"You are never too small to make a difference."
Rethink what you thought you knew about what it is to make a difference in the world and how possible it is to use your efforts to save the planet. Fact is, making a positive impact doesn't take a college degree, an advanced submarine or expensive equipment, and is open for any age or background.
These ideas will not only save you money, but show you how to make little tweaks to your routine that will create amazing and lasting results for a better planet.
1. SKIP THE STRAW
No thanks! Stop sucking and ditch the single-use plastic straw already!
You've probably seen some refigured plastic lids for this one; or maybe you've seen the message to STOP SUCKING on social media? Why does it matter?
It's estimated that we use over 500 million straws every day in America, and most of those end up in our oceans, polluting the water and killing marine life. So those "One won't hurt" .. or "this won't matter" comments said by 500 million people daily really adds up!
Requesting no straw or opting for a paper or your own reusable one is one of the easiest and smallest change to your routine that can make a real difference. It's a great place to start on your world-saving journey.
2. But First, COFFEE (cups)
Invest in a reusable tumbler to bring to your coffee with you longterm.
Maybe you've already bid farewell to the ole' straw - good for you! But, do you even reuse? Having a go-to reusable mug or tumbler for your coffee/tea can help eliminate cup waste and excess plastic usage while saving you money with the extra discount for bringing your cup to your favorite shop in the morning.
Staying in?
Don't be afraid to ask for your beverage 'to-stay' style in a coffee shop's mug or put it in your own reusable one.
If you're a doppio lover like me - get your morning hit of pure espresso goodness in a cute little glass instead of wasting a paper cup.
If your local shop has a good coffee and foam game, get a mug and be able to experience some latte art for once! Why hide such barista skills with a plastic lid anyway?
Don't forget water! Reuse your coffee tumbler or invest in a separate reusable water bottle to reduce plastic waste. Plus, many reusable bottles offer insulating qualities keeping water temperatures just the way you like it.
If you're away from your own bottle, look for more sustainable water packaging to make sure you stay green AND hydrated!
3. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT
Ditch the single-use plastic serve-ware, baggies, and utensils for good (literally)!
Did you grow up with sandwich or plastic snack bags in your lunchbox? Well, it's time to leave those plastic-tasting PB&J's in the past! Not only is changing to reusable, portable utensil sets and storage-ware reducing plastic waste, it saves you big money longterm.
There are so many adorable reusable bags for sale today and the fact they're made of tougher materials that far outlast the thin and destructive plastic bag is a worthwhile bonus. Investing in reusable bags to load up groceries or to bring on your trips are a super simple and money saving option- you can even make your own tote bag!
Craft night anyone?
Don't like camping? Well, I'm happy to report that reusable utensil sets are not just for backpacking anymore!
There's metal or wood/bamboo, sustainable plastic with so many color options available to go eco-friendly and help you resist the pressure to use single-use.
Bring your reusables along for the ride in your purse, backpack, or have it safe in your car's glovebox or center console- never before has there been so many ways to reuse, we just have to do it!
What to do about leftovers? There's reusables for those too, so stop using styrofoam clamshells or plastic baggies!
Plus, glass containers, like mason jars, are fantastic for storing leftovers, bulk goods, or to prep food in for all you meal preppers out there!
BONUS: Using glass containers won't taint your food with that gross plastic taste or have added concern of seeping plastic chemicals. Glass, although breakable is stronger than some plastic options; glass is also cheaper to recycle, requiring less energy to melt down to repurpose it into other items from a manufacturing perspective.
4. REDUCE, REUSE, and COMPOST
Reimagine the items you have around you and the habits in your everyday life to see where you can make subtle, yet impactful changes.
REDUCE: If you can't eliminate single-use items altogether, reduce them as much as possible.
Opt for produce that isn't in a plastic bag, use paper bags or reusable produce bags to carry your veggies home instead of using the store's plastic ones.
Try shampoo bars instead of buying plastic shampoo bottles, or look for
more sustainable package options. Some stores offer refillable liquid soap and shampoo stations- just bring your
own container; how cool is that?!
Have pets? Saving the world isn't just for humans. Try out some more sustainable pet litters instead of non-biodegradable ones; make sure your pet waste bags are actually biodegradable too.
Just as you can't believe everything you hear, advertising and product packaging uses a lot of deceptive terms that lead you to believe one thing but is not actually the case. Read your labels and don't let companies fool you while they cut environmental corners to make a profit.
CHALLENGE: Next time you're at the store shopping for an item, see how many options are sustainable and try something new! Maybe it's a bamboo hair brush instead of a plastic one.
The goal here is to make long term changes and not about changing everything all at once. If you invest consistently over time and make small changes to your habits, you're more likely to stick with them. So, maybe you bring your reusable tote bag to use for groceries instead of using plastic bags - that's a great step to repeat and make into a long-lasting routine.
