Enjoy the environment in 2022, and find ways to support nature and communities.Cavan Images via Getty Images
Many people think of New Year’s resolutions and brainstorm ways to improve their lives for the coming year. What if those resolutions were expanded to include goals that benefit our communities, society, and the planet?
This might not be a common approach, but it can open up your horizons and show you how you can be of assistance to others.
Here are four Popular New Year ResolutionsThis is a twist on how to improve your relationship to nature in 2022 and beyond.
Take more care to consider how your actions may impact the environment
Each of us have an Environmental ethicThis is how we view, manage and ultimately relate towards nature. This relationship can be improved by balancing the reciprocity between us, nature, and how much we give and take. Our addictions can be a problem. One-use plasticsThese materials can be disposed of in landfills. fossil fuelsWhile we can heat the planet, a poor relationship with nature is not good for us or the Earth.
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In 2022, each of us can take greater responsibility for our actions that contribute to environmental degradation. We can also encourage businesses and governments to make it easier for people of different socioeconomic backgrounds to protect our environment. This includes making it affordable for recycled goods and making reliable public transportation available.
Recycling and reducing waste help create a cleaner environment that makes better use of natural resources.Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ResourcesThese are some of the easiest ways to reduce waste at your home, work, community, and holidays. You can save energy by turning off or disengaging lights during the day, recycling packaging materials, and using online billing services to bill your bills.
You can also lose the burden of social injustice that harms nature.
Social injustice can lead to many problems in society. Inequality and racism can lead to health disparitiesThey also have Consequences for the natural world.
A Recent studyRedlining and residential segregation lead to inequal access to nature, excessive pollution, and biodiversity loss. These practices Taken in HighwaysIndustries that cause environmental damage in marginalized communities. They also left behind fewer parks in the neighborhoods. Trees that provide coolingIn summer, you can help the planet.
Many communities have oil refineries and industries that overshadow homes right beyond their fences.
Perpetuating social ills such as systemic racism and Inequitable resource allocationIt is harmful to the environment, marginalized persons and society as a whole.
You can help turn this around by speaking out in your local community. Join groups that promote environmental protection and social justice, and bring nature back to your community. To urge Congress to act, call your local, state, and congressional leaders. Refer to the Green 2.0 reportThis section focuses on making diversity initiatives successful. It provides concrete ways you can implement this at work.
Learn about nature and how you can reduce harm to the environment.
Although essential for our survival, clean air, water and soil are vital, research shows that many people lack them. Environmental and health literacyLearn how to protect yourself.
Learn more about your impact on the environment in 2022. Learn more and begin to explore ways to preserve the integrity your area’s natural resources. Find out how you can keep up to date with local land-use decisions that affect the environment and your community.
Local educators can also be supported and encouraged by you to integrate the environment into your lessons. Many other subjects are affected by environmental issues, including history and health. This websiteThis includes a framework for educators to help students improve their environmental literacy.
Explore nature with your children and teach them about its wonders.Image Source/DigitalVision via Getty Images
Staying connected MediaTalking about the latest research can increase awareness. You might also consider incorporating environmental knowledge and facts into your team-building and game night activities.
Spend more time outdoors with your family and friends
Studies have shown that spending time in nature, even urban green spaces, can improve your relationships with nature and others.
Nature can extend time social cohesion. Many people found the outdoors to be a great place to relax and reduce stress during the pandemic. Spending more time outdoors can increase social interaction that benefits health. buffer emotional distressEncourage the use of these spaces. This can help to protect them in the future.
These are the details Some toolsThese guidelines outline best practices for improving parks and recreation in your area. Here are some ways to make parks and recreation more accessible. outdoor environmentsFamilies in diverse communities will be more inclusive
We can all think about how we relate to nature and find ways to protect it. This will help us be better stewards on the planet.
Viniece Jennings is a consultant to National Recreation and Parks Association for a diversity equity and inclusion initiative. She is also a colleague of Dr. Tony Reames, Harvard University’s JPB Environmental Health fellowship. Chan School of Public Health.
This article has been republished byThe ConversationUnder a Creative Commons licence
10 tips to live a plastic-free lifestyle
10 tips to lead a plastic-free (mostly) life
Every piece of plastic ever created is still available.
Plastic will not biodegrade because it can be broken down into smaller pieces. Wood, wool, or other organic matter can be broken down into soil. But plastic keeps breaking apart into smaller pieces. It can choke animals or cause internal damage, and then microplastics can be transported through the bloodstream.
Plastic production is not slowing down despite this. In fact, it has jumped from 2.3 Million tons in 1950 to 448,000,000 tons by 2015. It will likely double by 2050. The vast majority of plastic is not recycled. Many of it doesn’t even make it to landfills. About 8 million tons worth of plastic end up in the oceans. The plastic is poisonous and marine life is dying.
There are more companies offering green options for their products and containers than ever before. This is despite the fact that companies are increasingly being called to reduce or eliminate their use of plastic packaging. Consumers can also make a difference by changing demand and voting with their wallets for more sustainable options.
