It is important to actively practice reducing our footprint all year long. To say that this past decade we have produced an unprecedented amount of waste would be an understatement. In 2017 alone, we generated 267.8 million tons of waste, and only 9% of all plastic EVER made has been recycled. If we don’t change our ways soon, it will not be long before we begin to feel the consequences. Every small change will lead to a beautiful tomorrow, so let’s start today. Here are five products to help us reduce our waste:
- Clothes Made From Recycled Fabric
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On average, we get rid of 81 pounds of clothing each year. Most of that clothing ends up in landfills, even if donated. In an attempt to combat this growing environmental hazard, many companies have begun to look into textile recycling programs that use technology to turn used fabrics into new fashion products. Many mainstream clothing brands have begun using this sustainable practice. The online clothing brand Reformation actually began as a company completely dedicated to these sustainability practices, and they opened up their own recycling program, RefRecycle, in 2014. Buying clothing from companies that use recycled fabric is a great way to reduce the amount of waste we produce.
- Brita
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This is one of the easiest ways to not only help save the planet, but also to save a lot of money. Plastic water bottles produce a gigantic carbon footprint. One study found that the 38 billion water bottles that Americans consume every year requires the equivalent to 17 million barrels of oil to produce. This is a gigantic waste of resources in a world that is already struggling to keep up with a lifestyle based on fast-paced consumption. In addition, another study found that every American spends at least $100 on plastic water bottles a year. Purchasing a Brita water filter is the easiest way to cut both the environmental and economic impacts of water bottles. The Brita water filter uses activated carbon to remove chlorine and other contaminants that can be found in sink water like mercury, benzene and cadmium. The Brita eliminates your need to purchase wasteful, one-time use plastic water bottles.
- Bamboo Toothbrush
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The American Dental Association recommends that you change your toothbrush every three months. Think about the amount of plastic that is being thrown away if every single person changes their toothbrushes that often. Instead, people have been switching to bamboo-based toothbrushes. Bamboo toothbrushes are not only just as effective, but they are also biodegradable. Switching to a bamboo toothbrush can immensely decrease the amount of plastic that enters landfills, so next time you are in need of a new toothbrush, think about switching to a bamboo one.
- Reusable Deodorant
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Deodorant containers are not something I ever thought much about as I was trying to change some of my habits to decrease my carbon footprint. Then I came across the brand Humankind. Humankind is a company dedicated to creating the most ecofriendly and natural deodorants that not only benefit us, but also the planet. They invented a plant and mineral-based deodorant that comes with a refillable container, thus reducing our single-use plastic waste. As a plus, the company’s deodorant only use natural ingredients and strays far away from any chemicals in their product. They even claim that you can eat their deodorant safely!
- Reusable Water Bottle
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This is actually one of the easiest ways to reduce your single-use plastic waste. It takes so many resources just to create one water bottle, so to only use it once and discard it immediately after is actually a huge waste of precious resources. In addition, from Hydoflasks to Nalgenes, reusable water bottles are a great way to express yourself instead of carrying around a generic plastic water bottle.
If everyone makes small changes in their daily routines, we can truly create a meaningful impact on our planet. Earth gives us so much, so let’s help to give a little back. During earth month and every month, we need to work together and do what we can.