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What Can YOU Do? Eight Simple Changes.

If you're like me, all of the news about our environmental problems has been a bit overwhelming over the last week. The Amazon burning has been very hard to wrap my head around and I've been wondering what I can do to help. I wanted to create an updated version of one of my favorite blogs "Life Hacks: The Easy Environmentalist" (https://everydaymoad.blogspot.com/2014/12/life-hacks-easy-environmentalist.html) to include some new things that Ive learned over the last 4 years! I don't want to be preachy, I just want to empower you to learn and make some simple switches that can have a HUGE impact.

1) Bamboo toothbrush
I myself was VERY skeptical. Put wood in my mouth? Uh... But after recently making the switch, I'm very happy when I brush my teeth knowing that plastic won't end up in the ocean. It's such a small thing that most of us don't even think about but has a large impact. Here is my toothbrush that I liked: https://givemethedirt.com/products/eco-friendly-bamboo-toothbrush-charcoal-infused-bristles?variant=1104369549320

2) Re-think plastic packaging
When you have the choice to get a product in plastic OR in glass/tin/paper think about it. Plastic has a huge impact on our world. Say NO to plastic as much and as often as you can. Even just being aware of your plastic consumption can help you to start making little changes. And even if you do use plastic, try to think of more ways you can use it before its thrown out or recycled.

3) Read the ingredients (Fair-trade, rainforest alliance, organic, no/sustainable palm oil) 
Learning what these labels means can help you become a better consumer.
"Fair trade is an institutional arrangement designed to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions. Members of the fair trade movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards" -Wikipedia
"The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal means that some or all of the ingredients are sourced from farms that comply with the standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network, which aims to promote sustainability in farming and protect farmers, forests, wildlife, and local communities."-Greenerchoices.org
""USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" seal (means) the item must have an ingredients list and the contents should be 95% or more certified organic, meaning free of synthetic additives like pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and dyes, and must not be processed using industrial solvents" -lifehacker.com
"Palm oil production is said to have been responsible for about 8% of the world's deforestation between 1990 and 2008" -bbc.co.uk 
Palm oil is in about 50% of our products and we don't even know where it's coming from. Opt for no palm oil when you can. Its unnecessarily in a lot of our products and there is usually the choice to buy a product without it in it. 

4) Reduce
The first step to creating change is to reduce your consumption. Think about your purchases and what you really need and how you can get less. I try to buy products in bulk, I don't need the bag at check out, I don't get take-out containers. Even if something is recyclable, you're still creating the waste to recycle that item. ALSO, China is not taking our recyclables anymore and we are having to just throw away a lot of those items anyway. Take less, and reduce your consumption all together.

5) Reusable menstrual products!
Ladies, I know that this seems un-hygienic and a bit gross. It took me about 8 years to make the switch to a menstrual cup and Im mad I didn't do it sooner! Disposable pads and tampons create SO much waste but they're also laced with plastic products that are terrible for your body especially in such a sensitive area. I first switched to reusable pads and never looked back. They were more comfortable and so easy to use. I felt great about how much less waste I was creating.
Reusable Pads: Everyone always thinks of Thinx (https://www.shethinx.com) which I love but this isn't your only option. Google "reusable pads" and you get a plethora of options to fit your needs. (I use Thinx [always buy during a sale!] and some clip-on reusable pads that have lasted me over 5 years.)
Menstrual Cups: Also, when it comes to those menstrual cups, you may be only thinking about the "DivaCup". I was hesitant to buy it because it just didn't feel right for my body. So I did some research (lucky for you) and found MeLuna (https://meluna-usa.com) which has TONS of sizes to fit your lifestyle and body. A quick Google search with help you find different brands that will fit you. The cup has a slight learning curve (I'd be happy to tell you about my experience and help you through yours!), but stick with it and I promise you a happy period.

6) Hybrid and electric cars
To reduce our dependance on oil, think about getting an electric or hybrid car for your next vehicle. The hybrid and electric market is booming and you really don't have to buy a Prius if its not your thing. My last purchase was a Kia Niro which is a small crossover. I LOVE it and have been getting like 56 mpg. There are other options for whatever your budget or lifestyle is. You can also reduce your consumption even more by walking or biking.

7) Sustainable clothing brands
This one is SO hard for me. I fall into the fashion trends and just need to buy! But I feel so much better about the clothes that come from good brands and they last so much longer. Exercise clothing seems to be super easy to find sustainable brands. Some of my favorites are: Patagonia, Girlfriend legging, Teeki legging and Thrift stores! What are your favorite sustainable brands?
Make decisions that are right for you and just think about where your clothes are coming from, how they were made and what materials they're made out of (cotton is our friend as it can decompose easily, plastic materials can leach those micro-plastics into our waterways).

8) Eat less meat
Because the Amazon is being clear cut mostly for agriculture reasons (cattle farming), think about reducing your consumption fo meat to directly effect the demand for meat. Buy local meats from farmers in your area and don't be afraid to ask where your food is coming from.


If you made it this far, thank you. I would love to hear about different ways that YOU make small changes. Im constantly learning about how I can do better. If you're overwhelmed, just pick one thing that you'll do today. Tomorrow (or a year from now), pick something else. Each small habit change creates a huge rippling difference in the positive changes on this planet. Will you be a part of the solution?

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