Hey gals, Cassidy here, and happy Earth Day! I am so glad to be bringing you a post that covers 4 simples ways you can go green this Earth Day and beyond!
Reduce AND Refuse:
The most simple way you can go green this Earth Day is reducing and refusing singe-use plastic! In today’s world nearly everything is designed around convenience and single-use plastic is ALL around us! But as you think about it, it is pretty strange using something ONCE and then throwing it away… Imagine having to buy a hairbrush, mascara, or maybe a pencil every time after ONE use, you’re thinking, “no way, that’s crazy!” EXACTLY. That being said, I am no where near perfect and I would be lying if I said I never use single-use plastic. It is a challenge, because like I mentioned, it is all around us. SO, I am here to give you a few tips on how you can begin reducing and refusing single-use plastic in your everyday life:
- Invest in a reusable water bottle and/or thermos! This way if you do want to support you local coffee shop or bring a water along with you on a walk, you can in an eco-friendly fashion!
- Ditch the plastic bags at the grocery store and purchase reusable grocery bags! These are my favorite because they are sturdy and easy to clean plus you can use them for almost anything!
- Say goodbye to the single-use straws both at home and out and about! The easiest way to make this transition is to buy a set of stainless steel straws that way you can keep some at home and some in your car/purse!
Learn How To Properly Recycle:
I think it is fair to say that majority of people want to recycle and see the benefits of recycling! That being said, at times recycling can be confusing, or even intimidating, so here are a few tips to ensure you are recycling the correct materials!
- Go back to the basics! Cardboard, paper [magazines, newspaper, office paper + mail] aluminum, plastic [water bottles, laundry detergent bottles + milk jugs] are easily recyclable and nearly all recycling plants will accept them! Just be sure to never recycle plastic bags [grocery bags, stretch wrap, bread bags, chip bags, etc.] unless specified by your local recycling plant.
- When in doubt, throw it out! I know it may seem counterproductive but actually you are doing more environmental harm by “wish-cycling.” Hear me out, lets say you put an empty chip bag into your recycling container, that will be trucked to your recycling plant, sorted, and then trucked again to the landfill. To avoid unnecessary travel, throw it out when in doubt because it will eventually make itself to the landfill!
Switch Up Your Kitchen Accessories:
It seems like everyday more and more sustainable kitchen products come out, so I am here to tell which are actually worth the switch!
- Silicone reusable baking sheets: The best investment! These silicone baking sheets can replace your parchment paper, foil and/or cooking spray!
- Stasher reusable ziplock bags: Say goodbye to plastic ziplocks with these silicone ziplocks! Great for school lunches, traveling, or storing in the fridge!
- Glass food storage containers: If you are running low on food containers, invest in glass containers! Glass food containers are definitely the way to go for storing food and leftovers! It is much safer to warm up a glass container as opposed to a plastic container in the microwave! Of course, use what you have but if you decide you are in need of more containers, choose glass!
- Reusable lunch bowl container: One of my favorite purchases! I love this container for packing my lunch or bringing to restaurants for food to go or leftovers! Dishwasher and microwave safe!
- Bees wrap: The most sustainable way to store food! It is made from, yup you guessed it, bees wax! This will replace all the plastic wrap in your kitchen!
Go Paperless:
A simple one: Go paperless! With the internet at our fingers it is easier now more than ever to go completely digital! In my experience, most companies or services also provide a discount for going paperless! It’s a win-win, save the trees and save money!
