Armed with the power of science, you can make informed decisions about how to change some of your behaviors in ways that directly reduce your burden on the environment. You can’t fix the climate on your own, but you can become part of a generation that does.
Lasting and dramatic change comes from countless little shifts throughout society. Mitigating climate change comes from everybody, and that includes you!
You’ve probably heard this before, either from conservation organizations or your parents lecturing you about the utility bill. But it’s worth repeating conserving resources is good for everybody, especially the planet.
It’s great if you change your habits, but to really save the planet, you’ll need to change others’ habits, too. Convince your family, friends, and neighbors to adopt greener lifestyles. Talk to your parents about buying less meat, get your friends to bike to where you need to go, and sweet-talk your neighbors into watering their lawns less.
Get involved with organizations where you can take part in conservation activities. Volunteer in your local park to make it a green space that people want to use. Support environmental groups. Talk to local lawmakers about focusing community resources on projects that improve the environment, and therefore the city, town, or neighborhood overall.
Most of all, learn! Read about environmental issues, study science in school. Go outside. Visit parks and talk to the people who take care of them. The more you know about your environment, the better equipped you are to conserve it, and to make a difference.
At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Do you feel guilty tossing stacks of flyers, scrap paper, and junk mail into the recycling bin? All that perfectly good paper, hardly even used. What a waste! Recycling is good, but it still takes energy and creates waste and emissions. The good thing is, there are plenty of things you can do to reuse paper before recycling it.
1. Printing
Yes, it’s obvious, but it surprises me how many people do not bother with printing on the back of scrap computer paper. Use scrap paper to print coupons, directions, meeting minutes, shopping lists, and other necessities. To make it easier, keep a tray of scrap paper next to the printer for easy access.
2. Pet Cage Liner
Newspaper and junk mail is perfect for lining a bird cage or shredding for hamster bedding. Just be sure that the paper you use is printed with non-toxic ink (brown paper bags and white newspaper is usually fine).
3. Woven Basket
Reuse your brown packing paper to weave a beautiful, recycled paper basket. Use the paper basket to corral your junk mail or to hold scrap paper for further reuse!
4. Doodle Pad
Tear used computer paper (printed on one side) into quarters and stack them (or clip them) neatly by the telephone for doodling while you are on hold, or for jotting down messages.
5. Origami
Used wrapping paper, greeting cards, the comic section of the newspaper, and even colorful junk mail can be used to fold all sorts of cute origami, from jewelry boxes to paper cranes to adorable origami cat bookmarks. Chocolate bar tablets used to be wrapped in gold or silver paper that was perfect for origami, though this is not as common anymore.
6. Beads for Jewelry
Old magazines and wrapping paper can be rolled into pretty paper beads to make unique jewelry. There is an easy paper-bead tutorial at HowStuffWorks. This would be a fun project for kids as well.
7. Light a Fire
We usually save brown paper bags, packing paper, and newspaper for the fireplace, but again, make sure that the paper is printed with non-toxic inks.
8. Wall Art
Frame patterned wrapping paper (or greeting cards, or wallpaper) in simple frames for a boost of color in your home. Alternatively, use wrapping paper as matting for photos, create a garland or bunting to hang on the wall, or frame interesting magazine covers.
9. Papier-Mache Pinata
You can create a paper-Mache pinata for birthday parties usually simple papier-Mache balls filled with candy, but you could fancy yours up and make them all sorts of fantastic shapes. Kids love whacking the pinata with a bat and gathering the goodies at parties.
10. Gift Wrap
Reuse comics, sheet music, or even plain brown packing paper to wrap gifts. You can pretty them up with gift tags made from scrap paper and leftover ribbons. For small gifts, a fun idea is to use business envelopes turned inside-out to wrap a gift, showing the pretty blue or gray security pattern inside.
11. Window Cleaning
Nothing beats good ol’ newspaper and vinegar for sparkling, streak-free windows.
12. Garden Mulch
Non-toxic newsprint can be an excellent mulch for your garden plants. Tear the newspaper into strips and put a layer around your plants to keep the soil moist and deter weeds. The newspaper will eventually break down and enrich the soil. If you think this looks unsightly, use it only in the backyard vegetable garden, or add a layer of bark chips over the top to make it look prettier.
13. Compost
Newspaper can be an integral part of a well-balanced compost pile and counts as a carbon-rich (or “brown” component). Tear the newspaper into strips or small pieces to help it break down faster. Again, use only newspaper or paper with non-toxic inks (no glossy magazines).
14. Drop Cloth
Save newspaper and junk mail to use as a drop cloth for your painting and crafting projects.
15. Paper Dolls
Stiff cardstock (such as the back of greeting cards) can be cut into simple paper dolls, and then colorful wrapping paper or leftover computer paper can be fashioned into an entire wardrobe. Draw the dolls yourself or find an easy template online.
16. Paper Wreath
Martha Stewart has this idea for using the pages of an old book to create leaves for this beautiful paper wreath, perfect for gracing your front door.
17. Gift Basket Filling
Shred colorful wrapping and tissue paper and use it as filler in DIY gift baskets or Easter baskets that you make with your kids.
18. Seedling Pots
Use leftover paper egg cartons or toilet paper rolls that have been folded on the bottom to start your own seeds for the garden. They are perfect since they supply good drainage and aeration. Since the “seedling pots” are biodegradable, you can just break them up and bury them when you plant the seedlings in your garden.
19. Cable and Junk Organizers
Toilet and paper towel rolls are perfect for organizing computer cables and corralling other random stuff. Cut a slit in one side of the roll, and then slip rolled-up cables into the toilet paper “sleeve”. You can also use this to organize craft supplies such as ribbons and string and keep your wrapping paper rolls from unrolling. Flattened rolls can be used to store knives.
20. Ripen Fruit
Place unripe fruit in a paper bag or wrap in newspaper to help it ripen quicker.
