There are many chemicals and products that we use in the washroom from shampoo to toilet cleaners and Kleenex to cotton balls. Many of these products contain chemicals that can be harmful not only to the environment but also to ourselves. Also, many of these products are unfortunately designed for single use in our 'throw-away-society'. So, there are many areas for improvement in the bathroom and ways to decrease our environmental impact.
1. Try making your own deodorant as it produces much less waste compared to the purchased deodorant sticks. Also, by making your own you know exactly what chemicals are in the product and you and ensure that you are giving your body the best and safest there is.
2. Try going 'no-poo' and not using shampoo any more. This is a great way to reduce your plastic waste, save money, and again be aware of the chemicals you are using and reduce the harmful toxins that you might be exposed to.
3. If going 'no-poo' is maybe a little too extreme for you, then at least consider using solid natural shampoos and soap bars as they require little to no packaging and will help eliminate your waste production.
4. Try using reusable products instead of disposable products for things like cotton balls or face circles. There are many alternatives out there, you just have to search for them.
5. Instead of using drier sheets try using reusable drier balls or fabric drier sheets, they last for years and will decrease your waste as well as save you money.
6. Buy biodegradable laundry soaps. As always, with "Green" products be careful about the phenomenon of greenwashing where companies make you think they are more environmental than they are.
7. Watch your water consumption in the washroom by making sure you don't leave the tap running at any time (i.e., while brushing your teeth or washing your face).
8. Reduce water consumption in the washroom by taking shorter showers. You can also save on electricity by taking colder showers, but really the main thing that will save you money with water temperature is setting your water heater to a lower temperature.
9. Instead of using harsh chemical cleaners try making your own cleaning products with more natural chemicals like vinegar.
10. Consider using a safety razor over a normal disposable cartridge razor.
Things you can do while shopping
You must understand that products can be green in some ways, e.g. 100% recycled, but not in others. It is impossible to have no impact on the environment; therefore, companies interested in decreasing their environmental impact must try to reduce their affect in many areas including raw resource extraction, manufacturing, energy, shipping, and waste disposal. You as a consumer have the obligation to hold companies to being more environmentally friendly. Supporting those companies that are making an effort shows that you do care and will help to push other companies into taking action,
1. Be aware of Greenwashing - Greenwashing is where a company tries to mislead you about their 'green' practices.
2. Clothing - buying organic cotton or bamboo can be 'greener' than buying cotton which requires a high use of pesticides. Organic cotton addresses this pesticide concern. Bamboo fabrics are also an alternative to other fabrics and is considered to be 'greener' because it is a renewable resource, growing very fast and requiring no pesticides or chemicals in its growth. However, to turn bamboo into the nice soft fabric requires 'cooking' the bamboo in strong chemical solvents including NaOH, carbon disulfide, and bleach. So, you have to weight your own costs and benefits of the whole production process.
3. Jute - this is another more environmentally friendly product. It is biodegradable, carbon neutral, and can be grown in 4-6 months. Jute is also known as burlap. This fibre is environmentally friendly mainly due to its ability to naturally decompose.
4. When shopping for cosmetics, or other chemicals you use around the house, you can look for companies that are trying to decrease their impact by being biodegradable/natural ingredients or using recycled material containers, but also companies trying to be 'greener' with their production process or energy use etc. For example, Burt's Bees and Tom's of Maine are trying to be more environmentally friendly. These are just 2 examples but there are many more out there, just take a couple minutes to investigate into those companies that you are interested in.
5. When shopping pay attention to environmental labels. Be careful though because of greenwashing, but becoming familiar with other labels will help you know which ones to trust.
6. Try to by foods and other products with minimal packaging. This will help eliminate your waste production at home and will decrease the environmental impact of the production of that packaging.
7. Try buying bulk foods. Buying in bulk can easily eliminate some unnecessary packaging but be careful not to over buy, you don't want the food to spoil if you don't use it fast enough.
8. Be careful of some chemicals that may not be the greatest for you or the environment. Specifically you can watch out for the 'dirty dozen' chemicals
9. Think of alternatives to gift giving. There are many ways to say "thanks" or "I love you" or "you are the greatest" besides buying into consumerism. A nice dinner, hike, picnic, or fun activity works just as well. Or you could make your own recycled gift.
1. Be aware of Greenwashing - Greenwashing is where a company tries to mislead you about their 'green' practices.
2. Clothing - buying organic cotton or bamboo can be 'greener' than buying cotton which requires a high use of pesticides. Organic cotton addresses this pesticide concern. Bamboo fabrics are also an alternative to other fabrics and is considered to be 'greener' because it is a renewable resource, growing very fast and requiring no pesticides or chemicals in its growth. However, to turn bamboo into the nice soft fabric requires 'cooking' the bamboo in strong chemical solvents including NaOH, carbon disulfide, and bleach. So, you have to weight your own costs and benefits of the whole production process.
