18 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
At Southern Specialties, we promote greener practices whenever we can. Earth Day is just around the corner, on April 22nd, and our team would like to share the importance of this day and how, by making a few simple changes, we can all contribute to protecting the environment. Earth Day celebrates the anniversary of the birth of the environmental movement that began in 1970. In only two years, we will mark the 50th anniversary of the first ever Earth Day! Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that Earth’s natural resources don’t all replenish themselves, so it is our responsibility to take extra precaution to be good stewards of these precious resources. In celebration of this special day, we want to share simple ways to reduce our ecological footprint—at the grocery store, in our homes, and at work or school. These tips can be easily integrated into any lifestyle. Reducing consumption of plastics, water, and energy is a great jump-start to creating a cleaner Earth and reversing current climate trends. Every little act counts!
Here are just a few ways we can begin to make a difference:
At the Grocery Store:
- Bring your own reusable bag (BYOB) or reuse old plastic/paper bags
- Make a list and stick to it; don’t overbuy or be tempted by all of the promotions, only get what you need
- Look for Fair Trade products and other sustainably grown items
- Integrate more plant based foods into your meals, since they require less water, land, and feed to grow than meat-based foods
At Home:
- Reuse Ziploc (hand-wash if dirty), plastic and paper bags
- Reduce food waste by taking inventory of your fridge/ pantry and by following proper storage tips to save food from early spoilage
- Remember that your freezer = friend
- Unplug appliances after you are done using them to save energy
- Switch out paper towels and napkins for cloth towels and napkins
- Have bins designated for recycling to make separating easier
- Composting bin for food scraps that can’t be used to make veggie stock from scratch
- Make DIY cleaning products that lack harmful chemicals
- Time your showers to ten minutes or less to save more water
At School or Work:
- Save & reuse plastic baggies and foil, or invest in reusable sandwich bags or food wrap
- Use small tupperware for lunchbox snacks instead of plastic baggies
- Bring reusable utensils
- Always have a reusable water bottle (BPA-free & phthalate-free) at your desk for beverages
- Donate uneaten/unwanted food to a friend, instead of throwing it away