New Clothing
Clothing has such a negative impact on the environment. The fashion industry fills up landfills at over 90 million tons a year. That’s a lot of waste! A lot of clothing is being made quicker, and cheaper. This can be beneficial to consumer’s wallets, but it’s detrimental to the environment. Clothing isn’t as durable as it used to be, so people are throwing it away in masses when their clothes degrade in quality. Not only are the clothes themselves bad for the environment, but the way clothing is made creates carbon emissions and the packaging adds to the landfill and use of resources. Purchasing secondhand clothing in person is the best way to reduce environmental damage.
Single Use Plastics
Single use plastics are everywhere, and they’re one of the worst things for the environment! Common single use plastics are plastic shopping bags, plastic straws, plastic cups, plastic water bottles, and plastic containers for beauty and personal care products. There are so many alternatives to single use plastic that are better for the environment. All it takes is making the choice and planning ahead.
Using Unnecessary Energy
According to the World Economic Forum, about two-thirds of energy use isn’t out of necessity. Things that contribute to this wasted energy are: leaving the lights on, keeping things plugged in when not in use, running dishwashers frequently, doing frequent laundry, and keeping thermostat temperatures too high or too low. Some of these can be easy fixes that over time add up and make a big difference.
Frequent Traveling
Most of us love to travel. As humans, we want to see and experience new things. However, traveling can take its toll on the environment. Flights have a negative impact on the environment as does driving, but your stay at hotels contributes to environmental damage as well. Many hotels change linens daily and are restocking tiny single use plastic bottles. Many people also buy things while on the go that they wouldn’t normally use as home like single use plastic water bottles. To enjoy more environmentally friendly travel, tell your hotel you don’t need toiletries and don’t mind not having your linens changed daily. You can also pack a reusable water bottle and reusable travel accessories.
Using Harsh Chemicals to Clean
Chemicals that are found in common cleaners can be extremely damaging to the environment once they enter the water supply by being rinsed down the drain or are evaporated into the air. These chemicals can end up affecting wildlife and humans in a negative way. Many chemicals found in common cleaning products contain hormone altering properties, which can be detrimental to human and animal health. Some chemicals have even been shown to cause cancer and reproductive problems. One of the best things you can do for the environment is use green cleaning solutions or hire a green cleaning company.
