Most of you are aware of climate change and its effects, including dying coral reefs and the migration of animal species. Pollution, overfishing and thoughtless human acts further lead to this loss in habitats of key species. Many species are unable to migrate fast enough to overcome climate change, and thus become extinct. To add, technological “advancements” have turned many of our goods into plastic-based items, polluting our oceans and hurting our wildlife even further.
The only way we can reverse this damage is by taking actions ourselves, and eliminating our use of plastic and reducing the amount of garbage we produce is key. It can be difficult to take the first step towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle, which is why I’ve created this list. Here are six simple ways to start living a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
1. Carry your own reusable shopping bag.
Most shops and grocery chains offer plastic bags for customers to carry their items home. These bags are terrible for the environment (they are made in factories using oil) and usually end up as roadside or ocean trash. To be more eco-friendly, carry your own reusable shopping bag whenever you are out and about or grocery shopping.
Most shops now sell or hand out their own reusable shopping bags, so you’re in luck! For those of you who love to be stylish and a global citizen, these adorable reusable shopping bags by The Little Market are a great choice. Everything on The Little Market’s website is fair trade, ethically sourced, artisan made, and helps supports workers all around the globe. These reusable bags in particular help support workers at Corr Jute in Bangladesh, so you can be stylish, eco-friendly AND empowering these artisans at the same time! My personal favourite is their kale, spinach, avocado, chocolate bag. It’s perfect for grocery shopping!
If you ever find yourself out shopping without a reusable bag, consider carrying the items in your hands if possible. I once bought four large boxes of Clif bars and then realized that I had forgotten my bag… still, instead of buying a plastic bag, I carried the boxes home in my arms. It all worked out in the end because I got myself an arm workout (I never go to the gym, so this is great!).
2. Opt for vegan or vegetarian options when you eat out.
Most restaurants have vegan and vegetarian options available for your to choose from, which makes this all the more easier for you. The reason I recommend this is because vegan and vegetarian food options can be much more sustainable than meat and dairy products. Most meat products are produced in degenerative ways, making the production of a quarter pound of beef equivalent to driving your car for five miles. The greenhouse gas emissions from the production of meat further pollutes our environment, making vegan options much more eco-friendly.
However, for vegan and vegetarian options to offer true, long-term sustainability, they must be sourced locally. This article by 10Best lists 10 Vancouver restaurants that source ingredients locally, and they all look like amazing places to start!
3. Say no to straws.
Straws and other small plastic utensils have the tendency to end up in our oceans through human error and carelessness. Straws, being unrecyclable, are often left on beaches, littered elsewhere, or blown out of trash cans. This means that straws are either directly discarded into our oceans, or they find their way into our sewers and drains (that lead into our oceans). First, this leads to the pollution and contamination of our ocean water. Second, this leads to the death and injury [GRAPHIC TURTLE VIDEO] of various sea animals and birds.
I personally know people who say that they do not care about our plastic problem, but I say that everyone should. There is now traces of plastic in our drinking water and plastic damaging our own environment. And we are the reason behind the death of these animals who are consuming the plastics we throw away.
I do two things to take straws out of my lifestyle:
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Sometimes I carry around a plastic tumbler (one with its own built-in and reusable straw) and ask my drink-maker to put my drink in it.
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When I do not have my plastic tumbler at hand, I simply ask for no straw and lid. I opt out of getting a lid because they are usually made of plastic too. Sometimes my smoothie-makers, baristas and waiters/waitresses forget about my request and give me a straw. In this case, I kindly decline.
Moral of the story: don’t use straws because they are bad for the environment and are unnecessary. As for not having a lid, be careful not to spill your drink if you’re on the go.
4. Say no to balloons.
Similar to straws, balloons are also toxic to our environment. When someone lets go of a helium balloon, and it flies up towards the sky, eventually it pops. And since three fourths of our planet is ocean water, these balloons tend to fall into our waters, polluting them even more. These balloons tend to be eaten by or harm curious wildlife and sea animals.
Help save the planet by opting out of purchasing balloons, and instead celebrate your special occasions with more eco-friendly options, such as recycled paper party hats… and puppies!
5. Keep a personal tumbler nearby at all times.
Keeping your own personal tumbler with you at all times helps reduce a lot of paper and plastic waste, especially if you’re an avid coffee drinker. Every time you use your own tumbler, you save a disposable coffee cup, lid, and stopper. (Is that what those green plastic things are called? A stopper?)
Not only will you save resources, but you’ll also save money too! Companies such as Starbucks offer a 10 cent discount to customers who bring in and use their own personal cup. Many other coffee shops offer discounts too, including SFU’s very own Nature’s Garden Café.
If you have trouble remembering to bring your coffee/drink tumbler with you, try keeping one at school (if you have an office or locker) or keep your tumbler right beside your doorway so that you see it as you’re leaving your home.
For everyone who is new to carrying around their own drink tumbler, this hilarious Huffington Post article describes what you can expect.
6. Buy only what you need.
… instead of buying what you want. This is some of my best advice for being eco-friendly because not only will you help save the planet, but you’ll also save a lot of money. Almost everything is made in a factory in this day and age, and factories waste a lot of water and have high carbon emissions, with clothing production being one of the biggest pollutants worldwide. Solely one pair of cotton jeans takes 1,800 gallons of water to be produced, and one cotton t-shirt takes 400 gallons.
To do this, every time you want to buy something ask yourself if you need the item. For example:
Do I really need another waterproof jacket?
Did I bring a reusable tumbler with me? No. So can I live without this cherry blossom latte?
Do I already have a pair of scissors at home? Do I really need a second pair?
For the most part, I find myself saying no to buying new clothing, takeout food, and other items, and I’m guessing you will too if you try this. If you find that you need something, consider supporting more sustainable companies, such as The Little Market and Lush.