Earth Day: Environm
7 Things You Can Do to Make a Difference
Taking steps to become more environmentally friendly is easier
than you might think. There are little things you can do every day
to make a big difference.
1. Use a Reusable Shopping Bag 3. Repurpose and Reuse
Plastic grocery bags take anywhere from 15–1,000
years to decompose, and only about 1–2 percent of
plastic bags are recycled in the USA. Paper
bags are not much better.
According to USA Today, it
takes four times as much
energy to produce paper
bags compared to plastic
bags, and 85 times as
much energy is
needed to recycle
them. One of the best
things you can do is
invest in high-quality
reusable bags to
avoid the need for
use of disposable
plastic or paper bags. Find creative ways to repurpose empty containers
or other old items. Reuse empty essential oil
bottles to create your own blends. Make
crafts using recycled material. It’s a
great way to engage your family in
creative projects while teaching
them about the environment.
2. Reduce Food
Waste
According to the US
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), about 95
percent of the food we throw
away ends up in landfills or
combustion facilities. Here are a few
simple things you can do to reduce
food waste in your home:
• Carefully plan your shopping and grocery
lists. When you go grocery shopping, make
sure you don’t buy too much food.
• Store fruits and vegetables in the right places for
maximum freshness. Freeze, dehydrate, and can
excess fruits and vegetables.
• If you have leftovers, save them so you can enjoy
them later.
• You can also donate excess food to food banks
and local charities for people in need.
26 / SPRING 2017 LIVING MAGAZINE
4. Try Organic
Gardening
Aside from knowing
exactly where your
food comes from and
other amazing health
benefits, growing
your own organic
garden also helps
the planet in many
ways, including
saving time, fuel, and
reducing waste. You
can compost certain
foods and turn it into
nutrient-rich fertilizer for
your garden. New to
gardening? Check out this
blog post (bit.ly/2jXRrZa) to
help you get started.
5. Buy a Water Bottle
Instead of buying plastic water bottles,
purchase a quality water bottle that you can
reuse every day. Double-wall, vacuum-installed,
stainless steel water bottles keep your water
cool up to 12 hours. You could also purchase a
simple glass water bottle—both options are safe
for essential oil use.