5 Tips for Eco Friendly Living
At Rosetti we’re committed to living an eco-friendly lifestyle. The average person generates about 4.6 pounds of trash per day, which includes plastic packaging, food waste, Ziplock bags, and so much more. When you begin to pay attention to how much waste your generating, the result can be shocking.
With a few simple changes, eco-friendly living can become your new normal. With these tips you can feel good about your lifestyle while helping to build a sustainable Earth!
Eco Friendly Living
Use Reusable Grocery and Produce Bags
This is one of the easiest changes to make and it has a big impact! According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the U.S. each year. The average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in just four trips to the grocery store.
Reusable grocery bags can be purchased online, from farmers markets, and in many boutiques throughout the area. You won’t have to worry about your bag breaking from the weight of groceries either as fabric totes are much stronger than plastic.
Reusable produce bags can also be found online and are just the thing to put apples, green beans, and peppers in. They’re washable and come in various sizes and materials. Say goodbye to those flimsy bags you find in the produce section!
Worried about forgetting your reusable bags? Keep some in the trunk of your car so you always them with you. Eventually it will become habit to use them.
Reusable Straws
Reusable metal straws have increased in popularity recently. Many are forgoing the straw in their drink at Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or local coffee shop in favor of this more environmentally friendly option. They’re small enough to keep in your handbag and often come in a little case so they won’t get your other belongings dirty.
Blackout Curtains
Not only are blackout curtains great for blocking out the sun, they have the ability to reduce your energy bill. During the winter, blackout curtains will help keep the heat in the room while in the summer, they have the ability to reflect heat out of the room. With blackout curtains you could reduce your energy bill up to 25%!
Go Digital
These days, almost every company gives the option to go paperless. The next time you’re at your doctor’s office, ask if they have an online portal to pay bills and receive updates. You can also do the same with credit cards and bank statements.
You can also eliminate your paper usage by asking companies to not send you catalogs or coupons in the mail. This is a slightly more time-consuming task but one that is well worth the effort. Many companies offer digital versions of catalogs and send coupons by email so there is no reason to receive physical versions.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
As you run out of your current cleaning products, make the switch to natural ones or make your own! When you use chemical in your toilets, sinks, dishwashers, or other appliances, the chemicals are eventually rinsed down the drain. The water then heads to the waste water treatment facilities where the majority of contaminants are removed before the water makes its way back to rivers and lakes. However, not all the contaminants from these chemical products are removed, and over time, they can build up to have a substantial and negative effect on the wildlife. Some compounds actually accelerate plant growth, which can lead to dense vegetation that interferes with animal life and eventually decays in equally massive quantities.
Mass-produced cleaning products also have an impact on greenhouse gases, fuel consumption, and requires disposable packaging. Making your own or reading the labels to buy environmentally friendly alternatives is simple and beneficial.
Going green doesn’t have to be difficult and has countless environmental benefits. Making small changes over time will help the whole family transition to a happier, ecofriendly way of living!