21. Homemade Cards
A sweet way to reuse greeting cards is to cut out the pictures (pretty flowers, birds, and other images) and use them to create a new card. You might reuse last year’s Christmas card from your grandma to make a new card to send her this year, for example.
22. Packing Material
If you cannot find another creative use for your junk mail, just scrunch it up and use it to pack a box. Some thrift stores may also accept paper donations for wrapping up fragile objects when they are sold.
Do not forget to reduce the amount of paper that comes through your household by opting out of junk mail and going paperless for bills if your area offers it. If you subscribe to magazines, offer them to a friend who would be interested in reading them before you toss them in the recycling bin. Donate or sell used books.
Please, never throw perfectly good paper into the trash. We have enough paper already lining our landfills, and we already cut down enough trees to make “virgin” paper products.
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Renewable technologies are considered as clean sources of energy and optimal use of these resources minimize environmental impacts, produce minimum secondary wastes and are sustainable based on current and future economic and social societal needs. Sun is the source of all energies. The primary forms of solar energy are heat and light. Sunlight and heat are transformed and absorbed by the environment in a multitude of ways. Some of these transformations result in renewable energy flows such as biomass and wind energy. Renewable energy technologies provide an excellent opportunity for mitigation of greenhouse gas emission and reducing global warming through substituting conventional energy sources.
All energy sources have some impact on our environment. Fossil fuels – coal, oil, and natural gas – do substantially more harm than renewable energy sources by most measures, including air and water pollution, damage to public health, wildlife and habitat loss, water use, land use, and global warming emissions.
However, renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and hydropower also have environmental impacts, some of which are significant.
The exact type and intensity of environmental impacts varies depending on the specific technology used, the geographic location, and several other factors. By understanding the current and potential environmental issues associated with each renewable energy source, we can take steps to effectively avoid or minimize these impacts as they become a larger portion of our electric supply.
🟠Wind Power
Harnessing power from the wind is one of the cleanest and most sustainable ways to generate electricity as it produces no toxic pollution or global warming emissions. Wind is also abundant, inexhaustible, and affordable, which makes it a viable and large-scale alternative to fossil fuels.
Despite its vast potential, there are a variety of environmental impacts associated with wind power generation that should be recognized and mitigated. They include land use issues and challenges to wildlife and habitat.
🟠Solar Power
Like wind power, the sun provides a tremendous resource for generating clean and sustainable electricity.
The environmental impacts associated with solar power can include land use and habitat loss, water use, and the use of hazardous materials in manufacturing, though the types of impacts vary greatly depending on the scale of the system and the technology used – photovoltaic (PV) solar cells or concentrating solar thermal plants (CSP).
🟠Geothermal Energy
The most widely developed type of geothermal power plant (known as hydrothermal plants) is located near geologic “hot spots” where hot molten rock is close to the earth’s crust and produces hot water.
In other regions enhanced geothermal systems (or hot dry rock geothermal), which involve drilling into the earth’s surface reach deeper geothermal resources, can allow broader access to geothermal energy.
Geothermal plants also differ in terms of the technology they use to convert the resource to electricity (direct steam, flash, or binary) and the type of cooling technology they use (water-cooled and air-cooled). Environmental impacts differ depending on the conversion and cooling technology used.
🟠Biomass for Electricity
Biomass power plants share some similarities with fossil fuel power plants: both involve the combustion of a feedstock to generate electricity. Thus, biomass plants raise similar, but not identical, concerns about air emissions and water use as fossil fuel plants. However, the feedstock of biomass plants can be produced sustainably, while fossil fuels are non-renewable.
Sources of biomass resources for producing electricity are diverse, ranging from energy crops (like switchgrass), to agricultural waste, manure, forest products and waste, and urban waste. The type of feedstock and the way it is developed and harvested, both affect land use and life-cycle global warming emissions impacts of producing power from biomass.
🟠Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric power includes both massive hydroelectric dams and small run-of-the-river plants. Large-scale hydroelectric dams continue to be built in many parts of the world (including China and Brazil), but it is unlikely that new facilities will be added to the existing US fleet in the future.
Instead, the future of hydroelectric power in the United States will likely involve increased capacity at current dams and new run-of-the-river projects. There are environmental impacts at both types of plants.
🟠Hydrokinetic Energy
Hydrokinetic energy, which includes wave and tidal power, encompasses an array of energy technologies, many of which are still in the experimental stages or in the early stages of deployment. While actual impacts of large-scale operations have not been observed, a range of potential impacts can be projected.
Energy is a requirement in our everyday life as a way of improving human development leading to economic growth and productivity. The return-to-renewables will help mitigate climate change in an excellent way but needs to be sustainable in order to ensure a sustainable future for generations to meet their energy needs. If these alternative energy sources are implemented and maintained, the sustainability of renewable energy would be addressed as the goal of sustainable development which seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, modern energy for all and combat climate change and its impact.
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According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household cleaning products rank among the most toxic everyday substances to which people are exposed, and most cleaning products brands are not safe.
The green cleaning products you can make at home often cost a fraction of the price you pay for comparable store-bought cleaning products, especially if you buy the earth friendly options. They are also surprisingly easy to make, effective and safe for kids.
💚 DIY Bleach Alternative
💚 Glass Cleaner
Mix in a reusable spray bottle.
💚 All-Purpose Disinfectant
💚 Toilet Cleaner
Pour both borax and vinegar into the toilet before going to bed. In the morning, scrub and flush.
💚 Furniture Polish
💚 Air Freshener
Greening your cleaning routine can help save you money, save your household from harsh chemicals—and save the planet at the same time.
At The Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions. It dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year. Even washing clothes releases 500 000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.
The best way to combat fashion-related waste and pollution is to change your buying habits. Here are six ways you can reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing:
At The Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Here are 4 Things and Impactful Ways to Help in Your Zero Waste Journey:
1️⃣ Furniture
A good way to start using sustainable items for your bedroom would be to go for reclaimed wooden furniture instead of new ones.
This makes sure that there is no expenditure of energy that would have otherwise been spent in the manufacturing process of a new one.
