10 Best Products And Practices To Support Earth Day
While Earth Day comes around once a year and gives us a chance to spotlight our attention on Mother Nature, we can take steps every day to ensure we are doing all we can to give our planet a fighting chance. Here are 10 ways we can do our part to support Earth Day, every single day.
Amy Tschupruk
Use Reusable Alternatives
With so many widely-available sustainable home product options, there is less and less excuse to not make the swap for reusable alternatives. Even Canadian food companies and beauty brands are entering the space of reusable packaging. A good first step is to identify what products you use on a regular basis (i.e. plastic wrap or grocery bags), and seek out available reusable options.
Try:BALFER Bees Wax Food Storage Wrap, Amazon, $18.
Amy Tschupruk
Eat Less Meat
It’s a little-kept secret that pound-for-pound, meat has a greater cost to the environment than plant-based alternatives. Luckily, there is no shortage of delicious plant-based recipes even for beginners that measure up to (or exceed) any meat option. Looking for vegan comfort food? There are plenty options here too.
Amy Tschupruk
Go Paperless
Skip the printer and read, highlight or create to your heart’s content using digital options. Smartphones, tablets and computers all offer up great paperless alternatives. Even traditional books are now becoming less common, thanks to the invention of e-ink and products like Kindle.
Try: Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite, Amazon, $140 for our latest reads.
Amy Tschupruk
Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Forget the toxins and try one of these 10 DIY, all-natural cleaning products and air fresheners instead.
Amy Tschupruk
Grow Your Own Produce
You don’t need a tonne of space or an expert green thumb to get started on growing your own produce. There is something so satisfying about being able to take control over your essential vitamin-rich food sources, and acquiring these skills now can pay dividends in the long-term (especially with the cost of food surging all across Canada). Not only does this shift the burden away from less environmentally-sustainable sources, it also equips you with the know-how to be more self-sufficient.
Related: Vegetable garden planners to help you grow all year round.
Amy Tschupruk
Don’t Waste Food
There are not only hacks to help make your food last longer and help you create your own zero-waste kitchen, you can also find plenty of recipes that help you reuse scrapsto avoid unnecessary food waste.
Related: ‘Shelflation’ caused Canadians to waste over $500 million worth of food: study.
Amy Tschupruk
Wear Sustainable Clothing
Even designers are getting in on the message that we need to be kinder to our environment. From denim to linen, you can now find sustainable options for most clothing. Or, for the most sustainable option of all, go thrifting instead, and save our landfills from additional items that are otherwise still perfectly usable.
Related: 11 thrifting secrets from a former thrift store employee.
Amy Tschupruk
Donate Used Items
Similarly, if you’re looking to Marie Kondo your home or closet and lean into that capsule wardrobe style, donate your gently used items to give others the opportunity to find their own thrifting gems.
Amy Tschupruk
Buy Fair Trade Products
If you must buy new products, seek out ones that are created or harvested in a sustainable manner. Look for options that also fairly compensate those who are working to bring you these products. Sure, the price tag may be slightly higher, but then again, this is why the products are called “fair trade.” To help you identify these products, look for the Fairtrade label.
Amy Tschupruk
Drive Less
If you are able and need to move around in your community across shorter distances, seek out options that don’t contribute additional exhaust into our atmosphere. From bikes, scooters and longboards, or even electric vehicles (as these options become greener and greener), you have more options to get around these days. These transportation options can help you incorporating exercise into your daily routine, and it’s better for the environment, too.
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