Every day, we enact behaviors that adversely affect our surroundings. From the mundane – such as brushing teeth or commuting to work – to more eccentric habits such as taking selfies in natural settings or shopping at trendy clothing stores; each action has an impact on the environment!
Our daily habits can be detrimental to the environment, wasting resources like water and energy while also contributing towards exacerbating global warming. From toothbrushes to deodorant sticks – common items are all capable of creating an impact on the planet’s ecosystem when used appropriately.
To illustrate, let’s take a look at how some common products can potentially add up to a significant environmental footprint.
1. Buying pre-packaged foods and drinks
Food and beverage packaging is one of the most common forms of non-recyclable waste we generate. This includes everything from tin cans to plastic bottles and jars, as well as aluminum foil for use with cakes or pastries; multi-unit packages such as pizza boxes and hot dog containers; along with more complex offerings such as cereal boxes – all requiring recycling when disposed of.
With pre-packaged goods, you are usually paying less than if you were to prepare your own products from scratch. However, even so many dollars’ worth of convenience can be costly. For example: a jar of salsa with lids that goes into a refrigerator costs just pennies compared to making that same batch at home where it’d run about $1.50!
2. Using plastic straws and disposable water bottles
Have you ever considered that your plastic straw–which is often discarded once its use has been fulfilled–is an example of disposable consumption?
Some may argue that all materials are renewable, but plastic is not one of them. Even though new bottles can be refilled with water from the tap, this entails a lot of effort and takes up space in landfills eventually. Plus, there’s no guarantee that any item will remain intact for long enough before it suffers from degradation – which is why it’s best to let nature take its course!
The most sensible option is to bring along your own reusable straws when on a trip out or at an event. You’ll be helping save the environment by taking a step toward reducing plastic waste!
3. Using excess energy for lighting and appliances
There is a seemingly endless array of lighting options for the home, ranging from conventional incandescent or halogen bulbs to LEDs and neon lights. Your selection depends largely upon personal preference and budget.
Efficient light fixtures can help you save on utility costs while preserving the planet. When selecting one, consider the following:
Do not forget to use timers so that your lighting doesn’t stay on during waking hours; moreover, consider investing in occupancy sensors where feasible – this could help ensure that the lights won’t stay on unnecessarily.
4. Excessive use and disposal of paper products
If you’re aware of the plight faced by our planet, then surely finding ways to reduce your consumption of paper products should be high up on that list. Despite their ubiquity in society – from school assignments and correspondence to shopping lists – many are unaware of the detrimental impact this type of material has on global ecosystems and its finite supply.
The sheer volume of trees required to generate one tonne of pulp for a single-use plastic bag is astonishing, amounts which must be factored into any calculation before making a decision regarding consumer behavior.
As we all know, the majority of single-use grocery bags are never even used once before being incinerated or discarded so as to avoid creating an impressionable littering issue! So, how do we effectively tackle this problem?
