10 Easy Steps to Reduce Your Ecological Footprint

Trash made beautiful somewhere along the highways of Texas. Photo by Jamie Gallagher

By now we now how damaging humans have been to nature, but you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. Has the "there's nothing I can do at this point" idea come to mind? Maybe something like "if I try now, I'll have to change my entire life" has entered. Either way, have no fear! I've got 10 EASY steps that you can start taking to make reducing your eco footprint a breeze.

• Nix single use plastic
  Well, we're cool with ditching ALL plastic to be honest, but real talk, cut the single use. That includes straws, plastic shopping bags, snack bags, flossers, and yes, most hot coffee cups. While containers such as boxed water, milk cartons, etc. appear to be paper/cardboard, many are made with a HDPE (High-density polyethylene plastic) for durability. This type of plastic is accepted at most recycling centers, however, it is non-biodegradable and can take CENTURIES to decompose (thisisplastics.com + AZoCleantech).
• Don't opt for the paper grocery bags
  I'm all for saying no to a plastic bag at the food store, Target, wherever you shop, but let's take it a step further and also say no to the paper bags. Paper bags may break down faster than plastic bags when given optimal landfill conditions, but often, they aren't given optimal landfill conditions. Less single use should include paper bags as well.
• Eat less meat
  I know, I know, there are a lot of non-vegetarian and non-vegan people reading this, but hear me out. Did you know that "beef is responsible for 41% of livestock greenhouse gas emissions? That livestock accounts for 14.5% of total global emissions?...that methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, is produced by cattle from both ends?" (cnn.com) I think you get the point. Start by reducing. I am newly vegetarian (like really new, I just started Memorial Day weekend) and you won't see me having judgey eyes at a table with my family and/or friends eating meat. Just reduce it a bit, yeah?
• Walk or bike more
  I was going to just write walk more because I don't know how to ride a bike (you read that right), but that would've been rude. Walk or bike more. If you need to drive somewhere, carpool or take public transportation. Less gas=good.
• Shop thrift stores
  Fast fashion is an area I know little about, but I still know it's a HUGE problem. You already spend a significant amount of time sorting through rubbish at Forever 21 or H&M, Zara, Macy's, you name it. If you're going to spend time sorting through styles and sizes anyway, why not save some $, save the planet, and grab a shirt that no-one else is going to have...except maybe your cousin Julie's mom's best friend, she might have something like it, but she's also a babe so it's cool.
• DIY home cleaning products
  This will help you in nixing single use plastics. Buy a glass bottle at your local grocery store, supermarket, Goodwill, or from a neighbors pantry, fill it up about halfway with water and you're basically there already. Check out these blog posts for inspo! DIY cleaner + DIY wipes
• Support Local Businesses
  Shipping emissions lead to air pollution, water pollution, etc. By supporting local businesses, such as shops that make their products in house, local farmers markets, etc. you not only support your local community but a cleaner environment as well!
• Buy used books or hit up your local library
  This is one I terribly have been just starting to pay close attention to. For many years of my life, I wasn't a reader. In fact, I hated reading books. It's within the last year or two that I've been an active reader. The pride that I feel finishing a book is like no other, but it's time I realize my impact. Buying used books or renting books from a library makes a huge difference in reducing paper waste. Remember how excited you were as a kid to get your very first library card that had YOUR NAME on it? Let's get that excited about libraries again.
• Repurpose what you already have
  I was chatting with some neighbors recently about the recycling issues in the city of Philadelphia when I mentioned that I've been repurposing glass containers, bottles, etc. much more lately and making my own products. I didn't realize how eye opening that conversation was going to be. A neighbor commented on how quickly we went from learning our "Three R's" to paying mind to just the last, recycle. What happened to reduce and reuse, friends!? Those two came first for a reason and it's time we start remembering that.
• Clean up
  ​No-one wants to pick up your trash and no-one should have to so clean up after yourselves. Carry your dog waste bag to a proper garbage bin, put your cigarette out and dispose of it correctly (also, cut back and then QUIT smoking because...health), and if you see some trash, pick it up and throw it out. It's easy to walk around mindlessly in your own neighborhood. When was the last time you took a look at the ground around you? Is it polluted? How do the sewers appear? Gather a group of friends and host a neighborhood cleanup! Hell, offer to bring the wine and beer and make a fun day out of it. Check out this post for some DIY cleanup tips (and be safe!).​

What can you suggest to reduce your eco footprint? What are your favorites from this list? What have you already been doing and what are you planning to start? Leave a comment below or over on our Facebook page to get the chat going!

- jamie