4
May, 2021

Adopting Environmentally-Friendly Eating Habits

The Green and sustainable living movement is sweeping the whole world and now people are focusing more on what they eat. If you care and want to protect the environment, then read on to learn about some of the environmentally-friendly eating habits.

At the Store

 

1.Reuse Bags at the Store

Premium Photo | Disposable biodegradable kraft paper bags

You will be surprised when I tell you that each year in the United States alone, people use over 100 billion plastic bags, which costs at least 12 million barrels of oil. Can you actually imagine that?

Moreover, it is noted that worldwide, approximately only 1 % of plastic bags are actually recycled. And, of course, it means that the rest end up in landfills, oceans or somewhere else in the environment. And the consequences? Nearly one million birds, 100 000 turtles and other marine animals die after ingesting discarded plastics. Plastic bags pose a threat not only to aquatic life but also to other numerous elements of the environment, such as the dilapidation of agricultural land.

So, if you want to play a role in preventing millions of trees from being cut down to make plastic shopping bags, next time you go to the store, make sure to bring a reusable bag with you.

2. Avoid Items With Excess Packaging

If you wonder why let me tell you that excess packaging is often and mostly made out of unsustainable materials that contribute in increasing the waste in landfills. And, maybe the worst culprit of all is polystyrene, which is not only a suspected carcinogen but is also produced through a process that has a tremendous negative impact on the environment. This is why it is recommended to purchase products with minimal packaging.

3. Do Not Purchase Plastic Bottles

Image tag: plastic, image quantity: 984 | tag | Hippopx

With all these billions of plastic bottles around, I think you can already guess how many tons of plastic are being used to produce these bottles. And, let’s not forget the landfills that are being overflowed with these bottles.

One way to reduce your carbon footprint is to use tap water which is much better compared to these bottled water.

4. Choose the Right Shop

Why don’t you choose to buy and give your money to eco-friendly stores, both in the organization’s practices and in the food selections they provide.

Eating

 

5. Start Eating It Raw

Carrots, Basket, Vegetables, Market, Food

Now, it is true that not all foods can be eaten raw, but there are some vegetables, for example, that can be eaten raw and can help you to save energy on gas from your stone. For instance, instead of boiling or sauteing a raw carrot, why don’t you chew it down?

Below is a list of food that can be eaten raw:

  • Pineapple
  • Coconut
  • Blueberries
  • Broccoli
  • Onions
  • Red Bell Peppers
  • Nuts
  • Seaweed

6. Go Local

For those who didn’t know, eating locally produced food is one of the best ways to live eco-friendly and to reduce your carbon footprint. Besides, locally grown foods are fresher, tastier and retain more nutrients compared to food products that are usually shipped across the globe.

7. Eat a Lot of What You Buy

Do you know how many people around the world are dying due to starvation? Forget about the adults and think about all those needy and innocent children who die from hunger each year? Sd, isn’t it?

But, now what if I tell you that according to the statistics of the Food and Agriculture Organization, over 1.3 billion of food ends in landfills every year?

This is why it is always said not to waste the food you buy.

8. Go for Organic

Blueberries, Bunch, Berries, Fruits, Bunch Of Berries

Here, only food labels can help.

There are specific certified organic foods that are generally grown and processed using farming ways that recycle resources, do not make use of synthetic pesticides or bio-engineered genes, hence promoting sustainability.

But, remember, even if organic foods have numerous benefits on the environment, they can be costly and if you have a certain budget to abide to, then you need to calculate and limit your organic purchase to the ones that make the most impact.

Will you follow these tips? Please share your comments!

8
Sep, 2020

6 Habits to Adopt for a More Sustainable Life

Our daily life choices affect the environment, the climate, and other species. From what we choose to consume to our family size, we can do a lot to “choose nature” and help decrease our footprint’s negative impacts and leave room for a more sustainable life.

1) Think Twice Before You Shop

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” may sound archaic, but it’s just as relevant today as it was when the term was coined. Each product we purchase has an enviromental footprint, from the materials we use to make it to the pollution released when the packaging goes to landfill. So before you buy, ask yourself if the product is necessary. If it is, consider buying a used product rather than a new one, and aim for minimal packaging and transportation.

2) Go Plastic Free

Billions of pounds of plastics are now found in the swirling convergences that make up about 40% of the world’s ocean surfaces. Annually, thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals are killed after being entangled in plastic. You can begin reducing your plastic waste by following these simple steps: use reusable bags when shopping, avoid single-use water bottles, bags, and straws, and avoid products made or packaged in plastic as much as possible (for example, choose unpackaged products at the grocery store, shop locally, reduce online shopping).

3) Grow Your Own Products

By growing your own fruits and vegetables, you can ensure that no pesticides or other harmful substances that contribute to water and air pollution are utilized. This will also cut down on the quantity of fossil fuels used to move products to supermarkets.

4) Don’t Waste Water

Avoid drinking bottled water. Bottled water companies try to sell tap water, even if it usually be free. Many city water products have won quality and taste tests compared to branded water. The extraction of water and the manufacturing of all these plastic bottles is a known detriment to communities and wildlife. Conserving water is also vital, primarily because our growing population is placing an increasing demands on the country’s water sources, and we are experiencing more droughts than ever before. You can save water by taking shorter showers, repairing leaky toilets, and choosing low-flow, water-efficient appliances. You can also consider xeriscaping your yard, a landscaping technique that uses native plants adapted to drought conditions, require less water and maintenance over time, and provide habitat and food for birds and bees.

5) Choose to Have a Small Family

Now is the time to talk about the rapid increase in the human population, the species extinction crisis, and the type of future we need for wildlife, the planet, and ourselves. With more than 7.5 billion people globally, and more every day, our need for food, water, land, and fossil fuels drives other species to extinction. Thus, having fewer children would be a wise choice. We can achieve an environmentally sustainable population in a way that promotes human rights; reduce poverty and overpopulation; raise our standard of living; and allow plants, animals, and the protected to thrive.

6) Drive Less

By altering your driving habits, you have the power to lower your carbon footprint. Walk, bike, carpool or use public transit whenever possible. Combine classes to make fewer trips. Participate in car-free days or organize car-free days in your neighbourhood. Keeping your car in good condition through regular tune-ups and tire inflation is also crucial. Regular tune-ups can improve your fuel efficiency by 4-40%, and if people keep their tires inflated, fuel consumption can be reduced by 2% across a country.

By following these simple habits, you can make a big difference!