How to Celebrate Earth Day, Every Day
10 unique ways to celebrate Earth Day
This year, 193 countries celebrate Earth Day on Monday, April 22. The premise is great, right? Plant a tree. Pick up trash. Recycle.
But there’s a big problem with Earth Day, and it’s this: Earth Day is just one day out of 365.
I propose we celebrate differently this year. I propose we both choose + adopt a single lifestyle change on Earth Day for every day that follows. Here are some suggestions.
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Celebrate Earth Day (for novices)
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1. Buy the ugly produce.
THE FACTS 52-percent of healthy, edible food goes uneaten. Food that doesn’t meet a grocery store’s cosmetic standards is sometimes donated or -more often – tossed.
Produce left to rot greatly contributes to carbon emissions.
Remind yourself that – when it comes to produce – the ugly is just as nutritious as the beautiful on your next trip to the supermarket. Then go ahead and mindfully fill your cart with those blemished peaches or the carrots with dual tips.
Or shop at stores that purposely sell fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be wasted. Nationwide, ImperfectProduce.com sells less-than-perfect fruits and vegetables at a fraction of the cost.
2. Say goodbye to Poland Spring (and Fiji and Aquafina and while you’re at it, plastic baby bottles, too).
THE FACTS When you buy bottled water, you’re paying for something that’s basically free.
Plastic bottles are notoriously terrible for the environment (nearly 4 billion water bottles become waste each year in the United States alone); they’re bad for your health, too. Indeed, plastic releases small amounts of chemicals and those chemicals leach straight into the water you’ve just paid for. Scientists have linked BPA (a major chemical found in most plastic water bottles) to cancer, issues with reproduction, improper fetal development, Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes. Worse, BPA’s effects are most pronounced in children under three (so get rid of those plastic baby bottles, STAT!)
People argue that bottled water is convenient, but what’s more convenient than nearly free water from your own tap? Invest in a set of glass bottles and fill them when they’re empty. Simple.
3. Buy less.
THE FACTS Our consumption habits have the single largest effect on greenhouse gas emissions. First there’s the energy and waste it takes to produce the new item. Then there’s the heaps of packaging it’s wrapped in – the plastic, the Styrofoam, the cardboard – to keep your new item in pristine condition.
Consider the Buyerarchy of Needs. Buy only what you need and only if you really, truly need it. When giving a gift, consider gifting an experience over a trinket.
4. Bring your own shopping bags.
THE FACTS On average, a single consumer uses a plastic bag for 12 minutes. That same plastic bag then sits in a landfill (or in the ocean) for hundreds of years. Further, manufacturing such bags demands incredible amounts of fossil fuels and water.
The same is true for those flimsy green bags in the produce section of the supermarket. They aren’t recyclable, and they’re so insubstantial they’re absolutely useless after a single use.
Consider placing your produce in a bag brought from home instead. Amazon sells these highly-rated reusable produce bags, and this adorable Etsy shop does as well. But don’t underestimate the power of a needle and thread. Perhaps you repurpose a piece of old, tattered or stained clothing and make your own, instead.
5. Switch to LED bulbs.
THE FACTS LEDs consume up to 90-percent less power than incandescent bulbs. They last longer, too: so you’ll save money and time by replacing the bulbs in your entire household.
Check to you see if your state offers a rebate program. Here in Massachusetts, a specialist with Mass Save came to my house, assessed our energy usage and offered tips to increase efficiency. He also replaced all the bulbs in our home to LED’s, free of charge.
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Celebrate Earth Day (for the advanced)
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6. Adopt family cloth.
THE FACTS 270,000 trees are cut down every day. 10-percent of them are cut solely for toilet paper.
Use reusable cloth wipes instead. Store clean wipes in a basket in the bathroom; keep a lidded trash can beside the toilet for soiled ones. Wash in a single load every few days, then pop in the dryer or hang in the sun to sanitize.
Thinking of trying it out? Plan to have at least 5 wipes on hand per person in your household per day.
7. Always declutter responsibly, even when it’s hard.
THE FACTS The average American throws out 7 pounds of garbage per day. (!)
I have a frayed cell phone cord, and it’s time to dispose of it. It’s easy to throw it in the trash; It’s harder to hold onto it until the weekend, drive to my town’s electronics recycling drive, and dispose of it properly.
Be a model for your kids and do it the hard way.
[Related: Declutter and Donate the Tough Stuff]
8. Start your own garden OR Commit to buying all your food locally.
THE FACTS Food travels an average of 1500 miles on refrigerated trucks to get to your supermarket.
Buy local, buy in season, grow what you can.
9. Go vegetarian.
THE FACTS Meat production is responsible for 18 percent of global CO2 emissions. 5214 gallons of water are required to produce a single pound of beef.
Start slow. Eat meat-free one day a week, then two. Set yourself up for success by stockpiling quality vegetarian recipes and cookbooks.
10. Commit to a buy-free month.
THE FACTS Consumerism is killing our planet.
Buy only what you need (read: food) for an entire month. Nothing frivolous or unnecessary!
Embarking on a no-spend challenge is easy. Learn the ins and outs of the challenge here.
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