10 Eco-Friendly New Year Resolutions for 2021
Here are our eco-friendly new year resolutions, and yes they are suitable even for beginners! Just give 4 min of your time and start your new year in an ECO way with 10 easy STEPS!
1) COMMUTE GREEN
It is not only essential for our planet but also for your health. Obviously putting yourself in motion like walking or cycling is healthier and reduces your carbon emission. Sitting in the driving seat in a traffic jam will not only waste your time but also your money.
So why not got with cheaper, healthier and better options?
Try to walk, cycle, use an electrical motorbike, public transportation, or car-sharing. Thanks to bike or car-sharing you do not even have to own a one!
2) TURN OFF THE LIGHTS.
No worries, we are not gonna tell you to live like in the Dark Ages.
Turn off the lights when you do not need them!
WWF is calling thousands of cities and billions of people to turn off the lights for 1 hour since 2007 under the name of "Earth Hour". Of course, 1 hour of darkness will not save the planet but the message is that every action counts. You CAN make an impact, we CAN make an impact if we change the way we act today.
3) BRING REUSABLE BAG
Let's start with the facts. According to Worldwatch Institute study in 2004, there are 4 TRILLION plastic bags used each year worldwide and only 1% of them are recycled. Reason is that the plastic bags are getting caught in the recycling machine and sometimes halting the entire recycling.
So, the first action is getting your reusable bag. With the purchase of these bags you will also support the Northern Bali local farmer families, who manufacture them.
Ok, we got that plastic grocery bags are not good but I always forget to take my reusable bag!
Keep the tote bags in your handbag, office, car so you always have them available
when you go for your daily shopping.
4) CARRY YOUR OWN THERMOS/BOTTLE/CUP
This easy action can even help you to save money. The global coffee chains like Starbucks give cash discounts on your drinks if you bring your own cup.
Carrying your own fresh water will be also healthier than buying water in plastic bottle that was probably stored for couple of weeks or even months.
5) USE WATER WISELY
While we started to talk about water, let's widen the topic around it. Global warming and climate change is a fact even though some politicians, countries, companies are not acting for it, we start to see its effects in our daily life. One of them is drought and threat on water resources.
We want to give one basic tip for this resolution if your answer is yes to the question below.
Do you wait for shower water to get warm and waste the water for nothing?
Take a bucket to catch the water and use it later to water your plants.
6) GET AIR CLEANING PLANTS
So now, you ask which plants to water with the shower water you collected?
The suggestion comes from NASA as "air cleaning plants". Yes, you read right NASA. Based on their research in 1989, these 12 plants have demonstrated the potential for improving indoor air quality by removing trace organic pollutants from the air.
- Bamboo palm
- Chinese evergreen
- English ivy
- Ficus
- Gerbera daisy
- Janet Craig
- Marginata
- Mass cane/Corn cane
- Mother-in-law's tongue
- Peace lily
- Pot mum
- Warneckei Chamaedorea
7) REDUCE PLASTIC, SWITCH TO BAMBOO
Plastic consumption is CLEARLY a huge problem that we are facing globally. Countries like Switzerland, UK, Canada started to ban single-use plastic already.
So how you can contribute?
Basically, switch to alternative & no-plastic daily goods that are made from natural products.
- Get your bamboo toothbrush.
- Stop using plastic straws. Switch to reusable to bamboo straws or if you are looking for one-time use straw then simply switch to wheat or reed straws.
- Get plastic-free & vegan hair comb
- Try coconut bowls.
- Stop using plastic cutlery. Get bamboo or coconut cutlery set.
8) REDUCE MEAT CONSUMPTION, START MEATLESS MONDAYS!
Reduce your carbon footprint by skipping meat on some days of the week.
By this action you will 1) Take action against climate change by reducing your carbon footprint 2) Help your health by reducing consumption of processed meat 3) Contribute to our planet by diminishing the release of greenhouse gases 4) Help lessen the demand for natural resources like water & land used for meat production.
And no worries, there are already plenty of recipes for "Meatless Monday" on the internet.
9) DRY CLOTHES NATURALLY
Washing clothes is already contributing a big amount to your carbon footprint but even higher energy consumer is the tumble dryer. Because tumble dryers are run by electricity which creates heat.
If your households run the dryer 200 times a year, you cause half a ton CO2 emission. You can easily stop this by switching to drying naturally all your clothes.
10) RECYCLE / COMPOST
You can either recycle/compost at home or take advantage of outside options. Those options vary by country. Check out what is available in your area like recycling boxes/bins at parks, schools or office buildings, gas stations, and other public areas.
You can also start your own home composting with your food waste which can be great fertilizer for your plants.
In summary:
1) Commute Green
2) Turn off the Lights
3) Bring Reusable Bag
4) Carry Your Thermos/ Bottle
5) Use Water Wisely
6) Get Air Cleaning Plants
7) Reduce Plastic Use - Switch to Bamboo Products
8) Reduce Meat Consumption & Start "Meatless Mondays"
9) Dry Clothes Naturally
10) Recycle / Compost