If you are like most people, you love planet Earth. But how do you show it? Here are 15 easy ways that you can be more environmentally friendly.
1. Pick Up Trash
Imagine a world where everyone picked up a little bit of litter as they moved about their daily lives. You don’t have to pick up much, but it is a very friendly thing to do.
2. Buy second hand
Buying second hand seems to be more popular than it was, but we still have a long way to go. It should be considered fashionable to buy second hand clothes—and along with that, do your part and donate instead of throwing away.
3. Avoid products with less packaging
In the United States, we use more packaging than anywhere in the world. Try to use items that use minimal amounts of packaging. You can even take this a step further and write to companies and tell them that you want products with less packaging.
4. Turn it off
You can make this easy to do by plugging in your TV and other entertainment devices into a single surge protector with a switch. Even better, set up your house with a technology solution that does this on a timer or when you leave the house.
5. Avoid disposable products
Paper towels, plastic ware, and paper plates can easily be replaced with non-disposable items. Steering away from the everyday use of these items is a great step to take towards being environmentally friendly.
6. Reduce electronic waste
E- waste is anything electronic that you can no longer use. Just because it is junk to you, however, doesn’t mean it has no value. There are many uses for electronic waste, so be sure to check and see if it can be recycled before you throw it away.
7. A clothesline
It wasn’t that long ago that clothes dryers became common in American households. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers dried all their clothes on a clothesline. If you have never experienced the smell of sun drenched laundry that has just been brought in off the line, you are in for a treat.
8. Composting
Composting is easy to do. Of course, not everyone will be able to compost, depending on where they live, but if you can, a compost bin is easy to set up. It’s environmentally friendly for earth worms and other bugs. They will thank you for it.
9. Get your coffee in your own cup
If you are like many people, you get several espressos each week. In your mind’s eye, picture how big of a pile that makes in a month, or a year, and consider asking your barista to use your own cup. Even small things like ditching plastic water bottles for your own bottle can make a difference. In the U.S. alone, we use more than 50 billion disposable coffee cups per year.
10. Have groceries delivered
This almost seems counter intuitive because it feels so indulgent, but having one car make a trip that 20 cars would have to take just makes sense. If you are lucky enough to live in an area where this is an option, you can have your groceries delivered—guilt free.
11. Use eco-friendly cleaning products
Some of the most environmentally friendly cleaning products work great. Baking soda is a great example of a product that can be less harmful to the environment and still works. Some of these products can be a lot easier on your bank account, too!
12. Use your microwave
Even an air fryer or an instapot can be used instead of a conventional oven. Particularly if you are cooking for just one or two people, you can use a smaller kitchen appliance to get the job done.
13. Avoid flying
Flying is one of the largest contributors to climate change and emissions from flight travel are more rapid than any other type of transportation.
If you are planning a vacation, look to the few hundred miles around your home. Chances are, you haven’t explored everything in the surrounding area and you will be surprised at how many wonders there are within a few hours of your home.
14. Plant a garden
During World War II, it was popular to grow a Victory Garden. We need to normalize growing a garden so that we can be victorious over climate change issues.
15. Plant a tree
This is the epitome of environmentally friendly things to do, and it is actually one of the most fun ideas on this list. There are so many different types of trees to plant. It’s something that the entire family can do together to create a lasting memory. Many trees can live considerably longer than we humans do, so this is a good way to create a better future for your children and grandchildren.
Our climate is changing
Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, consumerism, and water pollution are just a few things at the top of the list when it comes to ways that we are damaging our environment. Our climate is changing because of the negative impact that we are having on it. It’s time to take some friendly measures to make a positive change.
