Sometimes, it seems like one person can’t truly help a global problem. However, there are a lot of easy changes someone can make to their daily life to feel like they are positively contributing towards preserving our planet.
1. Use Reusable Shopping Bags
Using reusable shopping bags are a great way to help stop plastic from getting in landfills and in environments it shouldn’t be. Using reusable bags can also be beneficial to you as a consumer, as they have less chance of ripping, and can be bigger than a plastic or paper bag- easier to make one trip! Some branches of Whole Foods, Target, and many other stores even reward the customer for bringing their own bags, so they pretty much pay for themselves. In Chicago, you now have to pay an added fee for taking a plastic bag. Overall, getting reusable bags is all around a positive, and you also will have some great, potentially very cute cloth bags to use for any purpose!
2. Shop in Thrift Stores
Shopping in thrift stores can be a great way to reduce the environmental costs that come with making clothes, and also recycling! It can also be a great way to find unique clothing or statement pieces in your closets at a low cost. You can even find things still with the original tags too! If you’re still looking for something new and fresh, try to look for cotton or non-synthetic materials, as synthetic materials do more damage to the environment.
3. Use Reusable Cups and Straws
Similar to using reusable bags, using reusable cups can be an easy way to help stop plastic waste. Also, this is something that a lot of different brands and retailers have, so if you’re looking for something specific, you’re sure to find it. Along with reusable cups, is straws. We’ve all seen the plea to save the sea turtles, but it really is something very simple that we can do that will make a big impact. Next time you’re looking on Amazon, maybe check out the multitude of reusable straws they have.