✅ Make sure that its production has minimal impact on the environment, and it does not employ harmful chemicals and retardants.
The retardants which are used for preventing a fire accident, are toxic enough to cause cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, among other health issues.
2️⃣ Bedding
If you are currently using materials like polyester and nylon for bedding items, we recommend avoiding them! Not only do these fabrics trap a lot of heat but are also bad for your skin.
They are nonbiodegradable in nature and their manufacturing process consumes a great amount of water.
3️⃣ Mattress
The best way to do this is to replace your old foam or innerspring mattress with organic materials.
Foam mattresses are notorious for releasing harmful gases and VOCs into the air long after their manufacturing. Instead of dumping your innerspring mattresses into the landfill every few years, go for mattresses made from 100% natural latex.
4️⃣ Paint
If you have ever been exposed to fumes emanating from paints that causes irritation in your eyes or nose, you probably are aware of their toxic nature!
The harmful pigments, solvents, and VOCs found in the paints are therefore not only bad for the environment but lethal for us humans too. You should therefore opt for non-toxic and VOC free paint before painting your bedroom.
✅ Before buying such paints, see to it that the production employs water conservation, low waste production, and reduced toxic emission.
At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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The thought of going more eco-friendly in your daily life may be something that has crossed your mind a few times. Some may be turned off the idea, as it may seem initially daunting, and others may be convinced that they do not have the time or resources to live a more environmentally friendly life. While it does take some effort to be more conscious of how your actions and choices affect the environment, making the shift to an eco-friendly lifestyle can bring many great benefits to your daily life.
Have a look at our 8 compelling reasons to embrace a greener lifestyle – it just may convince you to hop on that eco-friendly bandwagon!
Whilst you may not save an entire fortune overnight, making the shift by purchasing energy efficient heaters for example, can cut your electricity bill by hundreds of dollars a year. Multiply that for the next ten years and you would have saved thousands of dollars that would have otherwise gone to waste on your utility bills. Purchasing hybrid cars can also save you fuel costs – something we could all benefit from with the increasing prices of fuel these days.
Eco-friendly living in your personal life, such as the food choices you make can reap you a myriad of health benefits in the long run. If you make the shift to purchasing organic produce, this can boost both your physical and mental health and keep you healthy and happy for a long time to come. Your body is a temple, so you should only feed it with the best quality food possible, and organic is just the way to do that!
Small changes such as opting to ride a bicycle to work instead of driving or taking a taxi not only reduces the number of emissions and pollutants into the air but are a great way to keep yourself healthy and active. Walking to work or to the supermarket instead of always opting to use a vehicle ensures you hit your daily activity requirements to lead a healthy and happy life.
Water is not a renewable resource – and clean water is our planet’s most precious resource. By being water conscious, you can help reduce the strain on municipal treatment systems, ensuring that there is enough to go around. A great way to begin is for us to shift away from purchasing bottled water. This act alone can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, as well as the energy required to produce plastic bottles and in turn reduce the volume of waste dumped into our landfills.
Not only does recycling save you money and resources, but it can also be a great creative outlet for you and your family. Creating things out of recycled materials can be a great relaxing weekend activity for the entire family, ensuring everyone in the household feels involved.
Purchasing green products such as cleaning liquids and skin products will eliminate all the harmful toxins and chemicals that you breath in and that touch your skin. This is a great way of protecting your children and family from exposure to harsh chemicals that can cause long term side effects in their health.
Did you know that recycled products and furniture are known to last over 5 times longer than traditional materials? Having a green home ensures that your home is durable and costs you less money on repairs and refurbishment in the future.
When you choose to be more eco-friendly in your overall life, you are actively and effectively reducing your carbon footprint. By taking the steps to reduce the amount of pollution you contribute, you are reducing the amount of energy used, thus creating a cleaner and greener environment!
We hope that these 8 compelling reasons to embrace a greener lifestyle help you in your decision to make a change in your lifestyle, for the health and wellness of your family and for our planet – we only have one, so we need to ensure its survival for our future generations!
At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Zero-waste can be quite an overwhelming concept when you don't know where and how to start.
Zero-waste living is a journey, not a destination. After all, no one can truly live while creating zero waste. Yes, it involves many lifestyle changes, but it’s all worth it.
This isn’t an overnight lifestyle switch.
You can start by getting rid of single-use plastics such as plastic water bottles and plastic bags.
Your journey should be driven by the reasons why zero waste is important.
Not by masses of guilt after seeing how much household waste you really produce.
You need to get into the right mindset.
At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Building your own sustainable travel kit is fun and feels great knowing you are helping to protect the environment. Here are some affordable and light weight items we added to our own eco-friendly travel kit!
We throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. And the bottles that don't reach the landfill often find their way down storm drains which lead directly to the ocean. Once there, the bottles have been shown to impact wildlife. By using a refillable water bottle, you can help reduce your single use plastic consumption. CHOOSE to reuse and do it in style with The Ecofairy’s Double Wall Reusable Bottle that is perfect for traveling!
According to National Geographic, Americans use more than 100 million plastic straws each day, so choosing any sort of reusable straw is, without a doubt, commendable. But many of these straws aren’t 100% reliable or functional. Reduce your ecological travel footprint with The Ecofairy’s Reusable Silicone Straw – it's 100% reusable and plastic-free and it comes with a carrying case!
We've all heard that plastic bags are awful for the environment. What you may not know is that 5 TRILLION plastic bags are produced yearly. Ditch plastic bags when shopping! The Ecofairy’s Mesh Shopping Bag is perfect for groceries and other stuff that you want to carry. With its roomy bottom gusset, it has ample space for your items. Plus, it’s easy to clean.
Synthetic plastics are not biodegradable, which means that once they're manufactured, they're going to be with us in our landfills and oceans for hundreds if not thousands of years. Recycling can help alleviate some of these problems, but the best way to protect the earth from plastics is to replace them with more eco-friendly alternatives like Bagasse. The Ecofairy’s has 100% Eco-Friendly Compostable Cutlery and Bagasse Bowls which is durable and made from renewable plant-based resources, so it is biodegradable.
