5 Ridiculously Easy Things You Can Start Doing From This Earth Day To Have A Huge Eco-Impact

On this Earth Day in 2022, we stand at a turning point in the future of our planet. As it is has been every year, this day sees the world highlight the issues we are facing and will continue to face as a planet if we do not change our ways.

There is hope at the end of this long tunnel and it’s looking green.

While every eco-friendly gesture counts, here are our top 5 easy practises you can adopt from today to make a difference.

1. EAT MORE PLANTS!

We can’t say this enough. Animal agriculture and the production of meat account for over 60% of the total greenhouse gas emissions.

Rearing animals for food are resource-intensive and don’t make ecological sense. Just to give you an example, generating 1kg of beef requires about 15,000 litres of water. The numbers for all the other animal foods are equally stunning, including fishing. Fisheries are destroying our oceans, and our planet needs the ocean to survive.

TO DO:

Replace your meat and dairy-heavy meals with plant-based foods. If you are someone who wants a close replacement to animal foods, you can try the various varieties of mock meats on offer in India. If you can’t do without your dahi, making vegan curd at home has never been easier, or you can just check if any of the vegan curd brands are available in your city.

2. REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, REPAIR & REFUSE

The 3Rs have now gotten upgraded to 5! The planet is counting on you and every small bit you can do matters!

Plastic waste is choking the planet and microplastics are EVERYWHERE!  Researchers recently found microplastics inside the umbilical cord blood of a human infant. We’re also literally breathing in microplastics with every breath. Reduce your dependency on plastic and non-biodegradable items, repair what you can and refuse whenever possible.

TO DO:

Find organisations in your city that recycle waste and donate your plastic and electronic waste to them. Always discard paper waste responsibly, if possible, sell it to your local raddiwala who can ensure it goes back to recycling plants.

3. USE ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS

It’s important to remember that every single thing that is man-made has an impact on the planet. With a burgeoning population, consumption goes up too. This puts extra stress on the planet. When we choose to buy products, we can make a difference by buying products that cause lesser harm to the environment. SLS, parabens, plastics, pesticides, and dyes are few among the many things that pollute our groundwater and oceans.

TO DO:

If you really have to buy something new, choose sustainable and cruelty-free products and try to buy products that come in recyclable or reusable packaging. Eco-friendly products are those which do not leave toxic residues during or after usage. Choose organic, local, natural, and handmade products from sustainable small businesses and always read labels to check the ingredients of every personal and home are product you use.

4. USE WATER MINDFULLY

It’s astonishing that even though 70% of our earth is made up of water, we have to still worry about it. The truth is that most of that water is not usable to humans because it is seawater.

We depend on finite sources of freshwater that are rapidly dwindling and at the same time our water sage affects the oceans. By reducing the amount of water we waste, we can directly and positively impact the ocean.

TO DO:

Check your home for water leaks and get them fixed. Use water-conserving tap heads and showerheads. Have shorter baths. Turn off the taps when you are brushing or shaving. Choose drought-resistant plants for your home. Encourage your community to adopt rainwater harvesting.

5. DONATE! DONATE! DONATE!

The world has enough people who need something you may not want. Our landfills are not only filling with waste products but are also being overburdened with useful things that we discard improperly.

These landfills just become a dumping ground where all kinds of waste get burnt together or it decomposes. The same waste also ends up polluting our water systems during the monsoons.

TO DO:

Declutter your home and belongings periodically and look for avenues to donate or sell. Lots of organisations accept used clothes, shoes, furniture, and jewellery to donate, upcycle or recycle. You can even list your belongings on thrift stores and sell whatever you are not using.

Like this? Read: UK Becomes The First Country to Declare Climate Change Emergency

Read More: Greta Thunberg Wants You To Go Vegan For Climate Change