Help Out Planet Earth: HowYou Can Positively Impact the Environment Right Now
On my walk the other day at a local town park, I witnessed something truly incredible, yet extremely sad.
Walking along the pond I saw a swan clearing space. At first, I saw only leaves coming from its mouth, but it was not until I kept watching that I noticed the swan was clearing trash! Actual pieces of plastic garbage. As I walked closer, I saw what appeared to be an emptied bag of trash that had spread across the shore. It was clear that someone carelessly disposed of their garbage and left it for the pond inhabitants to clean up.
It was fascinating to me that the swan knew to remove the trash — it did not belong in the swan’s area! The determination to remove it from the space was astonishing. It was then that I began to think, “Why in the world do animals have to adapt to our carelessness? Why are we so careless?”
With that being said, I am writing today to share this eye-opening story with you and to give you three simple ways you can be more sustainable and environmentally aware. It is my hope that if enough people are aware, we can walk through parks and near ponds and not see animals working to remove our trash but enjoying their land as they should.
The first step to helping our environment is to understand what is hurting it. Aside from the obvious plastic utensils, straws, and disposable water bottles, consumption of goods, in general, has a harsh impact on our planet.
One step towards being more sustainable is a step in the right direction. Make the choice to start contributing to a healthier planet. I am sharing three simple ways to make a positive impact on our environment without having to change your entire lifestyle overnight.
1. Challenge Yourself to Buy Secondhand Clothing
Have you considered shopping secondhand before? “Studies have shown that 60 percent of the clothes made worldwide are made from synthetic materials (e.g. polyester, nylon, acrylic) a.k.a. plastic. When thrown away, they often sit in landfills for hundreds of years, if not forever. Buying secondhand means you’ll be keeping plastic out of landfills and positively contributing to the decrease in worldwide textile demand and subsequent waste.” -University of California Berkley I started getting into thrifting about five years ago. Not only did I soon realize the massive positive impact it has on the environment by keeping waste out of landfills, but I discovered that it was much more fun than regular shopping, and I could even make money by selling back the clothes I didn’t wear anymore at places like Plato’s Closet.
Next time you think of making a new purchase, before going online go and check out a local secondhand clothes store! You can responsibly dispose of clothes you no longer want, and you never know what treasures you may come across!
2. Start Remembering Your Reusable Shopping Bags
Quite often I hear people saying the number one reason they have trouble swapping out the disposable plastic bags for reusable ones is that they forget. However, you may want to start remembering because swapping a plastic bag for a reusable one can have a great long-term imprint. “By using a reusable bag, you are not only reducing the amount of non-renewable resources necessary to produce plastic bags, but you’re also reducing the amount of money your community spends on cleanup costs each year.”-Plastic Education [SI1] Like anything else in life, a change in our routine takes an adjustment. Keep them in your car in the front seat so when you go to the grocery store you will see them. Chances are you have a tote bag or two from a conference or event that’s laying around the house. Plus, they fit much more than your standard disposable bag and are extremely durable.
3. Clean Up Your Community
Unfortunately, at most public places you will find trash that was carelessly disposed of. As someone who walks daily, I notice so much trash on the side of the street and at many local parks. Instead of continuing to just observe the trash and question why the community pollutes our space, I started bringing a bag and gloves along with me on my walks. It is a super-easy way to start being more sustainable and it is instantly gratifying! You are instantly making a difference in your community and preventing trash from getting to animals. When you are heading out for your next walk grab a bag and pair of gloves and see what trash you can remove!
As I mentioned before, it all begins with awareness. How are you helping or hurting the environment? Read labels, find out where your products are coming from, find out if the companies you support are passionate about the impact they have on the environment. Every single person on this planet has the power to make a difference.
I challenge you to try one or all three of these ideas this summer. I would love to hear the steps you have taken to be more sustainable in your everyday life.
