 Make your closet greener!
I believe one of the biggest ways to be sustainable on an individual level is being conscious about your textile consumption. And with spring upon us, I believe it’s the perfect time to do some spring cleaning! Did you know that the current recycling rate for clothes that are thrown away in the U.S is around 13%? The average American also throws away 37kg of clothes every year (for Americans that’s around 81 pounds!!) (BBC.com). The unsustainable production of fast fashion clothing and mass disposal of clothes is detrimental to the planet. Don’t even get me started on shein, romwe, and forever 21. So, if we know fast fashion is detrimental to the planet and we have the resources to avoid it, why do we continue to purchase it? So, if we don’t purchase fast fashion that is affordable and stylish, where can we purchase clothing that still suits us? Well, (other than making your own clothes), I believe thrifting is the most sustainable way to purchase clothes! It gives clothes a new purpose and keeps it out of the landfill! Along with clothing taking up space in landfills, the toxic dyes in clothing leak when they are weathered and pollute surrounding environments when left to biodegrade, so keeping clothing out of the landfill if one of the most sustainable things you can do. If you’re wondering where to consume your clothes, I have an article about online thrift apps in the Lifestyle section of my blog! I also like to go to my local thrift shops and buy from friends that no longer use their clothes. If you’re wondering how to sustainably get rid of your clothes, sell them on clothing apps or donate them to people who need them! I believe throwing them away is never the answer and you could be giving your old clothing a new life! This is another example of how small actions from individuals can make lasting impacts!  Switch out plastic water bottles for a reusable one.
I know this is one of the most basic sustainability tips I can give you, but it really is one of the most impactful. Having a trusty reusable water bottle that I take on the go with me has made my life so much more convenient and has saved me money in the long run. If you get into the routine of taking a reusable water bottle with you, you will be doing yourself and the planet a favor. Every single minute, 1 million plastic bottles are purchased around the world, but only 9% ever end up being recycled. According to National Geographic, a vast majority of the water bottles consumed worldwide (around 79%) find their way into landfills, or even worse our oceans and water systems. Experts predict that by 2050, 12 billion metric tons of plastic will be part of our landfills, a majority of that finding its way into ecosystems that directly impact human health. If we don’t act now and change the way we consume, plastic pollution will be even more irreversible for future generations than it is now. There are numerous reasons why going reusable is overall a smarter decision than using plastic. In the process, using even one reusable water bottle will save up to 156 single use water bottles from ending up in the landfill. Even when bottles make it into the landfill, a majority of these plastics take at least 5 centuries to decompose. It really is better to reduce than reuse or recycle. The argument that “It’s already made so I might as well use it,” is probably one of the most destructive points of view when it comes to making eco-friendly efforts. When we as consumers decide, we do not want to purchase an unsustainable mass-produced product (like plastic water bottles), companies will hear us. Never underestimate your power as an individual consumer. This is another example of how small actions from individuals can make lasting impacts. Source:  Bring reusable containers to take home food instead of single use boxes.
When I’m at a restaurant and I ask for a to go box for my meal, I always notice one thing. The to go boxes restaurants provide are almost always made out of Styrofoam, or occasionally single use plastic. According to the EPA, Americans trash approximately 25 billion Styrofoam cups and take-out containers every year. Now, everyone knows that Styrofoam is bad for the planet, but what many people don’t know is that unlike plastic, it never biodegrades. In addition, it’s made out of polystyrene which is a petroleum -based plastic that further contributes to overall pollution and climate change. The National Bureau of Standards Center for Fire Research has found 57 chemical byproducts released during the creation of Styrofoam. This not only pollutes our air, but our food and water systems as well. Materials from single use take out boxes end up in oceans and other waterways and are consumed by organisms that we eat. Polystyrene can be recycled, but fewer and fewer recycling facilities are accepting it. Although recycling is vital when making eco-friendly choices, it really is better to reduce than to recycle. Bringing a reusable box from your house is such an easy switch to reduce Styrofoam and single use plastic consumption. Once again, this is another example of how small actions from individuals can make lasting impacts. Source:  Switch out your regular toothbrush for a bamboo one.
I think a big part of trying to be eco-friendly is thinking about basic changes you can make in your life. It’s also realizing that when a lot of people make little changes, it really does have a big impact. Something as simple as a toothbrush can make an impact. This sustainability Sunday will be discussing the impact of plastic toothbrushes and why you should switch to bamboo! You might not know it, but your plastic toothbrush is directly impacting the plastic crisis. When you throw something away, it doesn’t always go into a magical landfill where it stays and disappears. Our trash (even on non-costal areas) ends up in oceans directly impacting wildlife and third world countries. Just in the U.S alone, a billion plastic toothbrushes will be thrown away every year, almost all of them being plastic. Although this number is already overwhelming, there’s more to it. Because plastic was made to be durable and last for long periods of time, every plastic toothbrush that has ever been created is still sitting in a landfill today. So, the question we need to be asking ourselves is “how can we change this?” The solution is the fastest growing plant in the world, bamboo! Although there are more than 1,000 species of bamboo, the average growth time for bamboo is up to 3 feet a day! Bamboo is also biodegradable and compostable, meaning it breaks down in a landfill or you can throw it in your compost bin! It really is the most eco-friendly solution in place of a plastic toothbrush. Below are affordable and sustainable bamboo toothbrush links that I love!! Once again, this is another example of how small actions from individuals can make lasting impacts. Option 1 Option 2 Sources for this article: Source 1 Source 2  Stop using paper towels and paper napkins!
