backyard.
Fun reality: Instead of the hundreds of years it requires for plastic to break down, compostable tableware turns to fertilizer in significantly less than 45 days!
If your favourite restaurants serve their meals in plastic containers, you can also let them know about the compostable options out there.
7. Replace Plastic Wrap with Beeswax Wrap
You can replace the thin plastic saran wrap with beeswax wrappers to cover your leftovers or pack your lunch. Bee’s Wrap is a fantastic solution for reusable meals storage with zero plastic waste, and you can locate quite a few more on the internet or in regional shops.
8. Ditch Six Pack Rings for Cardboard Packaging
Stop shopping for cans wrapped in plastic rings. Those are particularly damaging, specifically for marine life and birds. Instead, choose brands that use an option such as cardboard packaging.
Follow These 4 Steps to Implement Your Environmental Conservation Efforts:
Now that you know what to do to decrease your single-use plastic consumption and safeguard the planet, right here are 4 uncomplicated actions to show you how. ????
Step 1: Assess
We frequently below-evaluate the effect we are creating and we cannot take actions on what we are not even conscious of. Before creating any sort of transform, assess your present circumstance. In which locations of your life do you want to make an work? Make a list of all the plastic you consume and how significantly you throw away.
Remember to do this physical exercise with kindness and compassion. This is not about feeling undesirable and guilty, it is about creating a positive transform. Congratulate oneself for taking the time to in fact do it!
Step 2: Start Small
It’s greater to start off tiny and keep committed than to start off massive and give up. Pick one particular or two single-use plastic things that you can commit to quit shopping for. Once you have integrated that transform, then start off with a new one particular.
If each and every individual on this planet believed they could make a distinction, we would be living in a pretty diverse planet.
When we start off to transform every little thing at after, we take the threat to overwhelm ourselves and place ourselves below as well significantly stress, we threat burnout.
Step 3: Stay Committed
Setting oneself up for achievement in the lengthy term is critical.
This can be performed by adding reminders in your calendar to critique your efforts every week and reward oneself for your efforts. You can also download this Eco-Friendly Calendar which involves all the critical eco-friendly dates and reminders to support you keep motivated all through the year.
Another way to keep committed is to keep informed with environmental news and documentaries (each positive and believed-provoking ones) that will give you the motivation to retain going.
What if you fail or hit a setback? Try to recognize why it is not working for you and then start off once more. It’s okay to falter, you do not want to be best to nevertheless make a positive effect!
Step 4: Share
Remember that if each and every individual on this planet believed they could make a distinction, we would be living in a pretty diverse planet. Don’t give up on your efforts. And share them with your mates, your family members, on your social media.
We have a lot more influence than we think about. Your actions to live a more sustainable life-style may be the inspiration for an individual else to do it as well!
Today, more than ever, we want to come collectively to safeguard and restore our atmosphere. This is not just about preserving nature. It is also about our personal survival. We want a healthful planet as significantly as animals and plants do.
Feeling inspired? This Earth Day video from spoken word poet and activist Prince EA will motivate you even more
