Being a part of Gen Z, we all are very conscious about our impact on the environment as we witness and will have to deal with the consequences of climate change. However, with the ample amount of time we now have on our hands, we can use it to get a head start and have a positive impact on the world around us. Here are ten things you can do to be more environmentally friendly during quarantine.
- Resell old clothing items
- According to the chief design officer for California Closets, only 20% of the average person’s closet is actually worn on a daily basis. Take this time to Marie Kondo your wardrobe and sell it on Depop to make a couple of extra bucks. Every year, the average American throws away 81 pounds of clothing, so reselling it will actually extend the lifetime of that piece.
- Stop buying stuff!
- Just because you now have extra room in your closet from reselling it does not mean you have to replace it. Live that minimalist lifestyle for a while and take some time to think about what you would like to add instead of buying clothes on a whim.
- Start your own garden
- Buying food from the grocery store has a hugely negative impact in terms of carbon emissions as these foods travel an average of 1,500+ miles before arriving at the store itself, not to mention the amount of plastic that goes into shipping and packaging. If anything, this will provide for a fun learning experience and way to spend your time.
- Cook your own food
- If you are hesitant on growing a garden, a great start is to cook your own food. Buying premade meals from the grocery store or ordering online often comes with a lot of plastic packaging and you often don’t actually know what’s in there. By cooking your own food you are aware of what you are consuming and having fun at it.
- Skip the plastic bag
- It’s simple. Bring a reusable to the grocery store.
- Keep your dryer lint!
- Now this one may sound a little insane, but hear me out. The birds are coming out more, they need to make their nests out of something. Instead of throwing out your dryer lint, leave it outside for the birds to repurpose.
- Use recycled toilet paper
- With all of the crazy shortages we saw with people stocking up on toilet paper, now is the perfect time to switch to the recycled alternative! I highly recommend the brand ‘Who Gives a Crap’ as they not only use environmentally friendly materials but also donate 50% of their profits to build toilets for those in need.
- Check to see if your products are fair trade
- From clothing to food (particularly coffee, sugar, and chocolate), you can check to see if the items you purchase are being produced in an ethical and sustainable manner. Check for a fair trade certification as that will tell you if it was made using sustainable agriculture and whether the worker received fair compensation.
- Make your own beauty products
- A fun way to switch things up is to make your own beauty products such as cleansers, scrubs, and even something like foundation. Beauty products are known to have harmful chemicals and pollutants, as well as being created in unethical ways. By creating your own products you will not only have fun but also save the environment. Post it online and you might even have the bonus of getting TikTok famous.
- Switch to reusable alternatives
- This is probably one of the easiest things you can do while saving money, as it can be as simple as switching from a K-Cup to a reusable coffee filter. Check out EarthHero and purchase some alternatives you might not even have thought of.
It’s up to us to save the environment, so why not start now to create a positive change in the world.
This article is featured on the first issue of Get Candid Magazine
Author’s Note
lit spaghetti 