Brodie Cook
September 1, 2022
8 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Save Our Planet
Using sustainable practices is a responsibility we all have to the planet and future generations. There are currently 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic and waste in the ocean, with over 4 billion plastic micro-particles per square kilometre. Those are staggering numbers! Every piece of produced plastic takes more than 40 decades to decompose, meaning they will still be here for our great-great-great-grandchildren to deal with if we don't start making changes.
Sustainability doesn't have to be complex or overwhelming; small changes lead to significant impacts down the road. The good news is you can start making simple changes in your daily life to help reduce your environmental impact and do your part to ensure a cleaner, brighter future for generations to come. A simple act like picking up some trash laying on the sidewalk or turning off the water while you brush your teeth are wonderful places to start.
Sustainability doesn't only have a positive effect on the planet; it can also save you time and money! As you reduce and reuse, you spend less, helping you save more money for the things that matter most. There is truly no downside to incorporating more sustainable practices into your daily routine! If you're ready to make changes to help preserve our beautiful earth but don't know where to start, this list of 20 tips will get you heading in the right direction. So, what are you waiting for? Let's get started!
1. Eat Less Meat
Meat isn't cheap, and it's not great for the environment, either. Animal farming has destroyed seventy percent of the Amazon rainforest, and meat production results in more carbon emissions than any other protein. We're not telling you to go vegan (unless you want to), but learning to cook a few choice vegetarian meals will save money, add variety to your palate, and give the planet a helping hand.
“Try switching out meat for a vegetarian meal once a week, you might be surprised by how much you enjoy it.”
2. Cook From Scratch
We all know that cooking at home saves a hell of a lot of cash, but it also uses fewer resources than dining out or buying pre-made food. Although what you eat is usually more important than how it's cooked, eating food processed in distant industrial kitchens, wrapped up in plastic and cardboard packaging, and trucked to your local supermarket eats up a lot of energy. Besides, no meal gets appreciated as much as the one you've made yourself, so get cooking! Need some help getting started? Check out this roundup of healthy recipes.
“Cooking local, fresh ingredients is going to reduce the need for plastic packaging and any unnecessary processing.”
3. Start A Compost Pile
A corn cob decomposing in a landfill takes up to 18 years, but only a couple of months in a compost pile. A compost heap will save money on fertilizers, maintain soil health, and keep all those food scraps from rotting in a dump and belching methane (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere. Plus, you can use compost to grow new food, making it the ultimate recycler—now that's eco-friendly.
“Composting can also give you the fuel to grow your own food too”
4. Give Up Bottled Water
Marketing has led us to believe that we need to spend our well-earned money on expensive water bottles to be healthy when the reality is tap water is still drinking water. And surprisingly, bottled water is usually no better than tap water. Not only is bottled water ridiculously expensive, but the amount of plastic usage is through the roof. You can get yourself a water filter or distiller to ensure your drinking water is fresh and safe and most likely better for your health than the majority of bottled water on the market. You can then use a reusable water bottle (this is my one) when you're out and about. Sadly, most plastic bottles are not recycled and end up in landfills, or worse, in our oceans. So save some cash and ditch the bottled water.
“Save yourself money and reduce your reliance on single-use plastics by purchasing a reusable water bottle”
5. Go Digital
Going digital is an easy way to save trees and money simultaneously! Use online banking, save important files and photos on your hard drive, switch to email subscriptions over paper ones, or sign up to streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, or Audible. These simple switches are often more affordable and significantly reduce the amount of paper usage every year.
“Going digital will reduce the amount of paper you use and allow you to store your important information in an accessible place.”
6. Buy Secondhand
Buying secondhand furniture and clothing not only stops the waste associated with fast fashion, but you often get better made, higher quality options than you would if you purchased new options. Choosing to shop at a vintage, thrift, or consignment shop offers you the opportunity to discover fun finds in brands you may not have expected. More and more people are discovering the thrill of thrifting and absolutely loving it!
“Today's fashion uses high volumes of non-renewable resources to produce clothes that most of us use for a limited time. By shopping secondhand you're reducing the demand for new clothing. ”
7. Walk Or Bike More
We don't need to tell you how beneficial choosing to walk or bike instead of driving is for your health, but did you know it benefits the environment too? Choosing to leave your car at home reduces gas consumption, lowers carbon emissions, and saves you a ton of money (have you seen gas prices recently?) Help make your body and our planet healthier by finding the joys of the pedestrian lifestyle!
“With fuel prices soaring, take this as an opportunity to increase your health, save yourself some money and reduce your carbon emissions.”
8. Choose Sustainable Brands
Choosing sustainable brands doesn't mean you have to give up quality or pay a fortune. Many brands you know and love are making strides to become more environmentally friendly, helping make your choice easier! Here are some of the best sustainable fashion brands you can feel great about supporting!
“Choose brands who value sustainability and respect our planet. ”