At The Ecofairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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When you try to maintain your minimalist lifestyle, it’s important to remember your WHY. Why is minimalism important to you? What purpose does it serve?
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Minimalism is an amazing tool we can use in our lives to create the life we want to live. Being able to focus on the things that are important to you is so freeing. The intentional life we choose can open doors to opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have. Minimalism is about facilitating intentional living so that we can focus on the things that are truly important to us.
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1. Be picky about the things you allow in your home.
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By being picky about what you allow into your home, you are going to facilitate your intentional life. What is most important to you in life? Are the things you’re letting come into your home going to help you with that life?
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2. Be ruthless about keeping out clutter.
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Don’t let yourself get lazy about minimalism! You’ll regret it. Save yourself time and work, by getting rid of all that clutter as fast as you can. Create your own small routines for keeping clutter out.
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Example: When you bring in the mail for the day, sort it before you set it down! Recycle the junk mail, file the things you need to keep.
When you buy new shampoo/cosmetics, throw out the old, etc.
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3. Be confident in the lifestyle you have chosen.
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Minimalism isn’t normal. Because minimalism isn’t the “cool” thing, it means we need to stand strong in our lifestyle. We can be gracious and kind to people who don’t agree, but it doesn’t mean we have to change for them. We can be confident that minimalism is a lifestyle that works for us!
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At The Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Have you ever gotten lightheaded halfway through scrubbing with a commercial cleaner and wonder what’s really in that bottle? There are many harmful chemical products on the market designed to help homeowners make chores easier. Families with members who are sensitive to chemicals or people looking to find greener alternatives to these cleaners will be happy to know that they can achieve the same clean results using eco-friendly products that are effective and leave a pleasant smell. When it comes to delivering a big eco-friendly bang for your buck, these 10 cleaners are most effective.
🟢 Sodas
There are a number of different types of sodas to use in eco-friendly cleaning. These user-friendly products are safe for children, pets, and allergen affected people. This means that if you can get them to help, supervised children can use these cleaners.
🟢 Hydrogen Peroxide
Use this safe alternative to bleach in order to eliminate mold, mildew, and stains. It kills bacteria, including dangerous strains such as salmonella. Use this liquid cleaner for any job that requires a bleaching and antiseptic cleaning without harsh chemicals.
🟢 Salt
Use this common household item to clean, disinfect, and deodorize many areas of your home. Add sodium chloride (salt) to other green cleaning agents such as lemons to remove rust. As a paste, it helps to remove burnt-on materials on pans or in the stove. Use it as a paste of flour, vinegar, and salt to clean and shine steel, gold, pewter and silver. Keep sponges germ-free and odorless by soaking them in a saltwater solution when not in use.
🟢 Vinegar
Vinegar is an excellent all-purpose cleaner with the incredible ability to cut through grease. Mix vinegar with equal parts of water in a spray bottle for glass, mirrors, and windows. Use this solution on wood floors and plastic waste containers to disinfect and deodorize. You can also apply it to the showerhead and other faucets in your bathroom to help you remove that stubborn mold. Vinegar is gentle for the home, yet it is strong enough to eliminate scale, mildew, wax build-up, and stagnant odors.
🟢 Borax
This cleaner disinfects, deodorizes, softens water, and removes stains. Although this cleaner is a natural substance, you should keep it well out of the reach of children.
Warning
Ingestion of this powder is toxic when swallowed, which makes it a good crawling insect repellent.
🟢 Soap
Soap is necessary to break down the grease and dirt associated with cleaning dirt. Choose a natural soap of whole oils/fats added with alkali. Use this versatile cleaning agent on nearly every surface in any room of your home. This cleaner comes in a variety of forms such as powder, liquid, flakes, and solid bars.
🟢 Essential Oil
Many of these essential oils have deodorizing, disinfecting, and natural cleaning properties. Mixed with eco-friendly cleaners, these oils give the home a pleasant aroma and a clean appearance. Use of eucalyptus oil sparingly as it is dangerous to children and pets.
🟢 Lemon
This bright yellow wonder can be used as a deodorizer, cleaner, and polisher. Use lemons in cleaners to give a fresh scent. The acid in lemons helps to cut through grease while killing germs and leaving your house smelling citrus fresh.
🟢 Organic Olive Oil
This tasty oil extract is great for use in many areas of the home. Use it as a spray for polishing stainless steel and wood. It will take the cracks and dryness out of leather. Remove gummy substances such as stickers or chewing gum. Add essential oil or lemon to the spray for added aroma.
🟢 Vodka
Use this alcohol to aid with the laundry to eliminate odors. Spray on windows and glass surfaces for a streak-free shine. Polish chrome and clean porcelain with a dab on a soft cloth. Fill up a glass and add an olive. Use this to clean the cobwebs from your mind and get you motivated after realizing that you have all of this cleaning to do.
Cleaning your home does not have to involve the use of protective gloves and glasses because of the harmful chemicals and toxic fumes. Green and eco-friendly ingredients such as vinegar, salt, lemons, baking soda, and distilled water can be utilized as effective and pleasant-smelling cleaners, disinfectants, and deodorizers. For only pennies, you can create a green clean home that is safe for sensitive family and pets to enjoy. You can inexpensively enjoy the clean life, thanks to these ten eco-friendly cleaners!
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It’s a sad fact that the waste that we produce every year is having an extremely negative impact on the environment, and it’s becoming more important than ever to try and cut down on the amount of waste that we create on a daily basis.
Use these tips and tricks to reduce the amount of waste that you and your family end up with at the end of the day.
1. Purchase in Bulk
Buying items in bulk actually makes sense in a number of ways. Firstly, it cuts down on the amount of packaging needed – instead of buying multiple items individually over time, rather buy a large number of them all at once. Secondly, it does save on money in the long run. Bulk items are generally discounted, so the more that you buy, the more you will have available, and the more you will end up saving thanks to the cheaper overall price of each, individual item in the pack.
