Enjoy the environment of 2022 and learn how to help nature and other communities thrive.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 Years 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 ethicReflecting how we value, manage, and ultimately relate with nature. This relationship can be improved in many ways by balancing the scales between us and nature on how much we give or take. Our addictions can be a problem. One-use plasticsThese materials can be disposed of in landfills. fossil fuelsAlthough we are warming the planet, a bad relationship with nature isn’t good for the Earth or us.
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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 your waste can help create a cleaner environment and better use 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. The website offers tips such as turning off or unplugging lights throughout the day, reusing packaging material, and using online billing instead of paper mail.
Reduce the social injustice that harms the environment.
Multiple aspects of society are affected by social injustice. Inequality or racism can lead you to health disparitiesThey also have The natural environment is at risk.
A Recent studiesRedlining and residential separation were described as contributing to unequal access and pollution to nature and biodiversity loss. These practices Bringing in highwaysIndustries that cause environmental damage in marginalized communities. They also left behind fewer parks in the neighborhoods. Cooling treesIn summer, you can help the planet.
Many communities have oil refineries and industries that overshadow homes right beyond their fences.
Perpetuating social problems like systemic racism 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. Call your elected officials in your state, city, and congressional offices to urge them to act. Also, see 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.
You can also help local educators and encourage them bring the environment into the classroom. There are many subjects that relate to environmental issues, from history to health. This websiteIncludes a framework and materials to assist educators in helping students increase their environmental literacy.
Learn about nature and take advantage of opportunities to share it with your children.Image Source/DigitalVision via Getty Images
Staying connected MediaTalking about the latest research can increase awareness. You can also tie environmental facts and knowledge to your game night or team-building activities.
Spend more time with your family and friends in the outdoors
Studies show that spending time outdoors, including in urban green spaces can improve your relationship to nature and others.
The beauty of nature can make time go faster social cohesion. Many people found that the outdoors was a good place to relax and reduce stress in the wake of the pandemic. Spending more time outdoors can promote social interactions that are good for your health. buffer emotional distressEncourage and encourage the use of these spaces to help preserve them for the future.
Here are some examples 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 from diverse communities are 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 fellow to Dr. Tony Reames at Harvard University’s T.H. JPB Environmental Health fellowship. Chan School of Public Health.
This article has been republished fromThe ConversationUnder a Creative Commons licence
10 tips to lead a plastic-free (mostly) life
10 tips to live a plastic-free lifestyle
Every piece ever made of plastic is still in existence.
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. Plastic keeps breaking apart into smaller pieces. It can choke animals or cause internal damage. Then, microplastics can be transported through the bloodstream.
Plastic production isn’t slowing down despite this. In fact, it has risen from 2.3 million tonnes in 1950 to 448 millions tons by 2015. It will likely double by 2050. The vast majority of plastic isn’t recycled. Many of it doesn’t even make it to landfills. Around 8 million tons of plastic end-up in the oceans. This is where marine life is dying and the water is becoming more poisonous.
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 acrylic, spandex, nylon and nylon have in common with each other? They are all made of synthetic fabrics. They shed microplastics every time they are washed. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these plastic particles are responsible for 30% of the microplastics in the oceans. This shedding is not the only problem. When the clothing item is thrown away, it will also break down into smaller pieces that can be absorbed into soil and water supplies, causing harm to ecosystems and other 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 now products that can catch microplastics from clothing items 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 be friends with your local tailor or cobbler. 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
In 2020, 250 million people used body wash in plastic containers. This equates to 1.4 billion bodywash bottles that were thrown away last year.
Bar soaps for hair and body are sold by many vendors and companies. You can also find solid bars as deodorant and shave soap.
A safety razor can be used for shaving for a lifetime without the need to 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 the oceans and waterways.
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
You can make it easy to avoid plastic when you’re out by bringing eco-friendly, reusable containers to store leftovers at the restaurant or drop off at the time you place a to-go purchase. Ask the person taking your order for pizza not to put the little plastic pizza savingr in the middle.
Today’s reusable containers are as diverse as glass, collapsible silicon with lids, and resealable bags.
Learn new ways to clean 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.
Concentrated refill packs, tablets that you can drop into a spray bottle filled with water, and powdered cleaning products that come in cardboard boxes are all available from stores. 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 bags and produce bags with you at all times. This will make it easier to remember what you bought when you go to the market. You can also bring your containers to a local grocer that has a bulk foods section. The employees at the store are trained to subtract the container’s weight from the total item weight. At the deli counter, be prepared to carry plastic-free containers.
Shop while you’re out shopping. Products withoutplastic packaging. If fresh bread is not in paper bags, ask for it to be wrapped in cloth. Be aware of how items are packed and shipped if you order online.
Reduce your need for packaged foods at home
Most household trash is made up of food scraps and plastic containers from food stores. It is possible to make many items in plastic packaging, including mayonnaise and granola, as well as soy or nuts milk, at home.
You will save a lot of money by buying items like a glass blender and stainless steel juicer, which will pay for itself many times over.
Improve your workspace
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 1.6 billion pens end up in the trash each and every year. You might consider buying a refillable fountain pen if you’ve exhausted your kitchen junk drawer of plastic pens. It will make you feel luxurious every time you use it.
To replace plastic, many cellphone cases can be made from compostable materials. You can also find day planners, notebooks, etc. 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 metal spoon in your car, purse, or at your desk. Foldable spoons can even fit in a wallet.
Keep your pets safe
Compostable pet bags and shampoo bars for cats and dogs have officially made waste-free living a reality. 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 save money by purchasing gently used pet carriers from yard sales or online marketplaces.
You can make your own treats and they don’t require any 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 toss 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Years Day than at any other time of the year. Because so much of gift-giving is one-use, such as greeting cards that are smeared in glitter and rendered unrecyclable, the card is almost as disposable as the gift wrap. The wrapping tape is almost always plastic and the gift wrap itself is often made from plastic.
Consider items that are made sustainably and will last years when it comes to gift giving. 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.