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10 SMALL STEPS FOR EARTH DAY EVERY DAY
Combat Climate Change this Earth Day
With everything that is happening, climate change is a hot topic. It might seem daunting, but that is why we wanted to break it down in small steps you can take. The most important one would be, that whatever step you take, you are making a difference. Imagine 8 billion people taking one small step … So keep reminding yourself. If you decide to turn a few extra lights off at night or refuse a plastic straw, you did something for the planet today!
In honour of Earth Day, here are 10 simple and easy earth loving tips and habits to add into your everyday life to help make a change:
1. Turn off the lights
It is so easy to turn an extra light off at night or when you leave a room, and it is so good for the planet and your wallet.
Did you know we consume, on average, 12,000 watts of power per year, that’s 6 times the amount environmental scientists recommend. Turn it off, easy peasy!
2. Be water conscious
Keep those showers short and sweet. Enjoy singing in the shower? Pick a song that goes for 4 minutes or less because 4 minutes is all you need, but don’t let that stop you from singing your heart out!
Did you know that 10 minute showers use up between around 75-190 litres of water?
3. Go for a walk or ride
Get these legs going! It is a great way to achieve your daily footsteps whilst reducing your footprint! (see what I did there).
Did you know the average Australian family produces about six tonnes of greenhouse gas each year mostly due to car usage. Green sounds good, but these gasses aren’t. They heat our earth, so the less the better.
4. Reduce and reuse
Yes, recycling is great, but it also consumes energy so let be our last resort. In ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’, recycle comes last. Go For Zero is founded to help you choose products that are zero waste (reduce) or easy to reuse. No packaging (or only sustainable packaging) is the way forward. Have you tried shampoo bars?
Before you recycle that jam jar, why not wash it out and reuse it to store your DIY dish wash recipe or to shop at the bulk store instead of purchasing more reusable containers? Check out our blog on 15 ways to reuse a mason jar.
5. Shop Bamboo
I have a secret love relationship with bamboo.
This material is extremely versatile and can be made into just about anything from toilet paper, to fabric, to parts of your house. It is highly sustainable, being one of the world’s fastest growing plants (some species grow 3 feet each day!), uses less of the world’s precious resources as well as its ability to self-replenish. It also produces up to 35 times more oxygen and has no need for pesticides or herbicides, bonus! Take a look at some of our Bamboo products we have available on our website.
6. Plant-rich diet
We’re not saying you have to resort to veganism but reducing your weekly meat intake will do a great deal for mama earth.
Did you know that red meat is responsible for 10-40 times as many greenhouse emissions as vegetables and grains. The act of growing the feed for livestock emits an enormous amount of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Alright, moo-ving on…
If you’re stuck on ideas here’s a few:
- Tofu and tempeh are both great alternatives that are quick and easy to cook and absorb flavour easily making for a tasty meal! They contain iron, calcium and plenty of protein so you won’t miss out on any of those precious macronutrients, don’t worry.
- Lentils are also a great source of protein, good slow digesting carbs and plenty of fibre keeping you fuller for longer. They also have a good amount of antioxidants and other health-promoting plant compounds.
- Beans (chickpeas, black, kidney, pinto etc.) are high in protein and are a great source of carbs, fibre, iron, folate, phosphorus, potassium and manganese.
Just like your zero-waste journey, start small by aiming to have a meat-free meal a week.
7. When we stop buying crap, people will stop making crap
This is one of my favourites because it sets you up for conscious buying and it is easier then you think.
When you buy something this week, just ask yourself one question before purchasing: How will I dispose of this when I’m finished with it?
If you can’t reuse it, is there not a better option around? Or how will your life look like if you don’t buy it? Marie Condo, right? You’ll see how you will start thinking this way and will start to choose more sustainable options.
You can find the next steps for our zero-waste purchasing guide in our blog ‘Beginners Guide to reducing waste: Hot tip it won’t happen overnight’
8. Start a compost
Did you know that if your food goes in our composter, it creates free fertiliser for your plants and garden? (and when it goes into landfill it creates Methane, a greenhouse gas that is 30 times more potent than Carbon Dioxide). Need I say no more?!
Have a look at our stylish, clean and effective Urban Composter. It holds up to 8 litres of kitchen waste and will take just about anything including: meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, dairy, coffee and wilted flowers. This little beauty is convenient, easy to use and air-tight so it won’t produce any bad odours that will linger in your home. Happy composting!
9. Talk talk talk
A lot of us think that climate change is too far away or too hard to understand, nothing is more false. Every small step should make you feel like a winner because you help slow down the process. Join awesome positive companies that help you make a change like www.onemillionwomen.com, and subscribe to our mailing list to receive our Happy News emails every Friday morning. These emails are filled with zero marketing promos and loads of positive environment news stories about companies doing incredible things to combat climate change (sign up here). That’s right… it’s not all bad! At all!
10. Dispose of your appliances properly
If it can’t be sold, fixed, donated to a new loving home please check out your local councilor Planet Ark's Recycling Near You guide to disposing of it properly to reduce the release of greenhouse gases.
There is plenty of info online as to where you can dispose of your pre-loved goods but here’s a few to help you out:
- E-waste (generally referring to television and computer waste) can be disposed of in many of the useful E-waste bins if you’re located on the Sunshine Coast including, Beerwah, Buderim and Nambour.
- White goods (fridges, freezers, microwaves, washing machines, air conditioners etc.) can be collected by companies such as Planet Ark, where they will recycle the metals and other valuable components of white goods as well as degassing the products to ensure the harmful greenhouse gases aren’t released into the environment.
Again, please remember to take it one step at a time without overwhelming yourself. It’s all about building on habits.
You have the power to change the world, we all do, together! Thank you for being a part of our journey.
With love,
The GFZ team xx
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