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 It's a common misconception (at least in my circle of friends) that going green is time consuming and expensive. With the astronomical prices at most natural food store chains and the fact that those stores are not conveniently located for the bulk of the population, I'd agree if I didn't know better. What I try to remind people is that going green doesn't mean buying green. Purchasing products that are made from sustainable materials or made with earth friendly manufacturing practices is a big step - but it's just a small part of the puzzle. Going green is so much more than what you buy; it's a life style choice. It's making small changes within your everyday life that have long term impacts on our planet.
This week we're focusing on the Reuse step in the Reuse, Reduce and Recycle approach. It's probably the easiest and most cost efficient way to do 'the green thing', and by doing so you are consequentially reducing along the way.
Below are five simple ideas to help you on your way to living a greener lifestyle.
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Reuse those old margarine, cottage cheese and yogurt containers instead of buying high priced or disposable ones. So much of what we buy comes prepackaged in containers just screaming to be reused. They come in a wide array of sizes and you'll be amazed at what you can use them for. At our house you can find them storing food in the fridge, cereal in the pantry, art supplies and crayons; heck - my husband even uses them for holding screws and nails in the shop. You'll be saving money and the planet in one pop!
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Shop Second Hand. If you haven't been to your local thrift store... go (especially if you have kids), Once you get over that 'thrift store smell' (which does wash out), you will be amazed at what you can find hiding between the brown and yellow plaid jacket and Grandma Annes blue polyester pant suit. Not kidding you, I have walked out of a thrift store with a bag full of gently used Gymboree and Carters for the kids, and DKNY and Calvin Klein for myself. And you must remember that not all thrift stores are created equal. The ones that are located in high income areas or have drop stations around town (like Salvation Army and Good Will) have the best selection of current and trendy fashion. And don't forget the 'retro' look. You can buy clothes that don't just look like they walked out of the eighties, they probably did.
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Sip your Joe from a Reusable Cup. I'm a coffee drinker. Let's rephrase that. I'm from Seattle, and after 32 ounces of coffee in order to actually get moving in the morning, I can't get the girls to school without that added jolt from my favorite latte. Not long ago, I was sitting in a cafe, drinking my latte in my 10% post consumer content recycled cup spouting off about all the easy things people can do to be a little more green. My girlfriend looks at me and says, "Uh, like drinking your coffee from a reusable cup instead of wasting paper cups 365 days a year?" Foot meet mouth. Moral of the story... instead of generating over 25lbs of trash PER YEAR by tossing one latte cup per day (that's 5lbs more than my chunkaroo 10 month old), I am now the proud owner of a spiffy stainless steel coffee mug (bonus points - first drink free of charge and $.05 off every time I use it).
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Just say NO to paper towels and napkins. Invest in a couple of good hand towels and cloth napkins and use them to wipe your hands and face, mop up spilt messes and wipe down your baby after meals. Every time you throw something away, even something as insubstantial feeling as a paper towel, you create more waste in our landfills and consume more energy in order to manufacturer that product. On average, Americans use 2200 paper napkins a year and that's a heck of a lot of napkins! Our family only uses paper napkins for parties and BBQs (how pathetic do I feel that I still have napkins left over from a Halloween party two years ago) and go through maybe 6 rolls of paper towels a year. Using good old fashioned cloth towels and napkins will not only cut down on waste and add a touch of class to your table, but you'll save on your next grocery bill as well. And NO, it doesn't use more energy to wash and dry those napkins. The manufacturing, packaging and shipping process for paper products far exceeds what is used to wash your napkins, towels and socks.
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Bring a Tote. Reusable shopping totes are becoming the hip way to shop. They are usually inexpensive (our local Safeway and Fred Meyer sell them for $1 a piece) and come in an array of colors and styles to suit your wardrobe (if you're the fashion conscious type). I've got a gaggle of them in the trunk of my car and have found them to be invaluable and far more useful than I originally anticipated. I use them to haul the toys and clothes discarded by my kids from car to house, carry books to and from the library, stuff 'em full of baby stuff on an impromptu outing (in which case I forgot the diaper bag yet again) and have even stuck one over my head during a moment of temporary vanity while racing through a downpour with my freshly styled hair. I'd almost venture to say they are like that 3rd hand us mothers are always wishing we had.
Going green doesn't need to be complicated, and it certainly doesn't need to be expensive (in fact, I have actually found it has saved us money). It's about taking small steps to reduce your impact on this earth. So take a moment the next time you go to throw something away and ask yourself if there's a cooler way to reuse it instead. Who knows, you too may end up doing 'the green thing'.
- Stashka Lepera |
