It's no secret that our effect on our planet is drastically increasing, and unfortunately, not in a positive way. Don't worry, there are ways we can improve our impact on our planet, improve our individual health, and save money in the process! Just like in each of our individual wellness journeys, it takes one consistent daily change at a time. This is not an all or nothing ideal, just start with small steps and gradually build upon them. Combining daily habits to improve your individual health as well as planetary health will benefit you, not just biologically, but financially as well.
One approach you can take is to use a refillable water bottle as you are keeping yourself hydrated. As our bodies are made up of more than %50 water it is important to keep hydrating throughout the day, since we are constantly losing water from breathing, sweating and going to the bathroom. If our bodies are kept properly hydrated they can function as they were intended. By using this refillable water bottle you not only decrease your carbon footprint by decreasing the amount of plastic bottles end up in a landfill, but you also save money since you are not continuously buying plastic water bottles. The average American purchases 167 plastic water bottles per year spending about $266. If the average person lives to be 80 that's roughly $17,290 in a lifetime spent on something you use once. Imagine what you could do with those savings!
Composting is another great way to decrease our impact on the planet and save some green. Composting is when you take all you left over organic material, or food scraps, and place them into a separate container other than your trash. Whether you live in a city or in the countryside, there are many different ways to compost. This will decrease how much waste ends up in the landfill as well as how many trash bags you will use due to the fact that they take longer to fill up, again saving you money.
If you have a garden of your own or have access to one, compost can be used as a natural fertilizer adding nutrients to the soil and even improving the taste of the foods you grow. For those who live in the city, where most green spaces are few and far between, you have some options. If you have access to farmer's markets near where you live most of them have stations where you can bring your composted materials, sometimes free of charge. Some cities are even beginning to offer curbside compost pickup services. Research and find out what is available in your area.
Reducing the amount of single-use materials and packaging you purchase and replacing them with multiple-use items is another great way you can lower your impact on the environment and save some money. By reducing the amount of single-use items you will decrease the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill and lower the need to repurchase that item again, saving you even more money. Some items are more challenging to make the switch than others, like toothbrushes and combs for example. A simple solution is when purchasing these items try to purchase alternative options that have been either recycled or are made of materials that naturally break down, such as wood. When it comes to food, the less packaging the better, as most foods that come in containers include many more artificial chemicals than those without to prolong their shelf life. Here are a few single-use products you can start switching for multiple use items...
Coffee Cups
Plastic Straws
Plastic Silverware
Plastic Water Bottles
Paper/Plastic Plates
Decreasing your impact on the planet again is not an all or nothing process, just do what you can. Whether it's using less single-use items, composting or any other way you can decrese your impact on the environment, every little change you make adds up and makes a difference.
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