Sustainability and Reducing our Carbon Footprint
For years the topic of sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint has been discussed through various means. We hear about how using fewer disposable products is good for the environment and we discuss ways to reduce the use of fossil fuels. It is a topic of conversation, but how often do we really think about how we can make a difference and how reducing our waste could save us a lot of money in the long run. Below are a few simple steps that all of us can do to help reduce the amount of waste we generate.
Cups
Most of us attempt to be efficient with what we consume; however, many of us take shortcuts for convenience. This is not done to be wasteful but out of ease of use. Coffee companies and other businesses that sell large number of drinks use a lot of disposable cups. They are not doing it to be harmful to the environment, but because selling their product is dependent on getting the drink in a consumer’s hands quickly and for a reasonable price. Additionally, many of these same companies use a lot of plastic straws and wrappers for the same reasons. Many of us do not think about this when we go to order our morning coffee and we do not consider other options. Almost every coffee or drink shop will sell you a cup of coffee or another drink and allow you to use a reusable cup. Many of them will even offer branded reusable cups for sale and will fill them for you, sometimes at a discounted rate. Furthermore, these same cups often come with reusable straws. By simply using a reusable cup and straw most days, we will drastically reduce the amount of waste products in a week.
Paper Towels
Paper towels are a useful and convenient kitchen and cleaning tool. They can be used to clean almost anything, and we do not need to worry about washing them at the end of the day. That being said, if we use paper towels for everything, we will be consuming a lot of products and create a decent amount of waste. If we used reusable washable kitchen towels to replace paper towels, we will not only reduce the amount of trash we produce, but we will save money. Doing laundry more often does not sound like fun and we do have to pay for detergent and water, but the associate cost is far reduced compared to purchasing paper towels. They are expensive and like everything else, the price keeps on going up. Next time you are trying to clean up a mess or dry some dishes, grab a reusable towel, and get in the habit of not consuming paper. If you develop the habit, you will save money in the long run when you no longer need to purchase paper towels.
Paper
How much paper do we waste in a day or week? Odds are the answer is more then we need too. There was a time where everything had to be written down and stored on paper to insure records were well maintained. The digital age has changed this. Large storage rooms have been replaced by large servers that store everything we need digitally. We can pay bills, send letters, given written direction, and even sent out invitations without having to use a single piece of paper. Office supply stores no longer talk about paper sizes and qualities. The paper sections have been drastically reduced in size because the market for the product has declined. Saving paper not only saves trees but reduces trash and the need for other products like pens and ink. A computer and keyboard have almost entirely replaced pens and paper in the workplace, and this has led to less trash, less clutter, and less missing documents. There will always be a need for print documents and handwritten notes but think twice before you print the latest email your boss sends you. Think to yourself, do I really need to print this? Odds are you don’t, and you can save money by reducing the expense of paying for wasted paper.
Bags
How often do we go to the grocery store and how many one time use bags do we consume in a year? If we step back to think about it the answer will shock all of us. Plastic and paper bags are easy and convenient, but they end up everywhere. We see them on the ground as litter almost daily. If we completely removed these from everyday use how much material and money would we be saving? Many grocery stores have moved away from providing these bags and have encouraged us to bring our own bags. They are being sold at most grocery store check outs and the stores have signs all over reminding us to bring them back. It is up to us, the end user, to remember to bring them and use them. Developing this habit would make a big impact on reducing waste in our communities and will help improve sustainability. All at the low cost of a few reusable bags and remembering to use them.
These four ways to reduce our waste seem simple, but it is up to us to follow through. If we all commit to making the change to all or even a few daily routines, we can make a difference. Spent a few minutes thinking about what disposable products you use the most and how to replace them. It will not only help the planet and the environment but your wallet as well.