There are many ways that we can help reduce environmental pollution. Eventually, a lifestyle change is needed if we really want to maximize our efforts. We all know that will take some time. In the meantime, we can start by using eco-friendly alternatives for our daily items.
Reusable Water Bottle
A reusable water bottle is the first eco-friendly alternative that we all should switch to right away. Make good use of them to replace disposable paper cups and having to buy mineral or distilled water in plastic bottles. Not only will you be saving money from buying less beverages when going outside; you can also help reduce the number of plastic bottles ending up in landfills and in the ocean. Remember, plastics are forever.
Reusable Straws
Since we’re talking about beverages, reusable straws are also easily available as a sustainable replacement to plastic straws. There are bamboo straws, metal straws, glass straws and even silicon straws for you to choose from. Bamboo straws are the most eco-friendly. Metal straws and glass straws come in a variety of colors and sizes to suit your needs. Silicon straws are more portable and convenient to pack for everyday use.
Rechargeable Batteries
Batteries can cause water and soil pollution when they get thrown into a landfill as they have many toxic chemicals as their main components. Use rechargeable batteries as an eco-friendly alternative. Aside from being more long lasting; they can also help you save on storage space and money since you don’t need to keep buying new batteries. You only need to recharge them every time they run out of power. Also, remember to dispose your electronic items properly to help reduce toxic contamination into the environment.
Natural Personal Care
A lot of the products we use for personal care have ingredients like microplastics that do not decompose and end up polluting the oceans and killing marine life. They may also contain chemicals that are toxic to the soil and can kill vegetation. If these can harm the environment; how can it not be harmful to our bodies as well? So on your next shopping run for personal care items, look for products with natural ingredients as they are also biodegradable. You can even create your own beauty remedies at home. There are many shampoo and conditioner bars that are great eco-friendly alternatives to bottled shampoo. They are also very convenient to pack when traveling.
Reusable Shopping Bags
Nowadays, eco bags are easily available as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic grocery bags and paper bags. Invest in a good eco bag that’s made of sturdy material such as canvas which are also washable. Or you can opt for one that’s easy to clean with just the wipe of a washcloth for grocery items that tend to be moist or wet. There are also biodegradable trash bags for lining your garbage cans at home. Plastic bags are one of the most common plastic wastes collected in landfills and making their way into the oceans, poisoning marine life.
These are just some of the item swaps that you can implement right away as your first step into a more sustainable lifestyle.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Anna Oliinyk on Unsplash.