Rethink your wardrobe
What does spandex, nylon, nylon, acrylic and lycra have in common? They are all made of synthetic fabrics. They are shedding microplastics everytime they get washed. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates these microplastics from clothing, tires and the like are responsible for 30% of the pollution of oceans around world. The clothing will shed and then break down into smaller pieces, which can end up in soil and water, causing damage to ecosystems and organisms.
You can avoid plastics in clothing by simply looking at labels to make sure you are buying 100% cotton, hemp or other biodegradable fibres. For in-person shopping, make sure you request no plastic packaging. Shoes should be made of natural materials, with natural rubber soles, and not plastic.
If you simply need to have more stretch in your clothes, you can visit your local thrift shop. You’ll save money and keep your wardrobe essentials out the landfills. There are products available that can capture microplastics in clothing items already made with synthetic fibers.
If you don’t know what to do with your clothes and shoes, learn how to make simple modifications or repairs. Or, get to know your local cobbler or tailor. The environment will be better if you don’t buy as much and make the most of what you already have.
Make your shower and skin care routines more effective
An estimated 250 million people used bodywash in plastic containers in 2020. That’s a total of 1.4 billion bottles of bodywash that were thrown out in the last year.
Bar soaps for hair and body are sold by many vendors and companies. You can also find solid bars as deo and shave soaps.
You can use a safety razor for shaving for many years without having to constantly replace the plastic versions.
Reexamine your oral health
One billion toothbrushes end up in American garbage each year. This adds approximately 50 million pounds of waste plastic to landfills. Many end up in rivers and oceans.
Biodegradable toothpaste and (mostly!) biodegradable toothbrushes are now mainstream. You can find toothpaste in glass jars and recyclable aluminum tubes as well as tablets wrapped in ecofriendly packaging.
Amplify your to-go game
Bring along eco-friendly, reusable containers that can be used for leftovers or to drop off at the counter to help you avoid plastic waste while you are out. Ask the person who takes your order to not include the plastic pizza saver in the middle of your pizza.
Today’s reusable containers are as diverse as glass, collapsible silicon with lids, and resealable bags.
Find new ways to clean your clothes, and your home.
It is almost pointless to continue using non-sustainable cleaning products when the market is so saturated and it is so easy and economical to make your own.
You can buy concentrated refill packs, tablets, or powdered cleaners in cardboard boxes. If you’re looking for cleaning supplies that can be made at home, there are many online recipes.
Biodegradable sponges, scouring pads, and toilet brushes can be replaced by plastic components.
Be a better food-shopper
Keep reusable shopping and produce bags handy in your car, or at your door. You’ll be more likely not to forget them when you go to the market. You can also bring your own containers to a local grocery store that has a bulk food section. The employees at the store are trained to subtract the container’s weight from the total weight of each item. At the deli counter, be prepared to carry plastic-free containers.
Shop while you’re out shopping. Products withoutplastic packaging. You can find fresh bread in paper bags or at a bakery, bring your own cloth. When ordering online, pay attention to how the items are packed and shipped.
Reduce your need for packaged foods at home
Most household trash is made up of food scraps and plastic containers from food stores. It’s easy to make many of the plastic packaging items, such as mayonnaise and granola or soy or peanut milk, at home.
A glass blender or stainless-steel juicer can be a great investment.
Your workspace can be improved
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 1.6 billion pens are thrown away each year. Consider buying a refillable fountain pens if you have run out of plastic pens. They will feel luxurious everytime you use them.
It is now possible to buy compostable cellphone cases to replace plastic. Day planners, notebooks and the like can be found without plastic spines or covers.
Be mindful to use coffee mugs and glasses when you’re at work. Bring some metal silverware to your office if it doesn’t have any. Pro tip: Keep a spork of metal in your purse, car, or on your desk. Some sporks are foldable and can be carried in a wallet.
Keep your pets safe
The pet market has officially adopted waste-free living, with everything from compostable doggie bags to shampoo bars. Natural cat litter is available in paper and cardboard packaging. Many toys are made from natural fibers and woods, which can be dangerous if swallowed.
Metal bowls and troughs have a longer shelf life than their plastic counterparts. They also won’t degrade if properly maintained. You can find gently used pet carriers at yard sales and online marketplaces. This will allow you to save money.
Homemade treats are easy and require no extra packaging.
Gifts that aren’t made of plastic
Gift-giving is one of the most wasteful activities we do. Everyone loves to receive thoughtful gifts. Americans throw 25% more trash from Thanksgiving through New Years Day than any other day of the year. This is due to the fact that gift-giving is a single-use process. A greeting card can get smeared with glitter, making it unrecyclable. The wrapping tape is almost always made of plastic and the items are often made entirely or in part from plastic.
If you are looking for a gift that will last a lifetime, think about items made sustainably. You might also consider locally-sourced flowers, experiences such as tickets to a show or help with a project or a delicious meal at a restaurant, or handmade items made with sustainable materials.
This story first appeared on Almond Cow was produced and distributed in partnership by Stacker Studio.