Why be Eco-Friendly?

For those of you who are new to the idea of being Eco-Friendly, we would like to give you some 101 information on the importance and how you can start to be a part of the saving the planet movement!

We came across this blog post that explains it pretty well:

Are you worried about your health, and the health of your family, due to the toxic chemicals that surround us in our homes, not to mention polluted air in our cities?

I certainly am.

I wondered why there are so many more allergies these days, so many more people with breathing difficulties, why cancer deaths are more prevalent in certain areas compared to others – just to mention a few concerns.

And I was pretty horrified by what I found out.

A throw-away society is not sustainable – we’ve got one small planet.  We’re bursting at the seams, and we create more and more rubbish by using disposable items.

So many things in our homes contain toxic chemicals – yet we think of our homes as our sanctuary!

Why?

[Food Abundance]

Food Abundance in stores and supermarkets

It’s not that companies are deliberately trying to make us ill (I’m sure they’re not).  It’s just that we show companies, day after day, that we want cheap products.

And the cheapest way to make products is to use cheap labour and cheap materials (such as plastic) (which is made from petroleum).

There is no price to pay for factories sending pollutants into the air that we breathe. Sometimes, companies get caught sending waste into our rivers and oceans – but often, they aren’t caught and so they can dispose of their waste for free.

It’s not good for us, and it’s not good for the other creatures we share our planet with.

So, it’s Expensive to be EcoFriendly?

Not necssarily.

I’ve found lots of ways where being green can in fact save you money, and that’s a key feature of this website.

But We Can Make Better Choices?

[be ecofriendly and protect the planet by living green] Absolutely!

By knowing what to look for in the things we buy, we can make the right choices and be ecofriendly.

Buying green protects our health.

But it also sends a message to companies too.

When we consistently buy products that are safer for us, we show companies we’re no longer willing to continue harming ourselves.

The Good News

And the good news is that by choosing genuinely green products, we’re helping not just ourselves, but we’re also helping the environment.

To view the whole blog you can visit:
http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/whyshouldwebeecofriendly/

It all starts with ONE thing at a time without feeling overwhelmed!

Every day we have a choice to make this world a little wasteful. What can you do today?

(from https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/101-easy-eco-friendly-zero-waste-tips)

