Do you feel like your ecological footprint needs a clean-up? Becoming eco-conscious can benefit the environment in many ways. It saves energy, water, habitats, and more.
Use Reusable Bags
Instead of using plastic bags at the grocery store, bring reusable bags from home to decrease plastic waste. The world produces more than 380 million tonnes of plastic every year. This is harmful to the planet as most of this waste ends up as pollutants that enter our environment, oceans, rivers, and other habitats. Reusable bags also save money as grocery stores charge for the amount of plastic bags you use.
Use a Mesh Produce Bag
Usually, small produce bags end up on the ground, somewhere outside, or in-between shopping carts because essentially, these are not reusable after buying produce like larger plastic bags are. These bags contribute to the litter that ends up in lakes or on the ground and can potentially harm wildlife. Using mesh produce bags prevents a significant amount of plastic waste since over one billion plastic bags are used every minute worldwide.
Use Reusable Water Bottles and Metal Straws
To further reduce plastic waste, switching to reusable bottles and metal straws is the way to go. It also saves you money, as the average person spends $266 a year on plastic water bottles.
Use Less Energy
During the day, make it a goal to use natural sunlight rather than artificial light. Keeping your lights off will not only save energy but also save your electricity bill.
Purchase Eco-Friendly Products
There are many products used in your everyday life that are harmful to the environment. Here is a list of products to use and companies to buy from instead:
This cleaner is made with essential oils that fills your counters with an unforgettable aroma. It is also made with plant-derived ingredients, which is considered safer because they have fewer antibacterials.
This company produces non-toxic cleaning products from renewable resources. They have products for baby care and pet care as well. ECOS not only produces and sells eco-friendly products for an eco-conscious home, but they advocate for the environment as well. They are carbon and water neutral, and as of 2015, they have achieved zero waste. Some raw materials they use are coconut, beets, and vitamin E. Their tree-free bath tissue is made of renewable bamboo and sugarcane waste!
This all-purpose cleaner is vegan, non-toxic, energy-efficient, and natural!It is made from a biodegradable formula with plant-based cleaning agents, meaning that the products break down and become a part of the environment, this means this product is not a threat to the ecosystem.
This toilet paper does not come from any trees at all! Bamboo produces up to 35% more oxygen than trees, is hypoallergenic, and pesticide-free. Bamboo is not harmful to the planet as it reduces soil erosion in degraded and eroded areas.
EcoForce Sponges are made from 90% recycled fiber. This sponge contributes to sustainable living, is much better for the environment, and is affordable!
Change Your Mode of Transportation
Start carpooling, riding your bike, or a scooter. This will lead to a healthier lifestyle and decrease the amount of pollution that comes from cars. 14% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are from vehicles. Subsequently, reducing the number of times you drive or choosing an alternative method of transportation can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.
Reuse Paper
You can use scrap paper to make new usable paper. This process is time-consuming, but it is worth it! Here are the following steps:
Create a sheet mold! Use a wooden frame and a plastic needlepoint canvas. Cut out the canvas to fit in the frame.
Shred your scrap paper and soak in lukewarm water (two handfuls).
Let the paper soak for up to fifteen minutes. You might have to soak for up to an hour, depending on the thickness of the paper.
Take the paper and blend it with two cups of water. If you want colored paper, you can add food coloring or a bit of colored scrap paper.
Now you will need a container, anything that is large enough to fit the mold.
Pour your blended mix into the sheet mold, and use a flat object to pat it down. Once it is covered, lift the mold and tilt it to let the water drain out.
Remove the screening and flip the mold into a towel. Start patting your paper down with a sponge. Make sure to get the edges!
Let the paper dry on the towel for a few hours, then transfer to a table or hang it up with a clothespin until completely dry.
Now you are done! You are free to use the paper.
Create an Energy-Efficient Kitchen
Starting in the kitchen is a big step towards an energy-efficient home. Use a convection oven since food is cooked faster at a lower temperature. Gas stoves have one of the most heat transfer losses in the kitchen, which wastes a lot of energy. Instead, use an electric kettle because it prevents the prolonged boiling of water, again saving energy. There are even eco-friendly frying pans and pots. It is important to avoid pans that are coated with teflon. Although teflon coating has its benefits, it is at the expense of the planet, as it contains carcinogens and environmental offenders. Enamel-coated pots and pans are a safer option!
There are many alternatives for you to become eco-conscious around the home! Remember, these tips can be applied outside the home and can be used everywhere.
Resources
"Benefits Of Using Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies: Blog." Benefits Of Using Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies. Sunrise Industrial Cleaners, 25 Nov. 2020. Web. 22 June 2021.
Forte, Carolyn. "The Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products, According to Experts." Eco Friendly Cleaning Products. Good Housekeeping Institute, 01 May 2021. Web. 22 June 2021.
"Government of Canada." Natural Resources Canada. / Gouvernement Du Canada, 30 Mar. 2020. Web. 22 June 2021.
"How to Make Paper." DIY Network. 2020. Web. 22 June 2021.
Ritchie, Hannah, and Max Roser. "Plastic Pollution." Our World in Data. Oxford University, 01 Sept. 2018. Web.
Zafar, Salman. "10 Eco-Friendly Appliances to Make Your Kitchen Green." 10 Eco-Friendly Appliances To Make Your Kitchen Green. EcoMENA, 23 Apr. 2021. Web. 22 June 2021.
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