Easy Tips for Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

Don't Waste Food

Seems like a no brainer, but it's so easy to let food sit in the fridge too long or let leftovers go bad. Throwing that rotting banana out occasionally may not seem like a big deal, but food waste is a huge expense and problem in the United States. Each year, about 108 billion pounds of food goes to waste in this county, costing over $108 billion. That means almost 40% of all food in the US is thrown out, a horrible statistic considering 38 million Americans currently face hunger. 

An easy and delicious way to stay eco friendly when it comes to food is by creating a stew! It may not work for rotting bananas, but it's great for many other foods. 

Click this link from Yummly to find a few great recipes for making stew out of your leftovers! A quick, fun and easy way to be more eco friendly! 

Recycling for an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

Chances are high that you're already recycling. You are reading this article, after all. But can you improve your recycling skills?

You can recycle almost everything from batteries to paper to cars. The trick is understanding if recycling is actually allowed and how. If you're just getting started in the world of recycling, consider starting with one main item like paper or plastic, and slowly adding more items as you build your recycling habit.

An important key you'll need for recycling is understanding the "Recycle Logo". This appears on most products that can be recycled and explains how best to recycle that particular item. By understanding recycling labels, you'll be able to stop buying items that cannot be recycled in the first place. That retrains manufacturers to improve how they package their products. 

Make the switch to sustainable apparel. Fast fashion is far from eco friendly. Consider making the switch to something like BambooYou - a line of organic bamboo apparel. Bamboo is a renewable resource that grows abundantly without the use of harsh chemicals like pesticides. BambooYou's collection of eco friendly apparel is silky soft (really, it's so soft!) and is good for the Earth! Learn more about bamboo apparel HERE. 

 

Stop Using Plastic Bags

Every year, Americans use about 100 billion plastic bags. That's 365 plastic bags for every American (compared to only 4 plastic bags used per year by citizens in Denmark). The cost for this convenience? 12 million barrels of oil, just to carry stuff from store to home. 

The solutions is simple: bring a canvas bag with you when you go shopping, buy your fruit and veggies loose, and stop buying bottled water. Plastics, whether they come from bottles or bags, don't break down safely in the environment. 

If you must use plastic, do your best to recycle! Only 13% of all plastic bags are recycled. The rest end up in the dump, or the ocean, breaking down into more harmful micro plastics that continue to pollute. 

Grow Your Own Food

Growing your own vegetables will save you money (if you do it right). It’s also a great way to cut down your carbon footprint by being eco-friendly, and also getting access to healthy greens anytime of year. 

Don’t have any outside space? Windowsill boxes are a fun and beautiful way to brighten up your view, filter the air coming into your home and offer plenty of space for herbs and small vegetable patches!

 

 

Once you put these five simple tips into motion, you'll be right on track to living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Eco-friendliness isn't just good for you, it's good for all of us!