2. Compost
Composting is an excellent way of getting rid of all the organic waste that you get from cutting vegetables and other food items. Instead of throwing them into the trash, rather consider building a small compost heap somewhere on your property. It’s a cheap and surprisingly easy method of turning old, unusable organic material into something that can be used later down the line. The end result is a dark, rich substance known as humus, which is the perfect stuff to start planting your own garden. Compost can also be left for long periods, allowing you to follow other activities.
3. Replace Paper with Cloth
Paper towels, napkins, and cleaning wipes all make our lives that much more convenient, but they also add to the tremendous amount of waste that we’re seeing being dumped in landfills every year. Old cloth works just as well, and can be taken form used clothing, bedding, towels, and so much more.
4. Pay Bills Online
It’s still standard practice for most companies to send their bills via physical mail, which contributes to the ever-growing problem of paper waste. Most of these companies will also offer the choice of selecting the method of bill delivery, which will almost always include an online option, allowing to do everything from your computer, and to avoid having those annoying envelopes all over the house.
5. Buy Reusable Bottles
One of the biggest problems that the environment is facing at the moment is the overabundance of one-time use items, such as disposable cups and packages. Rather than purchasing disposable items on a daily basis, such as a bottle of water, consider instead buying a long-term reusable water bottle that you can take with you everywhere, and won’t ever need to throw away.
This can be difficult to do at first, we’ve grown up to having things a certain way. But, cutting down on waste can be easy, quick, and ultimately end up saving you money in the long run.
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The future is in your hands …
“Let us face it, there is no planet B.”
Here are ways you can reduce your impact on the planet.
At The Ecofairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Healing the Earth, our Mother, is something that is more urgent than ever and, hopefully, it is not too late. It is, however, very much true that by healing Mother Earth we will also be healing ourselves and our society.
We cannot fight against Nature but we must work with Her, with our Mother, the Earth. Only that way can we ever have a harmonious society where everything is in balance, more or less.
The thing that we must do is to start on a new course. A course that will reduce the pressure on the Earth and which, ultimately, will lead to healing the Earth and healing us at the same time.
It can be done... So, let's do it! The job needs to begin now...
At the Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
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We made plastic,
we depend on plastic,
but now we're drowning in plastic.
More than 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year, equal to dumping a garbage truck of plastic every minute. As much as 80 percent of all litter in our oceans is made of plastic.
In our everyday life, we're depending too much on plastic without knowing that it does not easily decompose. Plastic isn’t biodegradable, which accentuates the threat of lingering plastic waste for years and for generations to come.
Plastic threatens the existence of life underwater right from smaller fishes to huge mammals and amphibians in several ways. Reports say that around one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed every year due to plastic ingestion. Unfortunately, several marine species are on the verge of extinction because of such type of ocean pollution.
Be a part of the solution, not part of the pollution.
REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE
At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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The world we are experiencing today is the result of our collective consciousness, and if we want a new world, each of us must start taking responsibility for helping create it.
With everything that’s happening in the world right now, you may be wondering “who will save the planet?” The answer is all of us, working together, to take actions big and small that have a lasting impact.
See, every day we make choices that may seem inconsequential in the moment but they do add up over time. The good news is that by making some simple tweaks to our habits, we can all live a sustainable life.
It's no secret that industrial agriculture and factory farmed meat is bad for the environment. So, cut down on read meats and processed foods, get most of your food from local farmers who use sustainable practices, and eat more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts to reduce your impact. This action will help reduce global GHG emissions, decrease deforestation, and protect our global freshwater supply. It's also good for your health!
Our overconsumption of cheaply made, single-use goods is wrecking the planet and creating 60,000 garbage trucks full of waste every day. So, try to fix what you have, purchase things that will last, and think about the entire life cycle of each item. After all, knowing that plastic toothbrush will take at least 300 years to break down should change your perspective. And when you do need to make purchases, try to get the most eco-friendly version to reduce your impact.
Have a leaky faucet? You could be pouring 90 gallons of water down the drain. Every. Single. Day. If you aren’t sure how to fix it, there’s a YouTube video for that! And while we’re on the subject, avoid buying bottled water. The micro plastics are bad for you, and people around the world buy 1 million plastic drinking bottles every minute, which go right into our oceans to harm aquatic life. The best solution? Install a filter on your tap and find out more ways to reduce water waste.
At The Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Rethink how you view natural resources. Understanding that natural resources are limited can greatly influence the choices you make in your everyday life.
When purchasing items, remember the words of L.N. Smith, "Every dollar you spend or don't spend is a vote you cast for the world you want to live in." It is critical to realize that every choice you make is very important to the health of the planet.
One way to rethink about the choices you make is to conduct an at-home waste audit. This will allow you to see areas of your life that cause the most waste. The waste audit might show you that you go through a large number of plastic water bottles. To reduce this, consider using the same water bottle over and over again. For a more durable option, consider purchasing a reusable water bottle that will last, such as stainless steel or glass. You will find that not only are you saving the environment by not purchasing bottled water, but you're also saving your wallet! If you have concerns about tap water, there are many water filters available for purchase at local stores and online.
Sustainability defines refuse as refusing to accept or support products or companies that harm the environment. One way to do this is to refuse items that are over-packaged or packaged in plastic. While it is difficult to refuse all plastic items, being more conscious can help change your habits.
A great way to refuse over-packaged items is to start your grocery shopping in the produce section. Not only is this a healthier option, but also the more environmentally conscious option. Avoid produce wrapped in plastic. Once you find the package-free produce, use a reusable produce bag instead of the plastic produce bags offered in the market.
When you purchase an item, say a can of tomato sauce, think about how you are paying for the sauce AND the jar or container it comes in. Look around your home to find the various ways the products you purchase are packaged. Since you are paying for this packaging - why not make the most of it? There are endless ideas online. If you cannot reuse an item, share it with someone else; this is called re-homing. You can donate to a local thrift store or share with your neighbor next door.
