Simple Things You Can Do Daily to Help the Environment

Love the planet.
by Therese Aseoche | June 01, 2018

Beach closures, worsening climate, and suffering sea creatures — these are just some of the effects of our harmful actions towards the environment for years. The call to change our lifestyles and become active advocates of a healthy environment is becoming more and more urgent that we can’t simply sit around feeling helpless anymore. Here are just a few simple things you can do every day that can bring about a positive impact to the environment!

Buy local, buy waste-free

Locally made goods are more sustainable than those you find from global brands, and reduces the carbon footprint usually made from manufacturing and shipping products to everywhere around the world.

It also helps to purchase products with minimal to no packaging like loose leaf tea, shampoo bars, sunblocks that come in tin cans, and bamboo toothbrushes so you can totally lessen the amount of trash you normally accumulate at home.

Make plastic ecobricks

When collecting plastic trash can’t be helped, you can gather them into one plastic bottle and make an ecobrick which can be used as an alternative construction material for sustainable buildings and furniture. When you’ve completed your ecobrick, you can donate them to environmental conservation groups like The Plastic Solution and Ecobricks PH, or Robinsons Easymart’s ecobrick drive.

Plant seeds from fruits and veggies you’ve eaten

Planting and starting a garden is actually easier than you may think. All you need are the seeds and pits from the fruits and veggies you’ve eaten. Just dry them up, plant them in your little garden, and tend to them until they regrow. Nothing wasted, and a lot of greenery to gain.

Reduce food waste

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), “roughly one third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year — approximately 1.3 billion tonnes — gets lost or wasted.”

Reduce your food waste by refraining from buying and hoarding things from the grocery that you know you won’t consume immediately. Always make a meal plan so you know how much of which to shop for, or make plans that revolve around ingredients you already have in your fridge and pantry. This also means keeping track of expiration dates so that you don’t end up wasting anything.

Add these items to your everyday bag

Never leave the house again without these: a tote bag, reusable straw, reusable utensils, reusable container, and a water bottle. No more plastic bottles, paper bags, and other wasteful and single-use containers and packaging that will end up in the trash within minutes.

Shop secondhand

Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, but you will also save a lot of money by purchasing clothes and products from other people instead of making a trip to the store. Or better yet, go the extra mile and adopt a capsule wardrobe so you can stop buying clothes, shoes, or fashion accessories you don’t really need and just be content with the basics. You’ll also help others reduce their own carbon footprint by purchasing your secondhand items, or you could choose to donate them to charities instead.

 

What other words of advice do you want to impart to everyone so we can all save Mother Nature before it’s too late? Share them in the comments section below!