How to Make Every Day Earth Day

Earth Day only comes once a year, but you can celebrate the planet in several ways every day. By making greener swaps and advocating for the environment, you can show other people the state of this world matters. Here are just a few small ways you can make a huge difference in your community or household while promoting the betterment of the environment.

1. Switch to Greener Travel

It’s time to pick up the bike again. Instead of traveling everywhere in your car, consider biking or walking, if your destination is close. These activities are both better for you than sitting in a vehicle. Plus, they pollute the environment far less. Cars also contribute to noise pollution, which can detrimentally affect humans and the other creatures living in the ecosystem.

If walking or biking everywhere in your town is unrealistic, consider carpooling with a friend or co-worker. Taking the bus is also a possibility you should pay attention to. When you need to take a vehicle to get somewhere, sharing the emissions output with someone else is the best way to go.

2. Step Outside

By fostering an appreciation for nature, you may be more likely to make decisions that positively impact the environment. Breathe in the clean, fresh air and look around you. Likely, you’ll see forms of nature you want to help preserve. You can influence your decision-making process to choose better options just by nurturing your love of the outdoors. Being outside can reduce some of your stress and encourage mindfulness, so you can impact your mental health significantly at the same time.

3. Adopt a Highway

Volunteering may be an excellent opportunity for you and your loved ones to bond while making a difference in the environment. Adopting a highway, beach or other natural area means you can be responsible for disposing of litter in the area and keeping natural spaces beautiful. You can potentially get your or your organization’s name on a sign to show you’re making a difference.

4. Bring Reusable Shopping Bags to the Store

A quick switch that makes a huge difference is denying the paper and plastic bags grocery stores offer you. Reusable bags can fold up and fit in your car, so they’re ready whenever you need them.

Though it might make your routine a bit different, it can be a worthwhile swap which makes a difference in how you shop. Those plastic bags won’t go to waste or take up space in your household. When you opt for reusable bags, you’re making a small-scale difference that can inspire others.

5. Reflect Eco-Friendliness in Your Side Hustles and Projects

Small businesses should opt for eco-friendly packaging. Not only is it better for the environment, but it can show your customers you care about the planet. If you have the funds, try to offset your emissions and have net-zero carbon production. Do what you can to promote the environment’s well-being while still running your business.

If you flip houses or plan to renovate soon, look into natural materials that replenish quickly. For example, black cherry and white ash wood are great for home furnishings and are sustainably grown and harvested, making them a wonderful option for any new indoor or outdoor project. Look into the environmental effects of everything you use.

6. Avoid Fast Fashion

Fashion is one of the least environmentally friendly industries out there. Unfortunately, trends come and go rapidly these days, and people want to keep up with what’s popular. As a result, fast fashion contributes excessively to landfills because people buy pieces they feel serve them at the moment, not intending to keep them for years.

Make sure to buy your clothes from sustainable shops. While fast fashion has its uses sometimes — particularly for people with low incomes who need clothes — when it’s used to keep up with trends, it just adds more waste. The price might be alluring, but paying for clothing of better quality is beneficial to you and the environment.

7. Shop Home Decor Responsibly

Instead of shopping for your art pieces at big-name stores, support your community and buy from a local artist instead. You’ll be giving money to a person — not a corporation — and you can also save money and carbon emissions because local art requires much less transport than art you may have shipped from a warehouse states away.

When searching for fabric, try to pick things that were harvested sustainably. You might opt for organic cotton or linen, which could be the most eco-friendly option for you. Jute fiber is a great option for rugs, as it’s completely biodegradable. Do your research and invest in something designed to last.

8. Go Meatless

If you can’t switch to a totally vegetarian diet, opt for one meatless day a week. The meat industry releases tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and animals like cattle require extensive resources to keep them healthy and happy. Reducing the number of meat-based meals you eat could lower your carbon footprint immensely.

You can get enough protein on a plant-based diet by eating foods like:

• Beans
• Chickpeas
• Greens
• Tofu

In time, you may realize you don’t miss the meat as much as you thought you would. You can make plenty of delicious meals without involving red meat or poultry. You might have to get creative, but your household will likely appreciate the brand-new recipes.

9. Recycle More

How much do you really recycle? Only about 5% of plastic items that can be recycled are actually being recycled. Learn what the different numbers mean on your recyclable items — separating them out might help keep you accountable to recycle more and compost what you can. Learning where everything goes might take a while, but it can make a difference and ensure you recycle as much as possible.

10. Visit the Farmers Market

Most cities have a farmers market that operates on weekend mornings, so if your town doesn’t feature one, hop to the next destination. A farmers market is a great way to meet local farmers and craftspeople who can benefit your lifestyle. You can learn exactly how the crops were grown and raised, if they were produced organically, if the farmer used pesticides and so much more. You’ll likely cut back on environmental costs from transportation by picking out your own produce from a local market.

Your Changes Can Be Small

When you first start living an environmentally friendly lifestyle, you may not be able to make many changes simultaneously. A more sustainable goal is to make small swaps, then gradually work up to a fully sustainable lifestyle. Some cities may not offer recycling and others may not be walkable. You have to make the most of your options and aim to make a difference, however large or small it may be.