We all have a role to play in protecting the planet. As we begin the new year, here are 5 simple yet impactful sustainability goals you can adopt to help reduce your environmental footprint and contribute to a greener world.
Reduce Waste
Waste is a major environmental challenge that requires collective action. To make a meaningful impact, we need to rethink our consumption and disposal habits. Our goal for the new year is to minimize the waste we generate by considering what we buy. This can be as simple as cutting back on single-use items like plastic water bottles, straws, and plastic wraps. There are countless eco-friendly alternatives to replace these items, such as reusable water bottles, beeswax food wrap, and metal straws. If you're a daily coffee drinker, consider purchasing a reusable tumbler and bringing it with you to reduce disposable cup waste. The next time you grab a brew, ask your barista to fill it up for you. Another habit you can modify is how you handle takeout. Takeout containers are often harmful to the environment, so bring your own reusable glass containers and ask the server to fill them up instead. You could also curb your takeout habits altogether by meal prepping your food - it's not only eco-friendly but also saves time and money!
Green Your Transportation
While not everyone can easily change their commute, there are greener transportation options if you have the flexibility. Driving creates a lot of pollution, so when possible, try to walk or bike. If biking or walking isn't practical, consider switching to public transportation such as buses, subways, or streetcars to reduce your carbon footprint and help clear the air quality.
Green Up Your Plate
What you eat matters. Each food item you purchase is a vote with your dollars. You can use this opportunity to support sustainable food options, or more environmentally destructive ones. We recommend consuming more environmental food options like plant-based foods, sustainable seafood, and locally grown produce. If you’re not sure where to find items like this, ask your local grocery store or health food shop for recommendations on sustainable food options.
Shop Consciously
One of the bigger issues we all need to address is shopping frivolously, as it creates unnecessary waste and pollution. Start by evaluating your shopping habits and introducing behavioural changes into your life. Before buying something, ask yourself: “Do I really need this?" Whether it's trendy clothes or snacks you may not finish, being mindful of your purchases can reduce waste. Consider whether items you regularly buy end up going to waste, and if they do, rethink those purchases.
Conserve Water
Overconsumption of water resources is a lesser-known environmental problem all around the world. Simple changes in your daily routine can help reduce water consumption with your everyday lifestyle. For example: turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, and only run your laundry machine with a full load. These adjustments may seem small, but they do add up in helping conserve our water resources.
Keep it Cool or Hot with our Perk Partner
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