  1. Ask for no straw in your drink order when out.
  2. Don’t leave your house without a full reusable water bottle.
  3. Ditch tissues for handkerchiefs.
  4. Pick up a lonely banana.
  5. Always say no thank you to free promotional items. They tend to be cheap and break easily.
  6. Get a library card to support your local sharing economy.
  7. Donate unused items in good condition to support the second-hand market.
  8. Think second-hand first when purchasing something.
  9. Try elderberry syrup if you feel a cold coming on instead of immediately reaching for a plastic pill bottle.
  10. Swap your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo toothbrush.
  11. Turn old sheets and towels into handkerchiefs, rags, napkins, and cloth produce bags.
  12. Build a zero waste kit and put in the trunk of your car or carry it with you when you’ll be out so you’ll always be prepared. It doesn’t have to be large just a few items!
  13. Wash clothes when they are actually dirty, instead of after only one wear.
  1. Open a window to cool down your home or air it out.
  2. Try to avoid palm oil.
  3. Buy food without packaging or minimal packaging.
  4. Instead of buying something when you’re having a bad day, do something. I.e. go on a walk, take a yoga class, meet up with a friend.
  1. Repurpose stale bread.
  2. Make dry shampoo to stretch between washes.
  3. Surround yourself with items that serve multiple purposes to streamline and cut excess junk.
  4. Commit to bringing your reusable bags to the store. If you don’t have them, turn around and go get them! After forgetting them once, you won’t do it again.
  5. Try canning to preserve food.
  6. Use bar soap instead of liquid soap, it tends to come with less packaging.
  7. Swap disposable pads and tampons for cloth pads or a menstrual cup.
  8. Change light bulbs to LEDs.
  9. Be mindful when using technology.
  10. Bring reusable produce bags for fruits and veggies.
  11. Put on a sweater and socks before turning up the heat.
  12. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.
  13. Don’t buy anything impulsively!
  14. Try making your own lotion.
  15. Check out your farmers market.
  16. Make your own face mask from stuff in your pantry.
  17. Try cloth diapering.
  18. Get some houseplants at a local nursery to purify your air, don’t forget to return the little plastic pots!
  19. Get rid of pests naturally.
  20. Meal plan to avoid food waste.
  21. Unplug electronics when not in use.
  22. Try making tooth powder to avoid unrecyclable toothpaste tubes.
  1. Buy more locally made goods.
  2. Repair something when it breaks.
  3. If you’re looking for a specialty item, like camping gear or an extra table for a party, ask a friend if you can borrow one before making a purchase.
  4. Plant a small garden.
  5. Learn how to freeze your food without plastic so it doesn’t go to waste.
  6. Make your own febreze spray to freshen your room for pennies!
  7. Start a backyard compost.
  8. Swap little plastic chapstick tubes for DIY lip balm.
  9. Surround yourself with tools and items that are meant to last a lifetime. Try to only buy objects once.
  10. Try your hand at an easy all-purpose cleaning spray.
  1. Look into collecting rainwater or a greywater system.
  2. Store your food properly to make it last longer.
  3. Find your local cobbler to repair tired shoes.
  4.  Know where everything you buy comes from whether it be food, clothing, or other household goods
  5. Ask for no plastic and reused packaging materials for online orders.
  6. Pack your lunch instead of eating out every day.
  7. Reduce your meat consumption. If you’re not ready to go vegetarian start small: try Meatless Monday, weekday vegetarian, or even weekday vegan.
  8. Learn to regrow kitchen scraps.
  9. Line dry a load instead of using the dryer.
  10. Try homemade mouthwash.
  11. Ditch plastic shower loofahs for a real loofah or a bamboo bath brush.
  12. Ask for a real mug at the coffee shop when staying in.
  13. Always run a full dishwasher or load of clothes.
  14. Most sunscreen causes coral bleaching, go coral friendly!
  15. Bring your own container for to-go food and leftovers.
  16. Ditch paper towels and use tea towels and rags.
  17. Beware of greenwashing, always do your research.
  18. Make your own deodorant.
  19. If it’s a 30 minute or less walk, get outside instead of driving.
  20. Vote with your dollars for a sustainable future.
  21. Bring your own to-go cup when getting coffee on the run.
  22. Look into tree-free TP.
  23. Learn how to repair a button or hem to extend the life of your clothing.
  24. Look into rechargeable batteries instead of disposables.
  25. Serve dinner with cloth napkins.
  26. Eat more vegetables and legumes.
  27. Keep a bucket in the shower to water plants or flush the toilet.
  28. Wrap presents in newsprint or not at all!
  29. Swap cotton rounds for reusable rounds.
  30. Focus on experiences rather than things.
  31. Switch from a plastic disposable razor to a metal safety razor.
  32. Wash your clothes in cold water when you can.
  33. Make homemade gifts to give to friends and family.
  34. Try Wheatless Wednesdays to cut back on intensive grain farming.
  35. Avoid junk mail by placing a sticker on your box or going to dmachoice.org
  36. Keep a stocked pantry to avoid getting takeout on busy nights.
  37. Learn where to properly dispose of items like gift cards, old cell phones, batteries and unusable cords can be turned in at best buy etc.
  38. Find your local tailor to help with clothing repairs.
  39. Ask yourself if you truly need it before making any purchases.
  40. Go paperless for all your bills!
  41. Swap don’t shop! Host a clothing swap with friends.
  42. Pick up litter when you’re out and dispose of it properly.
  43. Make your morning cup of coffee with a french press or pour over with a reusable filter to avoid extra waste.
  44. Ditch plastic q-tips for plastic-free or reusable.
  45. Ditch sponges in lieu of compostable scrubs or brushes.
  46. Try to shrink the amount you recycle. Zero waste is about recycling less not more.
  47. Use both sides of the paper!
  48. Avoid receipts when out, ask if one has to be printed. Sometimes they do, but not always!
  49. Take public transit if available or carpool.
  1. Join a community garden.
  2. Swap tea bags for loose leaf tea in a reusable strainer.
  3. Make my favorite zero waste switch: look at installing a bidet attachment.