When you have a spill or you need a quick clean up for something, your first instinct is to clean it up with a paper towel right? In addition, when you’re eating dinner with your family, I assume you use paper napkins as well. These products are so deeply embedded in almost every American household, that many people turn a blind eye to the toll they take on the environment. The roll of paper towels that’s sitting conveniently on your kitchen counter that you use once and throw away actually is more dangerous for the planet than you might realize. I think it’s a well-known fact that these products are made of paper and come from trees, right? So, in turn, the production and use of paper products such as these cause deforestation and create carbon emissions that lead to climate change. Unlike many paper products, they cannot be recycled. This is because of their short fibers and because they contain components such as grease and liquids that make them impossible to recycle and process. Other than the fact that they’re non-recyclable, they have a larger impact on the planet than we realize. The decomposition of paper towels releases methane, which is almost 23 times more potent and dangerous for the planet than carbon dioxide, which is a leading cause to global warming. This methane is released when the paper starts to biodegrade. So even though a company might pride themselves on their product being biodegradable, it still has a disastrous impact. Paper makes up the largest share of municipal waste in the U.S, which accounts for around 292.4 million tons of waste. That’s approximately 4.9 pounds per person per day. This is such a simple fix! If we shift to reusable rags that we can just wash that would cut down on a tremendous amount of waste with such minimal effort. This is another example of small actions from individuals making lasting impacts.  Stop using plastic bags!
When I think about the consumption of plastic bags it is completely impractical. The average plastic bag is used once and lasts forever. The average lifespan for a plastic bag is 20 minutes. 20 minutes of convenience is not worth the detrimental impacts that plastic bags have, especially when there is the alternative of a reusable bag. Although you can recycle plastic bags, the probability of it actually being recycled is slim. With only 9% of plastic ever being recycled in the U.S, plastic bags make up such a small percentage of recyclables. Only 5% of plastic bags in the U.S ever get recycled, resulting in a larger portion of waste than almost any other single use plastic item. The reason they are hardly recyclable is because the machinery in recycling centers cannot process the bags, with the plastic getting caught in the machinery. Not using plastic bags is such a simple and easy environmental fix, but the impact would be so incredible. Marine animals are highly impacted by our use of plastic bags specifically. Many of the plastic bags that end up in the ocean are not from costal areas, making lack of plastic bag consumption crucial in all areas of the world. Sea animals will often mistake plastic bags for food or get entangled in them. This is not natural. This is not ethical. Organisms should not struggle or be severely negatively impacted because of our unethical consumption and craving for convenience. When you look around and pay close attention to how many places use plastic bags, you will find that they are so engrained in average daily consumption. Bringing your own bags to every place from the grocery store to the mall will reduce your carbon footprint dramatically, and eventually become habitual. Once again, this is another example of small actions from many individuals making lasting impacts.  Cut out plastic straws from your consumption.
This action is probably one of the most popular environmental tips you will hear. It might be a small act, but the impact is still substantial. Like every single use item, if you really think about it it's so unnecessarily wasteful to only use a plastic straw for a drink one time then throw it away only for the plastic to never biodegrade. It's just not practical. The U.S uses around 500 million plastic straws every day. This is enough to circle the earth two and a half times. I work at a coffee shop and I give every customer a straw every time they get an iced drink. I almost never hear someone request their drink without one. I understand why people don't request to not have a straw through. Sometimes it's awkward or you're afraid of being rude to the worker. I have found that as long as you ask politely and confidently, the worker will be happy to accommodate for your request. Not using a straw is such a simple change, and there are so many reusable alternatives that I like to use. Links to reusable straws that I love are down below:) https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/zero-waste-essentials-1/products/package-free-stainless-steel-bubble-tea-straw https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/dash-reg-collapsible-magnetic-super-straw-with-case/5513359?skuId=69592817&enginename=bing&mcid=PS_bing_nonbrand_kitchenfoodprep_Online&product_id=69592817&adtype=&product_channel=Online&adpos=&creative=&device=c&matchtype=e&network=s&gclid=f63ad3aa897f10546ae38c589709ef26&gclsrc=3p.ds&&msclkid=f63ad3aa897f10546ae38c589709ef26&gclid=f63ad3aa897f10546ae38c589709ef26&gclsrc=3p.ds https://happyadri.store/products/colla-foldable-straw-collapsible-reusable-metal-stainless-steel-straw-travel-household-drinking-straws-kitchen-bar-accessories?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_campaign=Bing%20Shopping&msclkid=5fc8696eb5f61f77d092369cab807601 |
