Although Earth Day is over, there’s no reason not to start thinking about how you can reduce your environmental impact in the coming year. It is important to remember that many of the most meaningful actions we can take for a healthier planet are not just one-time grand gestures. Instead, they are small changes in our daily lives.
Berkshire Food Co-opGreat Barrington is committed towards making sustainability easy and accessible by addressing household waste. Here are five easy ways that the Co-op could help you incorporate Earth Day spirit into your daily household routine.
1. Avoid the box and buy bulk
The Co-op encourages its customers to bring their containers to fill in bulk department.
Bulk departments can be a great place for cutting down on grocery-related waste. Bulk departments are a great place to start cutting down on your grocery waste.
Berkshire Food Co-op encourages customers not to use plastic bags and to bring their own reusable storage containers. Devorah Sawyer, Co-op Marketing Manager, explained that you only need to weigh your container and note the tare weight. Then fill it with food and bring it to register.
Non-Owners and Owners alike can visit the bulk section to find the usual nuts and beans. They also have grains, oats flour, granola and rice. You can also find storage containers at the Co-op, such as those made by Life Without Plastics, that you can use and bring back to the market for your next visit.
2. Think long-term when it comes to food storage
Food storage products have become increasingly disposable in recent decades. These range from the simple sandwich baggie to light-duty, inexpensive bins that can last up to one round in the fridge.
Even stronger, reusable plastic containers still have their problems. They are primarily made from petroleum-based materials.
Plastics have more harmful effects on the environment that we can list, starting with the extraction of raw materials and ending up in mountains of non-biodegradable trash.
Living without PlasticCanadian company, replaces plastic storage, shopping bags, lunch bags, and other household essentials with more sustainable options made from glass, wood and stainless steel. All materials are ethically sourced and meet high standards for safety, environmental impact, and work conditions.
Life Without Plastics food storage options can keep food fresher than their single- or limited use plastic counterparts. They are also less likely to expose your leftovers to chemical contamination or support exploitative production methods.
3. Get rid of clutter and clean up after yourself
Marley’s Monsters’ UnTowels, a colorful, reusable substitute for disposable paper towels, are available.
Although paper towels might seem innocuous compared to the plethora of cleaning chemicals that we keep under the kitchen sink, each roll produced contributes towards deforestation. This reduces the number carbon dioxide-consuming trees and is an important natural defense to the rising levels in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that contribute to global heating.
Murphy’s Monsters’ UnTowels are self-adhering and can be wrapped around any existing paper towel holder.
Enter the UnTowelMarleys Monsters is a Eugene, Oregon-based brand. Each 12X10 UnTowel has serged edges and is made from 100% cotton flannel.
They can be reused and machine washed. In fact, they became more absorbent after the first few washes. UnTowels can be wrapped around regular paper towels tubes and displayed on an existing towel holder due to their self-clinging nature. They will look great! UnTowels are available in a variety of bright colors and whimsical prints that are almost impossible to get dirty.
4. Reuse what you have
Berkshire Food Co-op offers ReCap products that convert mason jars to storage containers, spray bottles, and other useful household tools.
You can make your own reusable containers by using products that you already have or are readily available. This skips the need to recycle and allows you to make something new without requiring energy to break down or reform those materials.
ReCapWith a variety of screw-on lids, the mason jar can be transformed into a multi-tasking machine. Sprayers, pumps, and shakers inserts are a convenient and refillable option to single-use bottles.
5. Ditch disposables
Look at what you are buying, using, throwing away, and replacing on a daily basis. Consider whether any of these items can be replaced with products that have a longer shelf life. Companies are focusing on making stronger, more reusable alternatives as waste reduction becomes more important to American households.
The Co-op will be adding members. Zero Waste ClubIts selection of multi-use products includes a variety of products. Zero Waste Club is based in the UK and focuses on creating eco-friendly and ethically-produced alternatives to many of the most commonly used disposable items in our daily life: biodegradable trash bags, bamboo travel tools, and reusable metal coffee filters, and tea strainers.
It is possible to make small changes in the right direction to transition to a more sustainable lifestyle. Visit the Co-op to find out more about the simple changes that you can make to make Earth Day a year-long celebration.