Hey ladies, this is Amber here.
Earth Day falls in April. In honor of the holiday, many of us spend this month thinking green. But living lighter on the planet isn’t just for Earth Day. If we really want to make a difference, we need to keep on thinking green 365 days a year.
Luckily, reducing your environmental footprint doesn’t have to mean living in a yurt in the forest. Little steps can make a big difference. Most of us are already recycling and turning off the light when we leave the room. But what else can we do? Here are some of my ideas for making every day Earth Day:
- Carry a reusable bag in your purse or diaper bag. We all know, by now, that reusable bags are the way to go. The problem for many of us, though, is that we forget ours at home. You can find many bags now that are really cute, and roll up really small. Stow one or two in whatever handbag you usually carry, and you’ll be prepared for those spur-of-the-moment purchases.
- Switch to tap water. Did you know that tap water quality is highly regulated – far more than bottled water? Plus, it doesn’t have to be packed in plastic and shipped from the bottling plant to the store. If you don’t like the taste, consider using a filter. You’ll be saving the planet, and saving some money at the same time.
- Buy in bulk. Buying food and other consumables in bulk reduces the overall packaging load. Packaging accounts for about 31% of the trash that ends up in the landfill, which is no small amount of garbage. If you buy a large tub of yogurt instead of many small tubs, the overall amount of packaging is smaller. Buying in bulk also saves money for most families, which is another plus.
- Switch to electronic magazine and newspaper subscriptions. Spring for that e-reader or tablet, and the earth may thank you. You’re saving trees, reducing the amount of mail that you get, and still keeping up-to-date with your favorite periodicals. Sounds like a win!
- Go second-hand. We all have our own comfort zone when it comes to used items. Most of us are OK with used cars, for instance, but few of us are cool with used underwear. (Ew!) Wherever you fall on the spectrum, though, buying second-hand items is an environmentally-friendly choice. Whether you get hand-me-downs from your sister’s kids, shop at a consignment shop, visit garage sales or hit your local thrift store, the items have already been manufactured and shipped, so new resources don’t have to be used to make them.
- Take your kids outdoors. People who appreciate nature will want to protect it. It’s springtime right now for those of us in the Northern hemisphere, which means that it’s a great time to get outside and play. Take a nature walk. Visit a playground. Work in your garden. Let your kids see the wonder of the natural world, and take it in yourself, too.
Now I’d love to hear from you. Do you have some easy tips and tricks for living a little lighter on the earth? Please share!