the nine for our earth. Click on images for links + scroll down for even more
1. RECYCLE LESS / RECYCLE RIGHT.
After you watch the film about single use plastics (linked to the photo of reusable cup) The hope is to eliminate most of your recycling altogether. But…are you making common recycling mistakes? I definitely was! Turns out NO PLASTIC BAGS allowed in recycling bins. Not even to be polite and gather all the bottles together. Nope, just toss them in!! As far as the bottle cap debate goes… FIRST, check rules with your local recycling facility. IF they accept bottles with caps on, the best solution seems to be: remove the cap rinse and crunch the bottle up from the base until most of the air is removed. Screw the cap back on, then toss the bottle in the recycling bin. (Issue is that the bottle can burst from heat after being baled and ruin the bale.)
2. MAKE FOOD LAST.
Link in strawberry photo has some helpful tips to make fresh food last longer. I tried the strawberry washing technique and they lasted a full 10 days with ZERO mold. Also used the egg test, which gave me an extra 3 weeks use after the carton expired.
3. BUY BETTER. BUY LESS.
Reduce. Reuse. Repurpose. RESTYLE! Quality over quantity…. Need I say more?
4. WATCH & SHARE !
(and if you are so inclined, Sign and share this petition: https://p2a.co/xLIfA6y)
5. COMPOST. (OR LET SOMEONE COMPOST FOR YOU… click link in grid)
Even if composting at home is not an option for you, there are places that are standing by to help!!
6. GO LOCAL.
This one is easy & fun. Shop your local farmers markets. Simple way to avoid packaging. Supports your local economy & local family farms. Non-industrial. Better for environment. You know where it has been and where it came from. Fresher, lasts longer. And on, and on, and on!
7. CHOSE TO REUSE.
THERE IS NO “AWAY". COMMIT TO NO SINGLE USE PLASTIC. COMMIT TO LESS PACKAGING ON YOUR PURCHASES. We have no excuse and we no longer have a choice. We must hold ourselves and others accountable. We all know how. If you don’t know, start here: https://www.netzerocompany.com/collections/zero-waste-newbie
8. ELIMINATE PAPER.
Stop junk mail. Sign up to be removed from promotional mailing lists. ALSO - Collect all the catalogs and repeat mailings you receive and then sit down for an hour or less and call all the companies and ask them to stop sending catalogs in the mail and ask them to communicate only via email. (Excellent use of our extra time right now :)
9. USE & SUPPORT SAFER & BETTER BEAUTY.
We are literally putting unregulated, untested and potentially very dangerous chemicals on our skin every day, The last federal law to regulate the safety of personal care products was passed in 1938…. yes, I meant 1938!! In the US, only 30 ingredients have been partially banned to date. (the European Union has banned more than 1,300 chemicals and restricted the levels in 250 others in soaps, shampoos, lotions, and makeup. Canada has banned around 600.) There are an estimated 80,000 chemicals on the market today. I’ve taken this part of my health back into my own hands! One of the very best brands I have tried out there, is BeautyCounter. Going forward, I am going to eliminate products that do not meet these very high standards (which btw, we should naturally expect companies to hold standards that put the consumers health FIRST!! just sayin.)