I’m not the most sensible person on this planet. I keep forgetting my reusable bags when I go grocery shopping, I use lots of hairspray – that’s my personal story when it comes to recycling: NOT GOOD! I’ve always considered myself as “just an ordinary person” who’s not to blame for climate change whilst corporations that make billions from destroying the planet are still THRIVING. I mean, it’s just a plastic bag, chill girl!
It was only when I heard the news recently that I realised that the whole world is indeed falling apart and it’s basically everyone’s fault.
Just think if everyone uses on average 2 plastic cups a day for their coffee, only because they’ve forgotten to take their Starbucks thermos with them to work, that means there are about 15 billions of plastic cups wasted PER DAY! Now that’s insane, right?
We might be “ordinary people” but the truth is our individual choices do matter. We all have to own up to being responsible for climate change and it’s time we took matters into our own hands by taking action. We can’t demand change if we don’t change our small everyday style of living.
It’s totally cliché, I know, but our planet is in danger and it’s our responsibility to save it! You can leave your mark, inspire people around you, take “greener actions” and multiply the effect, and here is how:
- Use your voice: “We are the first generation to know we’re destroying the world, and we could be the last that can do anything about it.” Read this again and use your voice! Find out how the products of your favourite brands are sourced and decide if you’re still using them accordingly. Use the power of social media. Talk to your friends, neighbours and colleagues and get them to make positive changes. Speak up and make your voice heard!
- Be informed: The more you know, the better you live. Information leaves you better equipped to have those conversations with your friends and family and the people you want to influence. Read the news, find out about recent researches and studies, get yourself clued up on the facts and work out what you can do about our planet.
- Reduce your waste: Every single product that we buy has an environmental footprint and could end up back in your plate! Recycling reduces the amount of new materials whilst upcycling is a creative way to turn old or unused items into something more useful. Reuse your jam jar as a candle holder, or use your old tins as plant pots! You can paint them, or decorate them; whatever the case I’m begging you to use your creativity and reduce your waste to the minimum. Choose eco-friendly products, and don’t be scared to choose the “alternative” option. Believe me when I say that there is a “greener” version of everything in the market: refillable makeup products, eco-friendly sanitary options, plastic free grocery products… You just need to dig a bit further, but trust me it’s worth the trouble!
- Reduce the meat in your plate: I’m not vegan and I don’t think that I’ll ever be one because honestly I LOVE BURGERS. I couldn’t see the connection between the pollution of the planet and actually eating bacon. I had to read many researches in order to understand the impact of eating so much meat on climate change: Livestock farming is responsible to land and water degradation, biodiversity loss, acid rain, coral reef degeneration and deforestation. It contributes 18% of human produced greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and this is more than all emissions from ships, planes, trucks, cars and all other transport put together. Truth is, the meat in your plate is killing the environment so if you can’t go vegan (which is totally understandable to me), just go a bit greener!
- Donate and volunteer: There are endless ways to give. Become a member of WWF, adopt an animal, help by restoring the forests, take on a challenge for Team Panda or encourage your family and friends to donate by setting up a Facebook birthday fundraiser. Environmental organisations rely on generous donations to carry out their projects all around the world and you can help them. Search online and look for local organisations that need your help; financially or practically and be present! Give a cent, plant a tree, or pick up the trash from the beach; every little thing helps.
Sustainable lifestyle choices tell companies that customers are interested in being green, which leads to having a big impact on their business decisions. Have in mind that the population of this planet is so big, and our actions could actually be bigger!
It’s easy to see little things like buying organic vegetables, using a reusable coffee cup, using your own metallic straw instead of plastic ones, taking shorter showers and taking your own bags to the store as small and insignificant, but they do make a difference!
Start today!
Xoxo,
Andrea