In addition to 'things' you might purchase, REDUCE also equates into reduction of resources. Think about your usage at home or at work for things like water, energy and electricity, even your time! Turn off the water as you brush your teeth, unplug your toaster or coffee machine after use, wash clothes on cold instead of hot, turn off the lights when you leave a room, seal out drafts from doors or windows to conserve heat. All of these ways can save you money while reducing your footprint.
REUSE: Get creative! The options are as limitless as your imagination. Reuse containers or packaging as you can - who hasn't seen all cute upcycled items on social media?!
You could melt down your candles and remake the jars into handy storage for coins or craft projects. Cut down old bottles or strip cans to be made into pencil holders, new lights, or even a cool repurposed planter. You can even save old clothes or fabric to make into cleaning cloths for use around the house instead of buying paper towels, and much more!
COMPOST: Pause for a moment to notice the potential and power in your scraps. Sounds odd, I know, but composting your food scraps for using them in your own garden is huge (especially since the US wastes TONS of food each year- think of what we could do with all of that food waste)!
Look into your city's food/yard waste program or find out where you could compost, some areas even give monetary incentives to folks that compost. It could be as easy as starting to use those green bins outside that you've been ignoring!
Pro tip: Use your coffee grounds to plant something new in your yard or save your veggie tops/bottoms to remake into vegetable broth for future meals!
5. POWER UP YOUR CONSUMER POWERS
Hit 'em where it hurts, commit to purchasing non-plastic alternatives.
This is possibly the biggest on the list! Know your worth and remember you have more sway than you might think to make a huge difference! Send a message to manufacturers and companies worldwide by hitting them where it hurts most - their profit margins.
If a company is making money off of a plastic covered, or cheaply produced item from questionable ethical practices, they don't have any motivation to stop manufacturing, advertising, or promoting the item. However, if consumers use their spending power and refuse to buy their product, just watch how fast that company bends to the dollar's will.
When consumers like you unite and effectively say they don't want chemicals, plastics, or other harmful or unethical practices involved in an item they are buying, the demand for that item and those questionable practices are eliminated - thus driving demand for more eco-friendly products and more sustainable procedures.
In addition to looking at your labels and noticing packaging choices made from companies - you can send letters, e-mails, or power up your hashtags on social media. We've seen this already with the recent movements to get rid of single-use plastics. If consumers make more sustainable choices when they shop, the more sustainable options become available for all.
6. Meet Meatless Mondays
Try cutting out meat once or twice a week.
Before puffing out your chest and proclaiming meat-eater-pride, know that this one isn't about getting rid of all meat from your diet at once. Pause to ask yourself if you're being 'meathooked' and reduce the amount you consume. Ask yourself if you know/trust where your meat is coming from and understand how it is being raised.
Contrary to what the meat industry wants you to think (another example of profit margins), every meal doesn't need to include a steak to be complete.
Protein doesn't exclusively come from animal meat, there's so many options for protein as well as other nutrients from other food sources/groups that the human body needs to function properly.
What's more, remember that saying 'you are what you eat'? Nowadays, it's quite literal with the most recent study that humans consume about a "credit card amount" of microplastics each week!
Even if Monday you want to keep meaty, maybe Veggie Taco Tuesdays? No matter which day you prefer, this idea is all about fun! It's an opportunity to look up some recipes or cook with a friend, branch out and try something new; maybe you'll find a new favorite meal. The sky is the limit when we're lucky enough to have so many options at local grocery stores and so many resources for recipes and to check on sustainability.
7. Swim Away from Seafood
Cutting out seafood or only buying from sustainable sources is vital to human health as well as the health and future of the ocean.
Some types of fish farming, referred to as aquaculture, have more impact on the environment than others. The impact depends in part on what type of fish is being farmed, what type of farming method is being used and where the farm is located.
Download the SEAFOODWATCH application from Monterey Bay Aquarium to help determine what seafood to avoid for your own health as well as the ocean's. Thankfully, more and more seafood counters are starting to utilize this tool for consumers to learn more about fishing practices and ocean sustainability.
Remember, just because something (product or fish) is offered in a store does not mean it's 100% safe to consume or for that matter, isn't endangered or threatened in the wild. (i.e. caught with sustainable practices)
In some cases, as mentioned above labels and packaging may outright lie to consumers. This is the case and unfortunate common practice involving sharks being sold under different names to trick unsuspecting consumers into buying something that they don't want or know they're even buying.
In addition to these 7 ideas, there are so many other ways to make an impact. Take the 30-day ZEROWASTE challenge, join a clean up at your local beach or park, maybe make a personal commitment to pick up 3 pieces of trash whenever you go outside.
Something as small as sharing a post from an eco-friendly company, signing an e-petition, or making a purchase from a sustainable company. Being open to and willing to learn more about how we can be better to our planet as a whole will spur the people in your life to rethink and ignite positive change.
Check out more ideas here and get started saving the world.
Article written by Sphyrnas founder,
November 2019
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