3. Jute - this is another more environmentally friendly product. It is biodegradable, carbon neutral, and can be grown in 4-6 months. Jute is also known as burlap. This fibre is environmentally friendly mainly due to its ability to naturally decompose.
4. When shopping for cosmetics, or other chemicals you use around the house, you can look for companies that are trying to decrease their impact by being biodegradable/natural ingredients or using recycled material containers, but also companies trying to be 'greener' with their production process or energy use etc. For example, Burt's Bees and Tom's of Maine are trying to be more environmentally friendly. These are just 2 examples but there are many more out there, just take a couple minutes to investigate into those companies that you are interested in.
5. When shopping pay attention to environmental labels. Be careful though because of greenwashing, but becoming familiar with other labels will help you know which ones to trust.
6. Try to by foods and other products with minimal packaging. This will help eliminate your waste production at home and will decrease the environmental impact of the production of that packaging.
7. Try buying bulk foods. Buying in bulk can easily eliminate some unnecessary packaging but be careful not to over buy, you don't want the food to spoil if you don't use it fast enough.
8. Be careful of some chemicals that may not be the greatest for you or the environment. Specifically you can watch out for the 'dirty dozen' chemicals
9. Think of alternatives to gift giving. There are many ways to say "thanks" or "I love you" or "you are the greatest" besides buying into consumerism. A nice dinner, hike, picnic, or fun activity works just as well. Or you could make your own recycled gift.
Things you can do around the kitchen
Food is an important part of our lives and a component not many consider to be environmentally harmful. However, even food farming, production, processing, consumption, and disposal can be harmful to the environment. To decrease your impact on the environment from your foods, you should start thinking about the foods you eat, how they are processed, where they are coming from, what they are packaged in, etc. You may be surprised to learn how much water or chemicals are used to make some typical food that you eat or how much food humans tend to waste. Below are some ways that you can try to decrease your impact on the environment in your kitchen.
1. Buy organic food - this will decrease the chemicals that are put into the environment
2. If you cannot buy all your food organic then aim to buy the following organic because they are the highest in the use of pesticides: Peaches, Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Kale, Lettuce, Grapes (imported), Carrots, Pears.
3. Buy locally - this will decrease the transportation distance and therefore gas and pollution emissions. Local farmers often also use more environmentally friendly methods as well as have reduced packaging for shipments
* Buying local and organic is best; it decrease greenhouse gases, waste, and chemical contaminants
4. Buy fair trade, shade grown, or bird friendly coffee - fair trade helps the people, shade grown coffee leaves the previous forest canopy intact and doesn't require clear cutting for framing, and bird friendly is organic and ensures a diverse and well maintained ecosystem.
5. Compost or Vermicompost - this can be done in your back yard, in your kitchen, and/or with your city (if it is offered). Once compost decomposes you can use it as a great fertilizer for your gardens. Be sure to read up on what can and cannot go into a compost before chucking everything in there.
6. Store your fruits and vegetables in the appropriate locations such as in the fridge, counter, or in a fruit cellar. This can help make foods last longer so you are not wasting food.
7. Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of soapy water. You can re-use this water therefore decreasing your water consumption and it will remove pesticides if you give a little scrub.
8. Wash your dishes in a dishwasher - this can actually decrease your water consumption if you run a full load otherwise you are better off to wash by hand.
9. If you wash dishes by hand fill up the sink with soapy water first. This way you will decrease your water consumption. Also, it is easier to pay attention to the water you are using when it isn't disappearing right away.
10. Some people love seafood and it can be good for you. However, they ways in which seafood is harvest are not always sustainable. Therefore, to reduce your environmental impact you can try to eat those fish and other seafood which is more sustainably harvested and which have healthy populations. There are several different seafood guides out there to help you make these choices.
11. Try using a reusable sponge for dishes instead of the throw away ones or just a washable cloth. This will reduce your waste and are easy to clean.
12. You can also easily eliminate additional waste in the shape of paper towels by instead using a reusable kitchen towel that can be washed and used again.
13. Avoid using sandwich bags. These little pesky things are convenient but they are everywhere and made of hard to get rid of plastic. Instead, just stick your sandwiches in a reusable container.
14. Avoid putting plastic wrap on your vegetables and food in the fridge. Again this is horrible plastic that cannot be decomposed and an easy alternative is to use those reusable containers or even the new trend of reusable plastic wrap alternatives made with bees wax.
