Five Easy Ways to Reduce Your Environmental Footprint

Published

on

Source: Getty Images
Do you want to be more eco-conscious but other than recycling have no clue how to start?

♽Picking up rubbish yesterday afternoon & it was disgusting/sad how much litter was thrown on the sides of the road #mcdonalds & #hungryjacks food packaging was the main culprit, which people find easy to toss away because they forgot the plastic straws will not biodegrade like the cardboard cup or chip packet I am hoping one day both food stores will no longer use plastic straws and go plastic free to inspire others to do the same An easy way to get rid of your rubbish in your car is to keep a bucket or glass jar in your car and throw all your rubbish into it Once you are at a bin you can dispose of it responsibly so our waterways and wildlife are not effected We need to be role models for the younger generations and not leave a wasteland behind us for others to fix #planttochange #plasticfree #recyle #rubbish #reusereducerecycle #inspiration #leadbyexample #savetheplanet #wildlife #steelstraw #ecowarrior #ecofriendly #environmentalism #protecttheocean #cleanliving #australia #supportlocal #naturelover

A post shared by ♻ Eco Friendly Products (@planttochange) on

Here are 5 easy and inexpensive ways you can start helping make our planet a little greener. Best of all, implementing small steps in being a little more earth conscious can lead to bigger lifestyle changes!
Go Green with Web Browsing We all turn to the internet to search for things, so why not use a search engine that vows to do something good for our planet. Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees with its ad revenue. At least 80% of its revenue is used for tree planting projects around the world. The company hope to have planted a billion trees by 2020 and believe in full transparency. You can actually view their monthly financial reports and tree planting receipts on their website. You can install their web browser on your computer and feel great knowing every time you perform a web search you are helping with reforestation efforts around the globe.
Bring Your Own Grocery Bags
Plastic grocery bags can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. By bringing your own reusable bags to the shops you can really help decrease plastics in our landfills and oceans. Plus there are some really cute reuseable bags out there that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Make sure you keep a stash in the car so you are always prepared for that quick, spur-of-the-moment shopping trip!
Use a Reusable Coffee Cup
Since many coffee shops will give you a discount if you bring your own cup, this not only helps the planet – it can also save you some money! Approximately 200 billion cups are thrown away in the United States each year – that’s a lot of cups that end up in landfills. Plus those plastic lids do not deteriorate quickly. So ditch the Starbucks disposable cups and bring your own travel mug.
Turn off the Lights!
If your dad ever yelled at you to turn off the lights he had a good point. Not only does it save on the electricity bill, it also helps the environment. Did you know your appliances and technology can use energy even if they’re turned off? This ‘Vampire Power’ can account for up to 10% of consumer energy costs. Unplug devices and appliances when not in use, or purchase a power-strip with an on/off strip.
Wash Laundry in Cold Water
According to Energy Star 90% of the power used when you run the washing machine is heating the water. Opt to wash clothes in cold water instead. There are a variety of laundry detergents specifically made for cold water washing, so you don’t have to worry about not getting your duds clean enough. An added bonus is that cold water is actually better for your clothes and will help retain the color, shape and integrity of the fabric. Better still ditch the chemical-laden laundry detergent and dryer sheets. By opting for an eco-friendly detergent you can help prevent harmful pollutants running into groundwater.