Saturday April 22 will be the 53rd official celebration of Earth Day. This year’s theme is, “Investing in Our Planet.”
What exactly does that mean, and how do we do it?
The link at the end of this article has many suggestions and ways for you to participate in Earth Day events. Please check it out.
Investing in our planet is a multifaceted term and it’s easily misunderstood.
People see the word, invest, and they immediately think of money. We can’t simply buy a cleaner, healthier world, but monetary investments by governments, businesses, and multi-national corporations are necessary.
Supporting businesses committed to environmentally responsible practices is a great start. Environmentally responsible business practices are strategies and processes that allow businesses to reduce environmental impact, increase positive social impact, and create long-term value for their shareholders.
How can businesses be environmentally responsible?
· Maintain a healthy work environment for their employees.
· Use cleaner sources of energy.
· Recyclable packaging and packing materials.
· Not using harmful chemicals and reducing waste produced during the manufacture of goods.
· Safe handling and transportation of waste materials.
· Using sustainable resources in the most productive way with an emphasis on using less.
· Replenishing and preserving natural resources.
· Responsible supply chain management and distribution.
· Purchase carbon offsets to plant trees.
How do you know which companies are actually following environmentally responsible business practices when most companies are self-reporting? How much of this investment will be passed along to consumers? If the price gouging during and after the pandemic is any indication, most of it. If we’re paying more we need to be sure there is a benefit somewhere. Will the products we buy last longer, pollute less, and be safer for our families?
I wish there were an easy answer that didn’t involve government regulations and inspections, but there isn’t. Right now, we rely on environmental watchdogs and company reports that may or may not be accurate, but as consumers, we can do our parts.
Look before you buy. Are you buying a product that comes in a recyclable container? Does the label tell you how much of their product or packaging is made from recycled materials? Be aware that only a small percentage of all recyclable plastic containers actually get recycled, even if we do our part and put them in the bin.
Look for concentrated products whenever possible that require less packaging. Look for foods that are less processed and contain fewer preservatives.
I’m certainly not perfect, but here are a few things I’m doing to reduce my carbon footprint.
I’m a big fan of the new laundry sheets that dissolve in the wash. You aren’t paying for water, and unlike laundry pods, they come in a thin recyclable paper packet. The packet takes up minimal space in your laundry room and weighs very little. It’s easy to store them on a high shelf safe from little ones.
For fabric softener, I add 25 drops of an essential oil to a gallon jug of vinegar and pour a small amount in the holder for fabric softener for each load. It’s inexpensive, all natural, lasts a long time, and works great. You can also buy powdered vinegar and add your own water, but it’s a little tricky to get it to dissolve completely and get the exact concentration of vinegar you want.
I switched to bars of soap, shampoo, and conditioner. They’re great when you travel. It took me a few tries to find the brands I like, but I love how little space they take up in my bathroom. It’s amazing how much space you don’t need when you stop storing liquids.
I use wool balls in my dryer to reduce drying time of my laundry.
Whenever possible I use natural cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, Cream of Tartar, or lemon juice. I also buy concentrated cleaners, add water, and store them in labeled glass containers.
Old towels and wash cloths, and reusable microfiber cloths are excellent for cleaning instead of paper towels. I still use paper towels, but usually, I use them as napkins or in food prep. After my kitchen is remodeled, I hope to be able to use cloth napkins for every meal. Right now, storage space is an issue.
Many community recycling services have stopped accepting glass containers because the cost of recycling them has increased. Remember these businesses provide a service and operate for profit. I reuse as many glass containers as possible, and I’ve found a local company that accepts glass for recycling.
I use a grocery service that rescues local produce deemed “not pretty enough” to make it to your grocery store counters and surplus food items grocery stores don’t buy. I still shop at my local stores, just not as often. My groceries are delivered by an electric vehicle on a specifically scheduled day for my neighborhood. My grocery items are packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes using a minimum of packing materials. Most of these packing materials are recyclable. The company picks up your freezer packs and silver cold bags when they deliver your next order. The freezer packs are non-toxic, can be used to water, and fertilize plants if the bag becomes damaged and can’t be recycled. They even have some recyclable paper cold bags. I order, pay, and receive my receipt online – no wasted paper.
I made the switch to reusable cloth storage bags for fruit and produce, and reusable silicone lids for covering leftovers.
My coffee grounds and tea leaves go into the soil in my plants beds. Coffee grounds can wreak havoc on your pipes even if you have a garbage disposal. I’m not great at composting, so I try to save my vegetable scraps in reusable freezer bags for making broths.
Another thing I do is try to buy quality furniture and clothing that will last. Clothing waste is a major world problem despite charities that have resale shops. What doesn’t sell here is shipped overseas to resale shops. Our fashions don’t always jive with the accepted dress styles/customs in other countries. Unsold clothes go to landfills that are already overflowing.
Buy Nothing sites can be great though I’ve found people grab up an item, but often change their minds and fail to come get it.
I’m not a great gardener, but I do plant bee friendly flowers and shrubs. Every year, I try to get my vegetable garden going. One of these years I will, because organic gardening is a great way to eat healthy and enjoy a more sustainable lifestyle.
Right now, I’m struggling with the waste from my home renovation project. Homes of a certain age require a substantial amount of demo. With the help of my contractor, I’m attempting to make environmentally responsible choices of building materials and energy efficient products.
Change starts with each of us. We don’t have to be loud and preachy. We don’t have to make sweeping gestures and judge others. As consumers, we have a voice through the companies we support, where we shop, the products we buy, and how we use them.
We can use the power of our votes to support candidates who aren’t in the pockets of big corporations/powerful industries. Do your homework. Vet the candidates running in local, state, and federal elections. Don’t be fooled by promises of jobs and money for your community if we turn a blind eye to environmental regulations or safety standards. The short-term gains will never outweigh the long term damage to our health and our environment.
Happy Earth Day! Always try to leave the world a better place for the next generation.
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