Earth Day is the single day out of the year that everyone, as a collective, participates in making the world a cleaner place. This may take the form of contacting local representatives about environmental issues, donating to effective environmental organizations or simply taking a trip to the nearest recycling center. Whatever it is that you do on earth day --- let's make it an everyday happening. Here are a few things you can do to continue helping the earth even after Earth Day has passed.
1. Continue Donating
We have an article here, about our favorite organizations to donate to in order to see the biggest impact.
2. Participate in cleanups.
If you're located on the West Coast of the United States, California is renowned for its amount of beach cleanups. Keep a weekend of yours free in order to dedicate some time to cleaning the ocean. Surfriders Foundation is a good place to check for upcoming beach cleanups.
3. Use a reusable coffee cup.
This is what started VIRON. Traveling around the United States and seeing just how many plastic cups were being tossed every day. Between the leaders such as Starbucks and Dunkin' to the smalltown mom and pop cafés. The use of single-use plastic spreads consequently across the board. It affects us all and it's time we put the "trendy" pictures aside for the sake of the planet. Besides, who says a reusable cup can't be just as aesthetically pleasing?
4. Be mindful when grocery shopping.
A tip for being mindful when grocery shopping is to start the week off by listing all of the meals you will be preparing for the week. Doing this ensures that you will only buy the ingredients you need; making sure that no extra food is going to waste. [1/3 of food produced each year is wasted]
5. Consume less.
The act of consuming less together may be essential in helping save the earth. Learn what it is that you need and what it is that you want. Use less.
6. Use transportation more mindfully.
If you are able to carpool with a group of friends to school, work, or afternoon activities, consider it a good alternative to everyone bringing themselves. If you are within a feasible distance, try biking from point a to point b, instead of driving short distances. In the same sense, if public transportation surrounds you, consider blocking off a few days a week to take public transportation instead of driving yourself. It gives your vehicle and yourself a break as well!
7. Consider the amount of water you are using.
When your hands aren't under the water, turn the water off. Every second helps in conserving water. Take shorter showers, skip baths, and flush in accordance. You'll be saving water, electricity, and $.
8. Disconnect from electronics.
In this day and age, this one may be a bit trickier. But we'll look at it like this --- do you need to have your television on while you scroll through your phone? In the same sense, do you need to have your laptop charging all day when the battery is already full? It's the small, mindful, thoughts we need to be having when it comes to conserving energy and nature.
9. Use safe cleaners and personal care products.
Avoid cleaners with harsh chemicals, as these same chemicals end up in our waterways. While these waters are treated, we could avoid the need for further treatment, filtering, and so on, by being more conscious of the sort of chemicals we are using.
10. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce the amount of trash you and the family accumulate every week. Reduce the amount of electricity and water you use. Reduce the amount of food that is wasted each week. Reuse and repurpose things that would have otherwise been tossed into the trash. Acquire reusable water bottles, coffee cups, silicon baggies, beeswax wraps, and so forth in order to cut out single-use plastics. And finally, recycle. Batteries, plastics, glass, cans, electronics, newspapers, junk mail, and the list goes on. It will only take you a minute or so longer if you haven't done so already. Count that one minute as your community service to the earth and let's keep this place clean and orderly. :)
As always, these are suggestions. Do not feel guilty if you cannot do all or some of the recommendations. These are here to give you a boost in what it is you already doing to help the environment. Stay happy and healthy, people of the earth.
<3 Viron
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