


Terry Cullen
Dec 9, 2022
Global
Categories:
Climate change, Sustainability, Environment, Plastics, Food waste, Clothing, Responsibility
From the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) comes a light and illustrated look at five practices we can start today in our homes to fight climate change. These five practices come from environmental scientist Dr. Tara Shine, author of How to Save Your Planet One Object at a Time. Each is simple and easy to do, and you may have yet to hear about them.
Clean with vinegar. The myriad of cleaning products we use today come in single-use plastic bottles and contain toxic chemicals that get washed out into the environment. Vinegar combined with bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice can handle most cleaning jobs.
Change the way you make tea. Tea is the most popular beverage worldwide. Did you know most tea bags contain plastic and are not biodegradable? Switching to loose-leaf tea eliminates that plastic waste, and you will get a better-tasting cup. Also, consider only boiling the water you need for your tea. We tend to boil too much water, using more and more non-renewable energy. Plus, consider buying organic and fair trade teas because they are gentler on the environment.
Do less laundry. Did you know that 60% of our clothes have synthetic fibers? These plastic microfibers are washed into the environment with every load, landing in the oceans, affecting marine life, and can be found in our seafood today. Consider spot-cleaning clothes before washing and refreshing clothes outdoors (remember the clothesline?) to eliminate odor and get another day’s use. Drying clothes without your dryer will save energy. Use cooler water temperatures in your washing machine. Consider using a mesh bag to catch some of the plastic microfibers.
Shop seasonally. Did you buy that asparagus out of season? Its carbon footprint is 16 times higher than if you bought it locally in season. Bananas and oranges can travel by boat and have a much lower carbon footprint than highly perishable fruits and vegetables flown by plane. Here’s a thought - only buy what you will eat that week. There is a tremendous amount of food waste in the world.
Do not throw your old shoes away. Did you know that most of the 20 billion shoes sold yearly are partially or wholly synthetic? And it can take up to 1,000 years for some shoes to decompose in a landfill. (Yes, you read that right.) Unfortunately, many people only wear the shoes a few times before throwing them away. Many shoe brands have recycling programs now, so consider recycling or donating. Consider a little research to find a more sustainable shoe brand before you buy. And, now, it is possible to borrow and even rent shoes for special occasions.
You can make a difference, one action at a time, one day at a time, without compromising your quality of life. Make a choice; make a difference now.
Photo by Ronan Furuta on Unsplash.
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Catalog #:
1222.100.02.120922