Another Earth Month has come to an end, giving us a long 11 months until our planet is on the forefront of people’s minds again. Earth Day (along with Earth Week and Earth Month) is an incredible time to pull all the focus of the world onto the one issue that connects us all—the climate crisis.
We post on Instagram and attend marches and donate to nonprofits all in the name of our planet during the month of April. It’s inspiring. It reminds us that we are all, whether we always like it or not, in this together. And it’s time for some real, positive, drastic change.
That change starts with how you live your everyday life. No change is too small, and we need them all. Here are some easy ways to start living every day like it’s Earth Day.
Cut back on meat (even just a little!)
Making the choice to become fully vegan or vegetarian can be intimidating for some omnivores! But even cutting back slightly on meat can have some major benefits—for your health and the planet.
According to the Mayo Clinic, eating red meat increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, and cutting back on meat decreases this risk. They recommend starting with replacing one to two meat meals per week with protein alternatives like beans, legumes, or tofu.
As for the environment, an article from the Scientific American explains that, “meat—particularly beef—drives climate change in two ways: first, through cows’ emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and second, by destroying forests as they are converted to grazing land.”
Cutting down on meat consumption, even in just one to two meals per week, can ultimately incite major positive change.
Buy a compost bin
Food accounts for the largest percentage (22%) of solid waste in landfills, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And instead of breaking down organically, food in landfills is broken down without access to oxygen, which releases greenhouse gases like methane.
A compost bin, however, allows food to break down with oxygen. This vastly decreases greenhouse emissions and reduces the waste in our landfills. Compost is also incredible for soil, creating an optimal environment for plants to grow.
Clean with green products
Did you know that 70% of streams in America are contaminated by the ingredients from laundry detergents? Traditional laundry detergents are filled with chemicals that do not biodegrade. Sustainable detergents, however, are 100% biodegradable. Changing how you wash your clothes can make a huge positive impact on our environment!
Also, an easy everyday switch is changing what you clean with. The United States uses more than 13 billion pounds of paper towels each year, equaling 3,000 tons of waste. Alternatively, we could be using completely, 100% biodegradable Swedish dish cloths as a replacement. Brands like Skoy Cloth are a paper towel alternative that is great for your wallet and the environment.
Walk or bike
The summer weather makes this too easy of a decision. Cut down on emissions by taking out your bike from the garage or blowing the dust off your walking shoes.
The typical vehicle produces 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, according to the EPA. By choosing a way to get around other than driving, you can easily cut down on these emissions—while getting some exercise and fresh air!
Stop supporting harmful companies
Doing a quick Google search can show you some shocking statistics on what companies are doing the most harm to our planet. Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Nestle are the top three companies with the worst waste records—being huge polluters of plastic.
A quick search can also show you which major companies are making huge steps toward being more sustainable. Companies like Apple, Adidas, and Ikea are all making the choice to help our planet. For instance, Ikea (the furniture store responsible for 1% of the world’s wood consumption), has vowed to make 100% of its products out of recycled material by 2030.
Get involved
Above all, the best way to make an impact is by getting involved yourself! Sign up for a beach cleanup, donate to non-profits dedicated to sustainability, or encourage family and friends to start implementing these changes in their own lives. Every little change can have a big impact.