Today is getting scarier and scarier. The constant news about the destruction of our biggest forests, the continuous melting of the icebergs, a fast pace rhythm global warming, the piles and piles of garbage we make daily and the UE recycling goals still being unreached should make us all shiver. But there are things we can do to help save the Planet.
And yes, the biggest changes should be done at a governmental, corporate and industrial level. The dramatic change it was when supermarkets started charging for plastic bags and providing with recycled plastic alternatives. And beer companies that start changing their methods for can packages like Carlsberg and Corona are to be praised.
But we can all help. The world belongs to us. And all the help is needed at this moment. Just acting on these 10 things you can do for a greener world will create a huge impact in the Planet.
Some clearing
Let me start by saying that I do not do all of these. Yes I don’t. Should I still write a post about it? DEFINITELY YES
Off course it would be ideal if all of us could do all the best options for the environment and nature. But can we? Most of us can’t. For several different reasons, that may or may not be up to us. These can be related to our lifestyle or to our financial capacities. Should we be blamed for doing just half??
HELL NO!!!
We should all contribute to protecting our world and it’s great if you can do way more than I post here. But do you think shaming the next person because he still uses straws when he recycles, doesn’t eat meat everyday and buys in bulk, is any good?
This should not be a all or nothing situation. Like most balanced people we tend to not follow anything too strictly (otherwise we’d all be able to keep that awesome salad and grilled food diet and have awesome bodies). But we are human, we fail, we are flawed.
But yes, our goals should be to do this and way more for the environment. So let’s start!! Here’s 10 things you can do for a greener world
1 – Use less disposable containers
Whether it’s your water bottle or that coffee cup swap it for durable alternatives. Yes you can take your own mug to your favorite coffee shop. And some even offer discounts when you do. So, more ecologic and less expensive – win win situation.
But think also in less common situations. Does that Chinese restaurant you love always gives you huge portions you can’t really finish, and you end up asking for a box to take home the leftovers?? Then you eat them and probably throw away the box!! Start taking your own boxes to the restaurants. No shame in being ecologic. Besides you can pack your own leftovers so there is no oyster sauce on top of your noodles 😉
And if you’re ordering take out but eating it at home then just ask the restaurant to not send you plastic cutlery.
How do you bake? Think using the aluminium forms is so much simpler? You even wash them…until they start losing shape, or that cake over bake and now you just can’t scrap out the burning. And it’s trash! Just invest in some porcelain or metallic baking pans.
2 – Ecologic shoping
You’ve probably already heard of buying in bulk. Yes it’s definitly the best option!! Just bring your own containers and bags and reuse them everytime.
But I for example don’t have any supermarket that sell in bulk (Yes Norway, it’s shameful!!). But there is still thing you can do.
Choose reduced or no packaging
Yes, choose to pick up your vegetables from the box instead of buying the plastic wrapped ones. Buy the cereal that only comes with the plastic and not the plastic and the box. And check to see what packages are made from recycled materials. And always bring your own bags – preferably not plastic ones.
Buy in bulk quantities
One big pack of pasta saves more plastic than 2 small ones. Check the main things you can buy to your household in bigger quantities. This way not only you’ll go less times to the supermarket but you also save on the packaging (and in your wallet). But make sure you store them properly so they won’t go bad.
Buy online
What happens when you buy online? You don’t use your car or bus and you usually are more conscientious of what you are buying. Not only because you have more time sitting comfortably in your couch to evaluate your buying, being able to compare different sites and read information about the product, but also you get a final price before you’re in front of a cashier, so you can end up taking stuff from your basket.
It may seem a bit counter intuitive because you’d think the packaging, the distribution centers, and the transport means used to get the stuff to your door step would use more energy than you just driving to the shop. Guess again. The packaging have less impact since we now can recycle more of them, and the whole production is made to be more effective than your driving to the shop. But don’t take my word for it- check the studies here and here.
Buy used
It’s simple, buying second hand things, specially at local shops, means reducing your carbon footprint, means less mass production of things and less thrash. So check the second hand shop before buying your new winter jacket, check if that book you want isn’t available used, and maybe the garage sale next door has a more unique side table than IKEA. Besides all of these are cheaper than new items
Buy less
Do you really need another black dress? I know it feels great to buy that cute sweater for winter. But do you really need it? Not only you are polluting more but also spending more money. We fabricated this consumerist society, and we all think we need to keep spending the money we earned on thing. We don’t!! We need to start thinking about our quality of life and not the amount of things we own.
We also need to think about what we are doing to the people that are producing our clothes and other products! How can a new dress cost less than a homemade meal? How are we exploring people and countries, so that we can have new clothes every month. Conscientious thinking doesn’t only apply to the environment but also to the humans that surround us. But don’t think that you need to buy in expensive stores. Specially because most of these also produce in the same places using the same people as the cheap stores…they just make even more money out of it. Instead search for recycled and conscious option.
3 – Avoid your car
Try less greenhouse gas emission options like public transport, walking or a bike.
Remember if you can bike to work then you’re basically saving yourself some time from gym time. Win win!
If these option are complicated for technical reasons then try to car pull with a co-worker. Not only it’s better for the environment but also for your wallet.
4 – Recycle
Yeah this one is no news. But still recycling standards are low around the world.
Did you know that unrecyclable glass can take up to a million years to decompose?
Start doing your part and separate your trash!!! Yeah we all heard the conspiracy theories about it being fake, not that environmental friendly, etc…but is it really worth not doing it because of something that can be fake?
