Let’s talk about the planet for a minute. We all live here and we all want to keep living here. We want a bright future for our children and our children’s children. We need to think smarter about the things we use daily. Earth Day is this coming Saturday, April 22nd. What will you do to change your impact on the planet? Let me give you a few ideas.

First: stop using disposable plastics. They are BAD for the environment. According to the Habits of Waste site, they aren’t recyclable and kill hundreds of thousands of marine animals and over a million seabirds every year. Here’s one simple fix. Turn down straws when they are offered to you at restaurants. Invest in a set of reusable straws. They come with their own cases and cleaning brushes. Buy yourself a set of traveling cutlery and traveling mugs. If it’s not recyclable, you shouldn’t be using it. We end up polluting our water and putting animals and our planet in danger.

Second: stop buying those massive jugs of detergent. They are NOT recyclable either. Check out Amazon for detergent alternatives. You can get these dissolving sheets, which take up much less room and create zero waste. A couple of brands are Mrs. Green and Lazy Coconuts. I plan to try out Mrs. Green. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Third: Donate clothing to Goodwill. If the clothing is damaged, mark it for recycling. Goodwill knows how to properly dispose of clothing that is not sellable. For more information on this, please see the website listed below. We need to repurpose things and not just toss them in the garbage. You can also look into buying brands that are eco-conscious. These companies have worked hard to minimize their impact on our planet. While they may cost a little more, the money is well spent knowing you are protecting the environment.

This Saturday, go out and do some good. Think about how you can help. If we all do our part, the world will change for the better. Let’s protect our planet and the people, animals, and plants that live on it by making better choices.

Check out the below links for more information, as well as some of my favorite eco brands.

Plastic Straws & Cutlery | Habits of Waste

How to Recycle Clothes That Can’t Be Repaired, Donated or Resold (closettcandyy.ca)

https://www.happyearthapparel.com/

35 Sustainable Clothing Brands Betting Against Fast Fashion – The Good Trade