Small Changes for Big Impact on this Earth Day
Our planet is need in a lot of ways and it can seem very very overwhelming. We decided to put together a practical and easy list of small lifestyle changes/choices that can have a huge impact.
1. Buy Cruelty Free
Check your lotions, makeup, toothpaste and other cosmetics for the cruelty free symbol. If not, consider swapping out some of your products for those that don't make animals suffer through inhumane testing. I saw that my eye makeup remover wasn't cruelty free and found an even cheaper, natural swap by Bliss available with free shipping.
2. Opt for Recycled Trash Bags
Does your trash need to go in brand new plastic bags? Of course not! The brand Hippo Sak uses recycled ocean plastic to make their bags. Check them out here to help reduce our plastic waste.
3. Avoid Buying Shells, Coral or Marine Decorative Items
Many do not realize but the shell trade is devastating ocean life. The pretty corals or unique shells that grace your home did not wash up on shore like that. These shells were harvested (and the living creatures in them killed) and taken to mass shell farms for exportation to the US and other countries.
We can stop this trade by not purchasing any decorative items that came from the ocean. Awareness is all that is needed. Read more about the impact of this industry from Nat Geo here.
4. Avoid Palm Oil (or Choose Sustainable Palm Oil Users)
Palm oil is just another vegetable oil, but this particularly oil is so popular that it has become a major leader in deforestation and habitat loss for so much wildlife. The orangutans are nearly wiped out because of palm oil plantations. Switching to other oils does help but if you want to check how sustainable certain manufacturers are, this scorecard can help you purchase food items in a more informed manner. We can try to prevent MORE plantations from devastating our rainforests.
5. Meat Free for a Day
If every American went meat free for one day, almost 4 animals would be saved and our impact greenhouse gases would be SIGNIFICANTLY reduced! There's so many plant based options now, why not skip a day of meat?