Still recycling methods are different from country to country, so check your local standards.
5 – Eat less meat & more local products
It’s an inevitable truth!! We need to consume less meat.
Now, I’m not a vegetarian, nor I plan to be. I believe in balance.
This is probably the most controversial topic. The research I’ve made leads me to think that all of us becoming vegetarian or vegan would not lead to saving the planet. No matter what you eat animal will always be killed, and swapping animal farming for crops would also carry its problems to the ecosystem.
I believe in being an ethical omnivore or a climatarian. In choosing sustainable, ecological and local animal and vegetable products. I think people should eat less meat, but a much higher quality to support the demand for pasture-raised meats. We need to improve animal farms conditions and diminish animal suffering, but i still believe it’s natural to have animals on your diet.
I like all the movements of “no meat Monday”, “vegetarian September”, etc. but I believe in actually changing the way you eat. So instead of doing these why not try changing your usual chilli for vegetarian chilli. Not this Monday but forever! Get some of your recipes and just change them to become vegetarian. This way you’re changing the way you eat! Also when making food think “can I do this without the meat? Can I replace it for mushrooms, or chickpeas or soy?” or whatever your preference is. Try different vegetarian substitutes and find your favorites.
Eating locally may have a huge impact not only to nature but to economy. Don’t need much explanation on how much more environmental impact there is in buying a avocado all the way from Mexico, or buying the apples from a small farm a couple km from your town. We need to start thinking about the products we buy. Next time you go to the supermarket and there is 2 types of oranges, one form home and another from Spain, just get the ones from your country. Not only you’ll be improving your own economy, but also not participating in long plane or truck trips and conservatives added to those products so they make it through the journey. And seasonal products also make a difference. The means to produce something outside it’s natural conditions obviously has more impact on it.
Besides it will also be good for your wallet 😉
But most of all we should have the information of the environmental impact of everything we consume – how and where was it produced, the conditions of the production, means of transport, origin and waste disposal of the materials used.
6 – Be energy efficient
Energy saving is a way to help. So when you’re home start thinking energetically. Here’s some examples:
- Turn the light out in rooms you’re not in
- Unplug or completely turn off appliances that have stand-by options (all those that still have a led screen with light on or a clock)
- Use energy efficient light bulbs like LED lights
- Adjust the temperature in your home, and make sure you turn off or at least lower the temperature while you’re away from home.
- Use rechargeable batteries
- Change to renewable greener energy options
7 – Save water
Fresh water sources are limited. We need to save it and not pollute it. We need to make more consciousness decisions. So if your momma never told you this as a kid, I’m telling you now:
- turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your hair
- take shorter showers
- don’t fill up the bathtub everyday
- never leave the water running for no reason.
In more adult contexts, avoid pre-rinsing your dishes if you’re using the dish washer. If dishes are very dirty try to let them soak together in minimum water with soap. Nowadays A energy efficient washing machines will save more energy and water than hand washing, but if you have an old one maybe it’s time to change it or do the dirty job yourself.
Same with car washing. As much as you think you might be saving by doing it in your backyard, most companies want to use less energy and water as possible so they have efficient systems. So enjoy the day with a home made coffee in your portable travel mug while waiting for the machines to wash your car.
Pro-tip – Use saving the planet as a good excuse to share a shower with your love bird 😉
8 – No to paper
In an electronic age like today, avoid the most out of actual paper.
- no more printing unnecessary papers
- no more paper bills
- use the most out of your note papers. Don’t take a not or make a shopping list and then throw it out. Use all of the paper
- don’t take more napkins than you need. Most of us have seem and done this – going to a restaurant and just taking a bunch of napkins, and then not using them. If you did this, then at least take them with you and use them at home or keep them in your bag as tissues.
- use your computer/phone/tablet more. Nowadays we all have one or all of these. Avoid using paper if you can just use an app or program to keep all the data you need. Either if it’s school notes from class or a simple shopping list.
9 – Have less or no children
I know, it may seem cruel to ask this, but the truth is the agricultural revolution made us able to bread in good conditions, and that keeps making us grow in numbers. Actually there are very little natural controlling mechanisms for human population growth. So we need to start thinking about our options today. Don’t really feel inclined to have kids? Then don’t. And the next time your mother complains about it just say you’re saving the world.
If you do want kids, at least don’t have 3 or 4 or “how many god sends us”. Be responsible. For you may not suffer but your kids certainly will…
10 – Make yourself heard
It’s important to reduce our personal carbon footprint, but saving our planet and reducing the excessive use of natural resources and control climate change takes more than one individual. We need global solutions to global problems, we need to make our and all world’s nations to take action and find common ground in these issues. We need to pressure governments to take actions, no matter how small they may seem.
Let your government, you local supermarket, your local associations know that you are ready to act with them, to make a better world.
Here’s some examples on governmental actions that go a long way. If your country hasn’t acted on these, let them know they should follow the good examples 🙂
- Norway banned deforestation – check it here
- France banned plastic cups, plates and cutlery – check it here
- Costa Rica aims to have 60% of the country covered in forest – check it here
- Portugal leads the way in banning single use plastics – check it here
- Bangladesh was the first country to ban lightweight plastic bags – check it here
- Portugal made it mandatory to have a vegan option in all public canteens – check it here
Did you knew you can calculate your Ecological footprint???
Try it here
The planet belongs to all of us, and it is our job to preserve it. We can all help save the world. These are just 10 things to do for a greener world. We can all do so much more.