Before disposing of an item, consider the ways in which it could be repurposed or repaired. There are many exciting ways household items can be repurposed and repaired.
At The Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Know that small steps make significant differences; you have a ripple effect by being informed and living a life indicative of your standpoint. When we are told, we can make better decisions and greener choices.
Here’s the list of baby steps you can do to help our environment:
1. Make changes at home: We should all reuse what we can and reduce using packaged produce by shopping at a local farmers market as well as composting. Switch off appliances not in use, reduce water waste and use solar energy where possible.
2. Walk or bike when you can: Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, but your overall level of health will improve and you will save money on parking and petrol.
3. Make plants our best friends: When gardening, select plants that are well suited to your climate and require minimal watering (like legumes) and attention. Better yet, plant a tree, and it will provide shade and soak up carbon from the atmosphere.
At The Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
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Here are the 5 Ways to Help the Environment:
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The future of life on Earth depends on how we address the problems we are facing now, such as climate change, pollution and deforestation.
Here are the 5 Ways to Help the Environment:
Recycling is the process of converting waste into reusable material. You can do this by collecting recyclable materials such as plastic and aluminum. Recycling can benefit your community and the environment by reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, conserving natural resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to the global climate change, and helping sustain the environment for future generations. As though this wasn't enough, you can also get paid for it by certain companies. Recycling also helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States for future generations.
Walking or biking can make you healthier by increasing the strength of your muscles and cardiovascular system, and who doesn't like the extra cash by reducing the cost of parking and gas? If your destination is too far to walk or bike, consider carpooling with friends and coworkers.
Conserving energy is a big way to help the environment. It might not seem like much to just turn off your lights, but when you consume less power, you reduce the number of toxic fumes released by power plants. To conserve energy, you can start turning off lights that you're not using or by using natural light instead of electricity. You can also purchase fluorescent bulbs, which reduce energy use by up to 75 percent.
An estimated 50 percent of all household water usage is wasted. It goes down the drain while people wait for it to warm up or evaporates more quickly than it needs to. The Earth's fresh water supply is diminishing due to pollution and drought, so it's important to conserve all the water we can. You can conserve water by turning off and fixing leaky faucets and reducing how much water you use for daily activities.
If you don't recycle the bottles of water that you own, it can easily become plastic waste that will affect our oceans and lakes. The biggest pollutant for bodies of water is plastic and trash, so a good way to help reduce the number of plastic wastes is to keep reusable water bottles that you can refill. This can greatly lessen the amount of trash that ends up in our waters.
At The Ecofairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
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Here are some ways to prevent deforestation:
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Trees have been around for millions of years, even longer than humans. Long ago, you can always find forests with trees that are so tall and healthy. Trees are essential to humans and animals in every way. They give life, food and shelter to every human and animal. They provide oxygen for people to breathe and absorb carbon dioxide that comes from humans, cars, and many others. They also absorb other pollutant gases that may harm human health and the atmosphere. They reduce heat by providing shade to our homes and buildings. But aside from these benefits, they are also used for industrialization.
Because of the increasing demand for wood and other products made from parts of a tree, deforestation became rampant. In an instant, rainforests in different countries have declined dramatically. More and more trees were being cut to make way for buildings, roads, and houses.
Here are some ways to prevent deforestation:
1. Use Recycled Items
Nowadays, few companies have started to manufacture paper, books, and grocery bags from recycled materials. By purchasing and using recycled products, more companies will no longer use new and raw materials in manufacturing items.
2. Tree Care
Stop cutting trees especially the young ones. Do not cut trees unless it is for safety reasons.
3. Coals
During the winter season, use charcoals instead of firewood for making a fire. Fallen logs can be used in making coals. Also, the use of coals is better than firewood because it lasts longer so cutting of more trees or logs will be lessened.
4. Reforestation
Start planting trees. Every single person should start to plant and care for a tree. This will help replace the trees that have been cut down and regrow forests.
5. Become an Advocate
Become an advocate of reforestation. Spread the word. Raise awareness by educating your friends, family, relatives, schoolmates, teachers, officemates, and every person you know. Use social medias and share so it can reach everyone and they will see how things really are.
6. Support Conservation Organizations
There are several organizations that are making efforts to preserve and restore forests. Some of these are Greenpeace, World Wide Fund for Nature, Community Forestry International, and Conservation International. So, find one in your town and give them your support through contributions of your time, money, or actions.
At Ecodigester, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
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Here are tips for a green lifestyle:
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If everyone adopted a green lifestyle, we wouldn’t be having issues like global warming or deforestation. Everyone would be doing his or her part to conserve the environment. Many people pollute the environment without realizing that there is no planet B. Embracing green lifestyle influences people around you to think about the environment.
Here are tips for a green lifestyle:
The most obvious advantage of going green is that it helps you reduce environmental pollution. You should phase out plastic within your household and adopt a more sustainable way of storing food. Plastic is the leading pollutant in the environment, and it’s done too much damage as it is.
When you use solar energy instead of electricity, your energy bills are significantly offset. You can make use of solar energy during the summer to power your households.
Going green also means conserving the resources available to you. You can begin by establishing a tradition of planting trees. Ensure you involve your whole family so that your kids grow up with these values instilled in them. Aside from solar energy, you can also use water from streams to irrigate your garden.
If you’re going green, you’ll have to embrace gardening. It’s the best way of ensuring you and your household eat clean food. Buying food in the market is tricky today because many use chemicals to speed up the growth of fruits and vegetables. Farming is an excellent way of managing stress without seeing a psychologist.
Environmentally-friendly products are significantly cheaper in the market. This means that going green will save you a few bucks each time you go shopping. You can then use the money on more important things. With today’s economy, you can appreciate cheaper products.
Going green means leading a healthier lifestyle because your diet will majorly consist of fruits and vegetables. These foods have all the nutrients you need to live longer. Even if you are a beginner in gardening, it’s easy to start growing your food at home using an indoor hydroponic system. You’ll avoid many lifestyle diseases that end up costing you a lot in hospital bills.
