Why going green is more than hugging trees
When someone says they are ‘going green’ or going to start living a ‘green lifestyle’, it doesn’t mean they are a tree hugging hippy that wants to live in a commune, wear no clothes and never eat meat or watch television again (not that there is anything wrong with that of course).
The definition of going green, according to dictionary.com, is described as making more environmentally friendly decisions to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Going green is really just about respecting the environment.
There are so many benefits and reasons to go green in your life. Some of them might not even cross your mind, so here is our advice to get you more aware of what going green can mean for you.
THE REASONS
If we continue to fill our world with rubbish, pour toxic chemicals down our sinks, endanger animals, destroy all of our forests and over use energy, our planet will one day be a horrible place to live. It really will.
It may seem like a huge task for one person, but if every household made small steps to a ‘greener’ lifestyle, it could change the course of the future.
Going green helps to reduce pollution, to allow us access to enjoy fresh air and water. It means creating a healthier lifestyle for not only us as an individual but for those around us.
HOW TO GO 'GREEN' AND THE BENEFITS
Recycle – This is one of the easiest options! Most Australian households are already equipped with recycling bins to help us with this process. So, try to consciously put the correct recyclables in that bin each week.
Use energy friendly light bulbs – By making the switch, you can actually lower the monthly power bills. This switch will also help to eliminate tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
Use less chemicals – Think about how many chemicals go down your drain on a daily basis. Shampoo, conditioner, cleaning products… The list goes on! These chemicals usually end up in our water ways and oceans, and contribute to pollution and endanger our sea animals. Consider switching to natural cleaners and detergents and personal products. It will be better for your health too!
Reduce air pollution - Help to reduce the air pollution by driving your car less or choosing a car that contributes to less pollution. Eg – electric or a fuel economic vehicle.
Walking, riding your bike or catching public transport are great ways to help reduce air pollution.
Dress carefully - Consider the clothing you purchase. Is it fast fashion? Is it ethically made?
Fast fashion is basically, mass production of an in- fashion item, that has been made with low quality materials in order to bring inexpensive styles to the public. Unfortunately, this often means the product falls apart and doesn’t last long, and ends up in land fill. Fast fashion also affects our wallets as we then purchase more clothing, when we could have spent more on quality to begin with and it would have lasted much longer. Fast Fashion items are often made with cheap and dangerous synthetic dyes, which not only flow into the water supplies in the overseas countries they are produced, but often also in your own wash at home after purchasing.
Think fresh - Buying fresh food from local farmers or buying organic means we are not only consuming fresher, healthier food but we are also supporting those who produce without the use of toxic pesticides. Your body will thank you for it and so will the farmers.
Save the trees - Print less in the workplace. At this point of time, we have so much access to digital, we can make conscious decisions to print less. Save the information to your computer or email. There are also alternative ways to market a business without producing huge amounts of catalogues and flyers.
And when you can, try to encourage your workplace to recycle any unwanted materials.
So there you have it!
Going Green is so much more than hugging trees!
It is about consciously contributing towards maintain and preserving our planet. It is about loving the earth you live on and wanting to treat it with respect. And with that respect and positive outlook, other positives will flow into your life and the lives of our future generations.
