Leaving a Lighter Carbon Footprint 101
I’d like to start out by saying that I am by no means perfect at being totally eco-friendly BUT I wanted to share this ‘lil post as a means of enlightening you (my friends) in the ways of starting small. I’m sure you’ve heard the scary cries of climate change. You don’t have to live under a rock to know that we are living amidst the repercussions of it- our children and their children will take these tolls even greater. I’ve had the thought of “could I really make a difference? Is one person recycling really gonna change the world?” The answer is simple: yes! Look around you: there are most likely humans freaking everywhere!!! If we all pitched in, the effect could be long-lasting.
I’m a very practical person and you might be, too. Which brings me to this: how can I on an everyday basis help fight climate change? Make my carbon footprint lighter? Be kinder to the Earth? Let. Me. Tell. You.
FREE OF CHARGE: Do your research and talk about it. Be educated. Vote for people who are aware + willing to take steps to combat it. Talk talk talk, it is free and you’d be surprised how many bright and kind people are unaware of the severity of climate change.
This one’s random and kind of severe but I heard Bill Nye say it’s the single-most impactful way we can combat climate change so I thought I’d put it in here because why the heck not: If you are planning a family, limit it to one or two children. You might be thinking: “how dare you!!!” And to that I would say: direct your anger at Mr. Nye haha… but SERIOUSLY, bare with me guys this makes a lot of sense. Us humans wreak a lot of havoc on the earth driving cars and using plastic and whatnot. The more children we have, the more damage done to our earth. Overpopulation has been a driving force in climate change. I won’t be the one to say you shouldn’t have more than two children because YIKES but I thought it was worth saying that this is a major contributing factor and is the #1 way we can directly make the biggest difference individually. Just some food for thought. Here’s the podcast if you want to listen for yourself!
On a smaller scale, things like recycling, using less plastic, buying secondhand, solar power, driving electric/hybrid vehicles, being conscious of the food you buy/products you buy in general are all small dominos that contribute to a larger grand scheme. This transition/lifestyle can unfortunately be more expensive BUT I heard someone once say that we vote with our dollar and that is soooo true + powerful! Even if it means you start small you are still starting and that is what matters. We need you. Our Earth needs you!
Now I know that if you’re like me then you’ll read this, think “YEAH!” and then go on with your daily life and never implicate. Just being real. So here are some resources for a more eco friendly household and lifestyle :)
Shop on apps like poshmark, thredup, Facebook marketplace, etc. Secondhand? More like BESThand! Our home is basically 99.98367% Facebook marketplace- anytime friends come over and point to certain pieces the answer is almost always FB marketplace.
Get a trashcan that has a recycling compartment so it’s effortless + easy AF (here are some eco-friendly trash bags, too!)
If you’re in the market for a car, look into Prius’ or Leafs (or leaves? haha) or if you’re fancy get a Tesla AKA my dream car. We live in a world where it is 100% feasible to drive a sexy yet sustainable vehicle. They’re out there, do your research! Or ride your bike more often, take public transportation, etc. (if you’re able)
If you pack a lunch, skip the plastic sandwich bags and go for reusable containers! There are millions of super cool and cute lunch containers, metal forks, spoons, straws, etc. Here are some!
Buy organic produce when you can! If you live near a Sprouts, their produce is amazing and 9 times out of 10 cheaper than places like Kroger!!!
Ditch plastic wherever you can: carry a reusable water bottle and stay hydrated, bring your reusable coffee cup to your local coffee shop (or Starbucks/Dunkin’ because c’mon not everyone has great local coffee shops near them)
Use reusable grocery bags like bagu or opt for paper!
Studies show that a plant-based diet is better for the environment, so eat those greens!
If you have any specific questions about anything I’ve talked about, please don’t hesitate to email/message me! If I don’t have the answer, I know a lot of really smart people that might. I’d also like to be fully transparent and say that I do not do all of the above, but am working towards most of it! Go forward with intent + purpose, friends!