1. Buy organic food - this will decrease the chemicals that are put into the environment
2. If you cannot buy all your food organic then aim to buy the following organic because they are the highest in the use of pesticides: Peaches, Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Kale, Lettuce, Grapes (imported), Carrots, Pears.
3. Buy locally - this will decrease the transportation distance and therefore gas and pollution emissions. Local farmers often also use more environmentally friendly methods as well as have reduced packaging for shipments
* Buying local and organic is best; it decrease greenhouse gases, waste, and chemical contaminants
4. Buy fair trade, shade grown, or bird friendly coffee - fair trade helps the people, shade grown coffee leaves the previous forest canopy intact and doesn't require clear cutting for framing, and bird friendly is organic and ensures a diverse and well maintained ecosystem.
5. Compost or Vermicompost - this can be done in your back yard, in your kitchen, and/or with your city (if it is offered). Once compost decomposes you can use it as a great fertilizer for your gardens. Be sure to read up on what can and cannot go into a compost before chucking everything in there.
6. Store your fruits and vegetables in the appropriate locations such as in the fridge, counter, or in a fruit cellar. This can help make foods last longer so you are not wasting food.
7. Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of soapy water. You can re-use this water therefore decreasing your water consumption and it will remove pesticides if you give a little scrub.
8. Wash your dishes in a dishwasher - this can actually decrease your water consumption if you run a full load otherwise you are better off to wash by hand.
9. If you wash dishes by hand fill up the sink with soapy water first. This way you will decrease your water consumption. Also, it is easier to pay attention to the water you are using when it isn't disappearing right away.
10. Some people love seafood and it can be good for you. However, they ways in which seafood is harvest are not always sustainable. Therefore, to reduce your environmental impact you can try to eat those fish and other seafood which is more sustainably harvested and which have healthy populations. There are several different seafood guides out there to help you make these choices.
11. Try using a reusable sponge for dishes instead of the throw away ones or just a washable cloth. This will reduce your waste and are easy to clean.
12. You can also easily eliminate additional waste in the shape of paper towels by instead using a reusable kitchen towel that can be washed and used again.
13. Avoid using sandwich bags. These little pesky things are convenient but they are everywhere and made of hard to get rid of plastic. Instead, just stick your sandwiches in a reusable container.
14. Avoid putting plastic wrap on your vegetables and food in the fridge. Again this is horrible plastic that cannot be decomposed and an easy alternative is to use those reusable containers or even the new trend of reusable plastic wrap alternatives made with bees wax.
Action List
The action list below is a list of things that you can do to help decrease our human impact on the Earth. There are some category headings but some of the items can fit under multiple headings
Decrease Carbon Footprint:
- Switch to Green energy (wind and solar) to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels and coal which are large producers of carbon
- Eat foods which are in season
- Buy locally grown foods
Eliminate Waste Production:- Buy only the food you need/can use to reduce the amount of food waste in your kitchen
Decrease Carbon Footprint:
- Switch to Green energy (wind and solar) to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels and coal which are large producers of carbon
- Eat foods which are in season
- Buy locally grown foods
Eliminate Waste Production:- Buy only the food you need/can use to reduce the amount of food waste in your kitchen
- Write on both sides of the paper
- Refill and carry your own water bottle and/or coffee mug
- Use your own material shopping bags
- Use the library
- Refill old cleaning product containers with new detergents
- Stay away from disposable products
- Recycle and reuse products
Decrease Water Use:
- Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of soapy water instead of under a running tap
- Be aware of the water footprint of the food and products you purchase
- Refill and carry your own water bottle and/or coffee mug
- Use your own material shopping bags
- Use the library
- Refill old cleaning product containers with new detergents
- Stay away from disposable products
- Recycle and reuse products
Decrease Water Use:
- Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of soapy water instead of under a running tap
- Be aware of the water footprint of the food and products you purchase
- Your dishwasher is actually more water wise than hand washing if full and packed efficiently
- If you wash your dishes by hand fill up the sink instead of running the tap
- Shut off the water (or decrease the flow) in the shower when you are soaping your hair or body
- Don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth
Reduce Energy Consumption:
- Don't over heat or over aircondition your house
- Hang Dry your clothes
- Wash your clothes in cold water
- Turn off and/or unplug unused electronics, lights, and applicances
- Don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth
Reduce Energy Consumption:
- Don't over heat or over aircondition your house
- Hang Dry your clothes
- Wash your clothes in cold water
- Turn off and/or unplug unused electronics, lights, and applicances
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