Whether you reduce your food waste, use less toxic products, or green your closet this summer, any small effort will go a long way!Summer is always a busy and hectic, yet enjoyable time! So, we created this list of simple swaps to take the guesswork out of creating a sustainable summer! 1. Green Your Get-Togethers One of the best parts of summer? The get-togethers! With Memorial Day and 4th of July right around the corner, there is no doubt that many will be going to or hosting a get-together. So, why not make it more sustainable? Here are a few tips: - Decrease food waste by planning ahead for the amount of guests (don't overbuy!). If there is extra food, be sure to send it with the guests or have a left over night. - Make reusable utensils a must! Did you know that the United States uses more than 36 billion plastic utensils every year? Yikes! - Invest in quality decorations. Summer holidays come around every year, so why not reduce and reuse your summer decorations as much as possible? This will take the hassle out of trying to find disposable décor each year. 2. Choose Non-Toxic Deep cleaning or cleaning out your home this summer? Several studies have shown indoor air to be up to ten times more polluted than outdoor air due to the harmful chemicals found in conventional cleaners and other home products. So, when you choose less toxic products, you are doing yourself and the Earth a favor! For example, next time you need a cleaning product, aim to purchase a non-toxic option, or see if white-distilled vinegar alone will do the trick! Several companies are making it easier to find less toxic and healthier products that benefit both humans and Mother Nature. 3. Grow Your Own Food No matter where you live, you can garden at home! Growing your own food will not only decrease your need for store-bought items (hello reduced carbon emissions!), but it will also decrease your food waste, and give you access to fresher, healthier produce. In addition, growing your own food will reduce fertilizer and pesticide use. Imagine picking fresh produce right at home, then making delicious meals with it - YUM! 4. Use Natural Lighting to Light House With long summer days comes lots of sunlight. So, why not light your house with the beautiful and FREE lighting that Mother Nature gives us? Not only will the Earth thank you for your reduced electricity usage, your wallet will as well when your energy bill decreases! 5. Line Dry Your Clothes Use the warm and beautiful summer weather to your advantage and skip the dryer whenever possible! There is nothing better than the fresh scent of line-dried clothes. It is estimated that the washer and dryer in the typical American home accounts for 13% of energy use - wow! 6. Start a Compost Bin or Pile Summer is a great time of year to enjoy fresh fruits and veggies, whether you are growing your own, purchasing them locally, or buying them from a store. With these fruits and veggies can come peelings, scraps, etc. Food waste, or organic waste, is one of the largest types of waste to enter landfills. Reduce this type of waste by composting! Composting is the aerobic (oxygen-required) method to decompose organic solid wastes. To put it in simpler terms, it is nature's way of recycling! Starting your own compost bin or pile is requires little effort and equipment, and can be done virtually anywhere! See our composting blog post here to learn how to start your own compost! 7. Donate and Buy Secondhand Looking for a few new summer outfits? Check your local thrift stores! These stores typically have great options for half or even a quarter of the price of buying new. Did you know that the average U.S. consumer throws away roughly 81.5 pounds of textiles each year? That means that 85% of all textiles end up in the landfill each year. So, by donating your gently used clothes and buying secondhand, you can greatly reduce the amount of clothing and textiles filling up our landfills. 8. Spend Time Outside With modern day technologies, it is easy to get into a routine of staying indoors to watch TV or play video games. However, many studies have shown that spending time outdoors has a positive impact on one's emotional, mental, and physical well-being. In turn, this will promote the desire to protect the environment and our natural resources. So, go for a walk, attend a fun outdoor festival, or simply sit outside and relax. No matter what you do, your health and the Earth will thank you! Want to learn more?
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