How to Minimize Your Environmental Impact?

Take eco-friendly steps to reduce single-use plastic waste, like using reusable bags, changing shaving routines, composting food scraps, and avoiding fast food and fast fashion.

Fremont, CA: It's becoming increasingly important to be environmentally friendly as every action, no matter how small or how large, impacts the environment. It's important to be environmentally conscientious, but you can't always find ways to do it. Here are some easy ways to try:

Going Reusable

A single-use plastic bag consumes 30 billion barrels of oil a year in the U.S., most of which end up in landfills. A sustainable way to reduce single-use plastics is to buy reusable bags, like mesh produce bags and silicone food storage bags. While cotton bags are more environmentally friendly, it only takes 131 uses to beat plastic and 11 uses to beat non-woven polypropylene. It's worth checking out reusable bags at your local grocery store.

Shift Up Your Shaving Routine

It's estimated that over 2 billion disposable razors end up in landfills every year, and it's likely to get more prominent in the future. It's better to use metal safety razors, which only need a new blade when you change them, but they're more environmentally friendly. You usually get a lot of packs of blade refills for cheaper than disposable razors.

Composting Food Residues

The waste that's deposited in landfills every year is food scraps, which can only decompose if they're adequately aerated. They make methane, which is 80 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide to the environment. Composting is a great way to prevent food waste from going to landfills. By breaking down organic waste into fertilizer, you reduce how much you have to discard in landfills.

A Seasonal, Local, or Organic Diet

Using organic products can reduce pesticide pollution, but they aren't always cheap. Vendors at farmer's markets or stands can give you a less expensive alternative. This helps the economy and reduces the environmental impact, too. Buying in-season produce can help you save a lot of money on long-distance transportation costs.

Being Mindful With Clothing

Ethical concerns can make it challenging to choose sustainable clothing. But here are some tips: use cold water, air dry, change the washing machine temperature, buy a pill shaver, fix small holes, and reattach buttons. Fast fashion brands fall apart fast, and 87% of them end up in landfills.