(from @anneliesdraws)
I myself have seen the effects of climate change on the planet. If you haven't heard already, in the rockies in Canada, there has been a big infestation of Mountain Pine Beetles, which is a native insect that attacks pines in western North American forests. They "eat" the insides of pine trees and they die (that's my best description of it.)
(image from here: Jasper Travel Canada)
Read more about the topic here, but to summarize the issue, most of the beetles normally would be killed off during the winter time, but climate change has lowered temperatures and the beetles aren't dying, so are continuing to spread and harming forests.
While taking road trips across Jasper, I have seen so much red stain the greenness of the mountain views. There are forests upon forests of dead trees everywhere! A lot of these forests take years (if not centuries) to grow as green as they have in national parks like Jasper (in Canada). Seeing this sight really hurt inside.
(source link here: Edmonton Journal)
For that reason, I've become even more inspired to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle! I really believe in the quote "Change Starts at Home." Start with yourself and the way you live!
Here are some ideas on how you can be more eco-friendly!
Use bars of soap instead of shower gel
I never use shower gel bottles or unnecessary containers full of plastic. Why use the liquid soap which comes with needless packaging when you have bars that can be made in an eco-friendly way? Bars of soap can also come in needless packaging too sometimes（;・・)
If you want to go hardcore, try bringing a bar of soap when you go travelling! Refuse to use the plastic tiny shampoos and shower gels that hotels provide.
Look out for what you're buying!
Look out for what you're buying!
(earth gift - handmade herbal soaps)
Bring a reusable water bottle wherever you go
One way to reduce the usage of buying plastic water bottles. Many kids bring their own water bottles to school! When you go travelling, you can do the same thing, though it can be harder to find places where you can refill your water bottle.
If you bring a reusable water bottle, see where restaurants or bars will offer to refill your water bottle!
Glass/metal straws
Environmentally friendly straws (as alternatives to harmful plastic straws.) Coming from the link I put, National Geographic says that every day in the United States alone that it is estimated that 500 million straws are used every day! Imagine how much of the plastic can end up in the earth's oceans! ;u;
In Canada, the use of glass/plastic straws has become very popular. It's a great way to reduce the usage of these straws.
Recently, my friend who is in love with NCT 127 just bought metallic straws (one normal-width straw and another bubble tea/boba tea straw) with "Mark Lee" written on it. Glass/metal straws can be fun and save the environment at the same time!
(Stainless Steel Straws from Cheeki)
Buy local/anything with the least amount of packaging!
Sometimes when you go to the grocery store and pick up some things, you notice how much products are packaged for no reason. Unnecessary wrappings and plastic is used on everything. I've also noticed the same thing for small orders from amazon ( ๏พะ๏พ)＜!!
If you want to see some pictures on product packaging gone wrong, here's a link (to bored panda.)
By buying products from local places (like from farmers markets), maybe this can reduce a little. As a high school student, I can't control how my family will buy their products, but I'm sure that once I am living on my own, that's what I'm going to do!
Besides that, imagine how fresh the food will be! I think that consuming these foods can slow down the fast buying of supermarkets. What benefits do you think buying locally will bring to the environment?
Besides that, imagine how fresh the food will be! I think that consuming these foods can slow down the fast buying of supermarkets. What benefits do you think buying locally will bring to the environment?
(image from Northern Virginia: Farmer's Market)
No more plastic bags!
No eco-friendly list can be complete without this command. Don't use plastic bags from stores anymore! Bring your own. If you keep forgetting, keep a bunch of reusable bags in your car's trunk (this is what my family's been doing), or don't take any plastic bags at all until you remember to bring your own!
Shop from thrift stores
Check this website for more information on the benefits on thrift shopping for the environment! Re-wearing clothes reduces waste and pollution. According to the infographic I found on this website, almost 100% of clothing and textiles are recyclable, but 85% of it ends up in landfills.
We could reuse clothing from thrift stores, reduce the amount of clothing needlessly ending up in landfills, and maybe reduce production of clothing as well!
Turn off lights and unplug when you can
Keeping lights on when there's afternoon light outside or keeping too many lights on at the same time can be a big consumption of energy. I make sure that I also shut down my computer completely before going off to bed and knowing that it's fully charged. In sleep mode, the computer still takes energy.
I've also heard that keeping things plugged into the wall takes up a lot of energy. By unplugging certain devices or chargers once you're done can help reduce your usage of energy!
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And that's it for this post, my friend! I have a bunch of other ideas to include, but I'll leave them for next time. What have you been doing to be more eco-friendly? Do you believe that some methods for being eco-friendly actually affect the environment in some way?
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Willow ❤︎♬