At The Ecofairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer you products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
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Sustainability is not a trend. It is a lifestyle
Sustainability means adapting. It means not thinking of our planet as a resource to extract for our own profit, but as our home.
As such, sustainability is a mindset and a lifestyle change. By this, I mean understanding that everything we own is made out of materials, needs energy, and involves some form of human labor. Recognizing this requires us to appreciate the things we own, reusing them, and caring for and about them, as opposed to only looking at what to buy next.
For businesses to be sustainable, they need to restructure their whole business model. And for us as consumers, it means rethinking our entire lifestyle. Buying a bamboo toothbrush means nothing if we are not ready to rethink our consuming, eating, or travelling habits.
Yes, it’s a big and radical change. And as such, it needs to be done slowly, one step at a time. As with every lifestyle change, it is not about reaching perfection. It is about working with what we have and looking for things to change in our everyday lives, to make it last. After all, if you cannot do it forever, it’s unsustainable.
At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Reducing your environmental impact at home is a rewarding challenge. You might foot a higher bill at the checkout, but annual energy and water savings make it worthwhile. Additionally, you get the satisfaction of knowing you’re doing your part to reduce humanity's acceleration of global warming.
But making the switch at home, where you’re master of your domain, is the easy part.
Reducing your workplace’s environmental impact is a very different story. You’ve got budgets to adhere to. You’ve got workflow that can’t be disrupted by renovations. You’ve got a boss that is resistant to changing the status quo.
Here are 8 easy ways you can gradually reduce your workplace’s impact on the environment (and save money).
At The Eco Fairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
🔥SHOP NOW!
👍 https://amzn.to/36egosw
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Plastic waste is a viable partial replacement for sand in structural concrete, according to a new study by researchers from the UK and India. Their findings could help businesses in India dealing with a sand shortage while at the same time addressing the country’s immense plastic waste problem.
The study shows that replacing sand with similarly sized and shaped waste plastic particles from ground up plastic bottles produced concrete that was almost as strong as conventional concrete mixtures.
The researchers calculated that replacing 10% of sand in concrete with the plastic waste could save 820 million metric tons of sand a year. They tested the approach on concrete tubes and cylinders using five types of plastic particles in a variety of sizes. Ground up recycled plastic bottles that were graded to match the sand had the best performance.
Every day, 15,000 tons of plastic gets dumped in the country’s streets due to a lack of suitable recycling facilities. The cost of sand is also rising, to the point where unregulated extraction from riverbeds is an enormous problem.
Globally, concrete accounts for about 9% of a new building’s budget even though it is responsible for nearly half the building’s carbon dioxide emissions, the researchers noted. Each year, 4.2 trillion kilograms of cement is manufactured, resulting in about 1.9 cubic meters of concrete for every person on the planet.
Major companies that produce cement, which is an important ingredient in concrete, have struggled to decarbonize. The companies that come out on top in the research are addressing emissions by having new, highly efficient plants while also using many alternative materials that have lower emissions.
At the EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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If you could change the world, leave it a better place than how you found it, what would you do? Who would you love? What would you improve?
It always seems easier to let the world pass by and let others do all the hard work. But what would happen if all 8 billion of us sat and watched the world pass by without advocating for the causes and actions we truly believed in?
The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges we face today. Earth will eventually revive itself but humanity might not. If there was one thing, I had to accomplish in this lifetime it would be to leave the earth a better place than I found it by prioritizing social and environmental justice with every decision I make and action I take.
At the EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Find out how...
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but also the most wasteful time of the year. The amount of trash in the United States increases by an estimated 25 percent between Thanksgiving and Christmas, according to the National Environmental Educational Foundation. Some of us may wonder, is it even possible to have a zero-waste Christmas?
We’re not telling you this to be a Grinch. Rather, we all have opportunities to make better choices towards a zero-waste Christmas with small changes in how we celebrate. By making deliberate choices about holiday food, gift wrapping, presents, and tree, you can aim for a zero-waste Christmas – or close to it – this year.
Here’s our guide for how to do just that, one choice at a time.
How to minimize food waste during the holidays
Holidays are often centered around food, and can be a potential source of enormous food waste. You can make strides towards a zero-waste Christmas with deliberate choices about the food you purchase and eat.
How can you reduce food waste during the holidays?
There are lots of ways to reduce food waste in your home, and they are good ideas all year round – not just during the holiday season. Here are 7 ways to help you have a zero-waste Christmas:
What are zero-waste alternatives to wrapping paper?
You don’t have to give up your traditions of giving gifts to the ones you love. However, gift wrap generates an enormous amount of waste, so clearly, this is an area where our choices seriously matter.
You can create less waste by altering how you wrap your gifts (or deciding not to wrap them at all). One of the savviest zero-waste decisions you can make around the holidays is to save wrapping paper, tissue paper, bows, and ribbons to reuse each year. You can reuse wrapping paper if it is unwrapped carefully, or you could invest in reusable fabric gift wrap. Save your gift boxes and gift bags as well, and reuse them throughout the year for birthdays and other holidays.
If you want to purchase new wrapping paper, opt for eco-friendly versions. The dyes and inks in most wrapping paper make it difficult to pulp during recycling. Skip glittery, foil, metallic, laminated and wax-coated wrapping papers, all of which can’t be recycled.
Skip the cellophane and tinsel, which can’t be recycled, and opt for recyclable tissue paper instead. And instead of buying gift tags, make your own by cutting shapes from holiday cards that you receive.
Want to get in touch with your crafty side? There are some creative zero-waste alternatives for wrapping paper:
You can also not wrap gifts at all. Wrapping presents may be a tradition, but you can make a new tradition of ‘naked’ presents. Does that gift certificate really need to be put in a box and wrapped with paper? Does that bottle of champagne really require a ribbon and tinsel? A gift — and a smile — may be all you need.
How do I shop sustainably for the holidays?
