From Guest Blogger Amelia Atkins: Small Things You Can Do Right Now To Be More Eco-Friendly
Environmental concerns are slowly becoming one of the most important issues for many young people that are inheriting this problem. It’s always a good idea to be on a lookout for small ways your day-to-day life is damaging the environment and how you can change that.
These changes aren’t made to make your life miserable or to completely rearrange it. Their main advantage comes from the fact that almost everyone can do them at some point and they make an impact on the environment as a whole.
One day without meat
Consuming food is probably the biggest impact an ordinary person has on the environment. It’s also one of the hardest things to change because there’s a routine and a sense of comfort in the way we eat and grow our food.
The simplest thing you can do to reduce your impact on the environment, and your part in the animal cruelty that’s a part of the process is to eat less meat. The best way to start is to pick a day in the week on which you won’t eat any meat and stick to your decision.
Bikes
Commuting adds to the carbon footprint and it often seems like that’s one part of modern life that you can’t really change without sacrificing too much. Luckily, there’s middle ground between not using a car and being cut off from where you want to be.
Getting a bike also means that you’ll have more of a chance to take care of your body and physical fitness and save money on gas and transportation. There’s an initial investment in the bike itself, but other than that, it’s a good deal both in terms of savings and environmental impact.
Recycle and reuse
Everyone knows that it’s imperative to recycle but many aren’t able to stick with that obligation once they have made it. By setting up a clear and manageable system for organizing waste, you’ll be streamlining this process and making sure that you recycle whenever you can.
Reusing things also gets forgotten, but it can be as helpful as recycling. Everything from a 2 liter water bottle to furniture and building materials can be reusable without comprising the quality of the products you’re using. Organizing your life in this minimalist way isn’t just good for the environment – it’s also something that can make your lifestyle more rewarding and less expensive.
Go paperless
In most cases, there’s a choice between what’s right for the environmental protection and what’s convenient. However, when it comes to using paper, there’s no such dilemma. Going paperless is both better for your carbon footprint and easier for organizing your day to day tasks.
Work-related obligations and reading materials can easily be transported to the digital word, but there always some tasks that you do on paper and that you haven’t thought of. To achieve the maximal impact – try to go paperless in an organized and systematic manner.
Changing small things in your life can have a significant and lasting impact on the environment. These can be done gradually and still be successful and rewarding if you manage the transition in an organized way.
