My main goal as a coach for life and business is to help others live more intentional lives. So you can live a life where you choose what type of work you do, with whom you surround yourself, what foods you eat, and what you spend your money on.
It’s not often that I speak about how important it can be to be conscious of impacting the environment and the planet.
Every day is Earth Day in my world. Each choice I make is conscious, keeping my health and the planet’s long-term sustainability in consideration.
Here are eight ways to make Earth Day a success and why you might want to do the same.
1. Use reusable bags
Keep some cute, reusable bags in your car. You can now refuse plastic bags from the cashiers and stop using individual bags at the grocery store for your produce. This is why you can make a significant impact by changing your shopping habits.
2. Go outside
In his book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv notes that “Though we may see ourselves as distinct from nature, humans can also be part of that wildness.”
A relationship with the earth will make us more connected and more likely to feel a sense of responsibility for its protection. So get outside every day to get close and personal with nature. Please don’t wait until Earth Day to make it your priority.
3. Avoid eating meat
This may surprise you, but a plant-based diet could reduce food-related greenhouse gas emissions by 70%, according to Oxford University.
Even if you cannot give up meat, it is worth reducing your consumption of animal products drastically. Then, you’ll be able to appreciate a plant-based diet, and both your body and the environment will be grateful.
4. Recycle
This is something we have all heard many times in our lives. But how many people do it? Some restaurants and stores do not offer recycling options. I also know that not all people bring a cardboard beverage holder to recycle, rather than throwing it away. Most things can be recycled these days, including paper and electronics. There is often a better alternative than sending it to the dump. For example, according to Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection recycling, one ton of paper can save 17 trees and 7000 gallons of drinking water.
5. Organic foods and products
FOA (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), “By choosing organic products, the consumer through their purchasing power promotes an environmentally-friendly agricultural system.” As a result, reduced hidden costs associated with agriculture’s impact on the environment are possible in terms of degrading natural resources.
You are voting with your money when you shop at the farmer’s market or grocery store. To make Earth Day a reality, vote for an organic system that does not use synthetic pesticides or herbicides. These chemicals are not only harmful to your body but also the environment, water, and air.
6. Glass can replace plastic products
You can find excellent alternatives to plastic (Pyrex, Mason Jars, and many other options) and glass cups, plates, and Tupperware without spending a fortune. This not only helps you avoid plastic toxins but also decreases the overall production. The U.S. Plastics Industry accounts for 4.6% of the total annual petroleum consumption and uses approximately 331 million barrels annually (Plastics, Human Health, and the Road Ahead). We all know that plastic is not something we want in our lives. So be mindful of what you buy when you are purchasing products made from plastic.
7. Compost
It’s not a good idea to throw away organic food waste when you can easily compost it. There are usually companies that will pick up your compost if you don’t live in the city. Not only will you create less waste but also, composting can reduce the production of greenhouse gases like methane. Eureka Recycling says that composting food waste can also “repair and revitalize exhausted farm soils by replacing trace mineral and organic material, reduces stormwater runoff and reduces soil erosion.”
8. Reduce the use of toxic household cleaners
Many people don’t consider household cleaners to be pollutants. Although we assume that household cleaners are cleaning, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they don’t contribute to smog or lower tap water quality. (EPA) You don’t have to use toxic cleaners. Instead, make your cleaners to keep your home cleaner and your environment cleaner.
