Our planet is our only home, and to make it a better place for ourselves and future generations, we should embrace eco-friendly living. This involves being more aware of how much waste we generate and reducing unnecessary energy consumption. As Bobby McLeod, an activist, once said, “When the Earth is sick and polluted, human health is impossible.”
I hope this blog encourages you to adopt habits that promote well-being for both you and our planet. By following these eight tips, you’ll discover how small, simple adjustments can make a significant impact on the Earth’s health, turning every day into Earth Day!
### 8 Ways to Make Every Day Earth Day
**1. Cut Down on Plastic Use at Home**
It’s shocking to realize that we’ve created more plastic in the last decade than in the entire previous century. We throw away enough plastic annually to circle the Earth four times, and in the U.S. alone, 35 billion plastic water bottles end up in the trash each year. Although these figures are alarming, they highlight the widespread use of single-use plastics in items like water bottles, plastic wrap, straws, and food containers. To make a change, familiarize yourself with these sources and seek sustainable alternatives.
**Ways to Reduce Plastic Use:**
Pay attention to product packaging and support companies that minimize virgin plastic use or rely on recycled materials. Our planet is already overwhelmed with plastic waste, so let’s strive for better solutions.
**2. Minimize Waste**
Reducing waste sounds easy, yet it’s often overlooked. Start by preventing waste altogether. Limit paper towel usage and opt for cloth alternatives. Bring mesh bags for produce shopping and swap plastic wrap for reusable beeswax wraps or glass containers.
Track your trash weekly and avoid over-packaged products. It frustrates me to open boxes only to find layers of unnecessary packaging. At Joyous Health, we use minimal packaging, and every shipment is carbon neutral, thanks to our investment in renewable energy credits.
**3. Skip Dry Cleaning**
Dry cleaning poses health risks due to perchloroethylene (PERC), a toxic chemical solvent. Environmental concerns arise from PERC’s volatile organic compounds (VOCs) breaking down in the air and contaminating ground water.
Avoid dry cleaning clothes. Plenty of fabric options don’t require it, and you can use safe laundry detergents that handle stains effectively.
**4. Eliminate Fragranced Products**
I warn against perfume use, and the same goes for products labeled “fragranced” or “parfum,” which can conceal up to 3,000 undisclosed ingredients. Even seemingly “unscented” products may contain fragrances.
Fragranced items can cause health issues like organ toxicity and skin or lung irritation. Choose fragrance-free options for personal care and household cleaning products.
**5. Conserve Energy**
This tip helps save money and the planet. Consider the environmental impact of energy consumption and aim to reduce it through mindful practices.
**6. Save Water**
Water is life, and conserving it also conserves energy used to deliver it to homes. We often take water’s availability for granted, but fresh water is scarce. Protecting this resource supports human and aquatic health.
**Simple Ways to Save Water:**
**7. Grow Your Own Food**
The environmental impact of getting food onto our plates often goes unnoticed. Conventional farming may rely on pesticides and fertilizers that contaminate water sources, harming aquatic life. One solution is growing your own food, which reduces your carbon footprint and keeps pesticides out of your diet, while enjoying fresh, nutritious produce.
**8. Walk or Bike More**
Walking and biking provide exercise, stress relief, and energy boosts. Cars, unfortunately, contribute to pollution through emissions that affect air quality. If biking isn’t an option, consider public transit as an eco-friendly alternative.
What’s one eco-friendly habit you practice or plan to start?
Every small effort to protect our planet counts, whether it’s using reusable items or starting to bike more. Even simple acts, like donating usable items to charity or supporting second-hand clothing, make a positive impact. Together, let’s continue to inspire and support one another on this journey to protect our Earth!