“Shop local.” You’ve heard it before and, yup, we’re about to say it again. Shopping within your community from local businesses keeps the carbon footprint low.
Despite the shipping and transport footprint, online shopping actually can potentially leave a lower carbon footprint than shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. However, our collective addiction to same-day or two-day shipping creates a larger carbon footprint, as expedited shipping means partially empty trucks are dispatched just to get you your packages quickly.
Here are six strategies for sustainable, zero-waste holiday shopping:
What are some zero-waste Christmas gift ideas?
It’s easier than ever before to shop sustainable and climate neutral products, with more eco-conscious gifts on the market.
Vegan spirits for your brother? Upcycled fashion for your sister? Sustainable undies for babe? Eco-friendly art supplies for your kids? Vegan beauty for your mom?
Need some help with other zero-waste gift ideas? Here are some ideas for holiday presents we’d love to receive:
What is the most sustainable Christmas tree option?
It can be confusing to figure out whether real trees or artificial trees are more sustainable — the ultimate “paper or plastic” question.
Studies have shown that the vast majority of households use artificial Christmas trees. If you own an artificial tree, the best zero-waste option is to continue using it. But we don’t recommend that you purchase a new one.
Artificial trees are made out of a type of plastic called PVC, which creates hazardous waste and emissions during manufacturing, and can be hard to recycle.
Ultimately, the most sustainable Christmas tree option is a potted, living tree that can be replanted. You may choose to plant your Christmas tree in your own yard after the holiday season is over, but there are also plenty of companies that rent out living Christmas trees in December and January.
Last but not least, you can make sustainable choices with your Christmas lights. Energy Star–certified lights use 75 percent less energy, so, make sure those sparklers are LED — not incandescent.
Christmas can be a time of overindulgence and over-consumption, but it doesn’t have to be that way. And being a little bit more mindful during the festive season won’t dampen your holiday spirit. This is the time of the year where we are surrounded by the people that we hold dear in our hearts and that is the true beauty in it!
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At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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Eco-friendly products have a bit of a rep for being more expensive and strenuous on our wallets...
And while this is generally true (sustainable products tend to be more expensive), they usually end up being cheaper in the long run.
First things first - the reason why eco-friendly products are generally more expensive is because of supply chain implications. It is not easy making products that have minimal impact on the environment – and extra costs come with a higher degree of difficulty.
Secondly, if you weigh it in over time, you end up saving money in the long run when opting for reusable, sustainable products.
Take razors for example. A 4-pack of disposable razors costs around $5. And the life of these razors ends up being 3-8 shaves. This means that you'll most likely be finished with your pack in 6 weeks.
At this rate, you'll be spending $30 a year on disposable razors - that go straight to landfill after you use them.
A reusable razor on the other hand- isn't only higher quality (allowing you to go longer between shaves) - but it costs around $30 and last years. You only need to top up on blades which only cost around $3 for a 5-pack, and generally last 8-10 shaves because the blades are more high-quality.
Over time - the eco option is not only more environmentally-friendly - but wallet-friendly too.
The same goes for moon cups. Recent research has revealed that the average woman spends $13.25 a month on menstrual products - $159 a year.
A moon cup, on the other hand, costs around $60 and lasts up to 10 YEARS!
The bottom line is - eco-friendly products are more expensive than traditional products - right now because demand is lower, and they cost more to produce.
However, they may save your wallet in the long run as they tend to last years as opposed to months.
Secondly, by purchasing eco-friendly products, you are telling the manufacturer "this is what I want to purchase, make more of it" - which over time will lead to more green products being produced and less toxic ones. This should also lead to a price decrease for the consumer (law of demand).
At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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The reason living a sustainable lifestyle is important is pretty straightforward – if we don’t take care of the environment, we reduce our quality of life here on Earth, natural resources will grow scarce, and animal populations will be in danger of becoming extinct. We risk some pretty grave dangers if we don’t make a change, and make it soon.
The good news is that sustainable living is the root of this change, and there are things you can do at home, in your community, and around the world to do your part to protect the planet. Sustainable living for beginners doesn’t need to be difficult.
It is only a matter of time before becoming sustainable isn’t an option anymore – it is something we must do if we want to protect life on Earth.
Credit Photo @thesustainablebleseed
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Simple actions such as recycling your plastic containers instead of tossing them in the trash, or choosing to walk instead of driving your car, do make a difference. In fact, it is often the little steps taken by many that have the most significant impact. We don’t have to rely on a big business to make all the changes. Our daily actions are important too.
What actions can you take to make a positive change in your life? How can you adjust your daily routine to make it more environmentally friendly? How about starting with these five simple steps:
Start by looking around your house. Donate or sell items you no longer need. Re-purpose items you may not have used in a while. Simply use what you already have. Once you’ve done this, look at how you can reduce your consumption. Only buy those items you can really use.
Practicing “root to stem” or “root to leaf” cooking is another way to minimize food waste and help the environment. Instead of cutting the stems or leaves off certain vegetables and throwing these away, find recipes you can use which incorporate these parts. Once you’ve used as much of the vegetable as you can, compost or regrow the rest. Composting the veggie remains gives new life to other plants and vegetables. Regrowing veggies from kitchen scraps can give you more food for less money while preventing unnecessary waste.
You can curb your energy consumption by unplugging appliances and electronics not in use. Open windows or doors during the cooler evening hours to help air out your home and bring down the temperature naturally. Although you may not want to cool down your home at night during the winter months, you should air it out periodically to help reduce indoor air pollution. Doing this is better for you and for the environment.
During the daytime hours, blinds can be pulled closed to keep the house cool or opened to let in natural sunlight instead of using energy by turning on lights.
Ways you can conserve water include:
Carpooling to and from work is one way to make a difference. You should also avoid idling whenever possible. Keep up with recommended, routine maintenance on your vehicle. Make your next vehicle a hybrid. Bike, walk or take public transportation at least a few times a week rather than drive your vehicle.
At The EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com
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