Newbie’s guide #2

You might thought that we only had five tips for you, eco.newbies, to make your lifestyle more eco friendly, but you were wrong. There are countless of habits that you can adopt in your everyday life that have an impact on the environment. You may think that your actions don’t have much to say in the big picture, but every single one of all the small measures you do, does count. According to circularecology.com recycling a single 500 ml aluminum beer can save enough energy to power a TV for over 4 hours. That is something to reflect on next time you’re drinking a cold one – imagine how much energy one single person can save.

That’s why we have come up with five additional tips on how to make your lifestyle more eco.friendly.

1. Repair your shoes and clothes
   Instead of throwing away your worn-in shoes and your well used favorite sweater, take them to a shoemaker or a tailor – they can repair almost anything. You don’t need to throw it away due to a small scratch. Tips from last guide; invest in quality instead of quantity, and sustainable and/or organic while you’re at it, quality products tend to have a longer shelf life than fast fashion.
2. Sell or donate all your unwanted clothes
   We all have clothes that we don’t use. Maybe they got too small or too big, or maybe you just not feel like wearing them anymore. Instead of throwing them away, sell or donate them, it’s always someone out there who need what you no longer want. The same goes for you, you don’t know what treasures you can find out there while buying second-hand. Another idea is to swap clothes with your friends and family. Maybe you get the opportunity to finally “steal” your best friend retro jeans, that you have been aiming for in over two years.
3. Stop littering
   Yes, this is a very important point that is worth mentioning. People littering is a common sight that we see everyday on the streets, and most of us don’t even think about how the small things, like a chewing gum you throw on the ground or plastic packaging from a lollipop that falls out of your pocket, can affect the environment. Soil absorbing the toxins litter creates which affects plants and crops are one of the many consequences of littering. And to be honest, it’s not very pretty to look at either. So come on guys, it not that far to the nearest trashcan.
4. Ditch the car
   You may have heard this before, but there are countless alternatives of transport that doesn’t have the same amount of negative environmental impact. So instead of jumping in the car, why not take the bus, subway or your bike. You’re not only saving the environment for unnecessary pollution, but also travelling expenses and the extra time you get from skipping the traffic jam in the morning. If you are going to a place nearby, you can take on some comfortable shoes and take a walk. It’s good for the environment and it’s good for you.
5. Reusable bag
   To be frank: A plastic bag takes between 400 to 1000 years to break down in the environment. Plastic particles contaminate soil and water, and animals tend to accidentally ingest them. So why not make an investment in your own reusable bag and save the environment for the unnecessary plastic waste. It’s important to mention, when addressing this topic, that both options have their pros and cons.

To be continued…

Sincerely,

Newbies’s guide #1

Most people associate words such as sustainability, environmental and organic with complicated and unknown topics. One believes that having a more eco friendly way of living will characterize their everyday life way too much to even get involved, but don’t you worry.

When it comes to sustainability in general, you’re likely guilty of a few infractions. Perhaps you keep the water running a bit too long before you get into the shower, or maybe you’re a little too addicted to buying clothes you really don’t need or want. Whatever the case, you are not alone – we all do it. The good news is that words such as sustainability, environmental and organic are not as complicated as you think, and there are many simple, practical habits you can adopt that will impact our planet without a drastic change in your everyday life.

We have complied 5 tips that will make this topic less unknown, especially for you who consider yourself as an eco.newbie.

1. Take a break from fast fashion
   This may sound difficult, but try to take a break from fast fashion for a few months and instead invest in sustainable and/or organic garments. Is a lot of stylish, sustainable and ethical retailers out there, look it up!
2. Cut down on the water use
   A lot of unused water rush down the drain if you leave the faucet running, so; turn it off while brushing your teeth, keep cold water in the fridge as opposed to letting the faucet run until it is cold, and don’t take unnecessary long showers. Other ways to cut down water usage is to only wash full loads of laundry and dishes, as simple as that you can make a difference.
3. Ditch the coffee lid and stirrer
   Small measures can lead to major changes. If you are going to drink the coffee right away there is no need to get a lid to keep it warm, so why not save us from unnecessary plastic waste. A clever alternative for using a stirrer is to put your milk and sugar in before you pour the coffee, then you don’t have to worry about the liquid not getting mixed. The best would of course be to take a reusable cup from home, this will also save you from those extra expenses.
4. Not ready to go all vegetarian?
   We all know about the trend of “going vegan”, and it’s not for everyone. But trying to commit to a meat-free diet two or three days a week to decrease the used resources would definitely contribute. According to worldwildlife.org, it takes about 100,000 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of beef, but “only” around 750 liters to produce 1 kilogram of wheat. That’s a big difference.
5. Buy local food
   To buy locally grown products is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Instead of buying products that were produced and shipped from far away, you can support local diaries and farms – no one likes a long distance relationship. If you want to take it to the next level you can start growing herbs and vegetables in your own backyard, the closer the better.

To be continued…

Sincerely,