PODCAST: 10 easy ways to be more eco-friendly in the new year

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Nonetheless searching for a decision to begin the brand new 12 months on the correct foot — how about creating inexperienced habits!

The brand new 12 months presents an incredible alternative to stay extra sustainably, and you are able to do simply that by following a few of these straightforward suggestions.

You may hearken to the dialog right here and browse extra under:

1) Scale back meals waste

One option to cut back meals waste is to take stock of what you have already got earlier than heading out to the grocery retailer.

In line with the Division of Environmental Providers, Hawaii residents throw away about 25% of all meals and beverage purchases, which equals to a lack of about $700 per particular person yearly.

By shopping for extra responsibly, you cut back your possibilities of letting meals sit and expire, and it saves you cash.

2) Store native

Procuring at native companies has many advantages. It not solely cuts down on carbon emissions by not shopping for shipped items, it additionally helps Hawaii artists and bolsters the economic system by conserving these {dollars} in our state.

On high of that, some eco-friendly companies additionally donate a part of their gross sales to environmental organizations working in conservation.

Simply search for that “Made in Hawaii” tag.

3) Use eco-friendly cleansing merchandise

With many cleansing merchandise bought in plastic containers that take years to decompose, some firms are beginning to change to greener formulation.

For instance, as a substitute of liquid detergent, that normally consists of principally water, one firm has created sheets of detergent that dissolve within the wash.

Different firms have additionally created dissolvable cleansing tablets the place you’ll be able to refill a squeeze bottle you already personal with water.

There are additionally brick-and-mortar shops in Hawaii the place you’ll be able to refill on cleaning soap, shampoo and different hygiene merchandise — you simply should carry your individual bottle or perhaps a mason jar to refill.

4) Lower out single-use plastics

You’ve heard it time and time once more, however bringing your individual water bottler or flask can tremendously minimize plastic waste in Hawaii and around the globe.

In line with the World Wildlife Fund, it may take as much as 450 years for one plastic water bottle to decompose — and whenever you add on plastic utensils, that’s tons of of extra years.

Whereas there are plastic bans in impact in Hawaii — for plastic grocery luggage and a motion to implement compostable cutlery and take-out containers — the easiest way to chop down on single-use objects is to hold round objects we already personal at house, whether or not that be metallic utensils and reusable water bottles.

5) Eat much less meat

Now, we aren’t saying it’s important to be vegetarian or vegan to stay extra sustainably, however a good way to consider consuming much less meat is to stay by the saying: “every part sparsely.”

In line with the United Nations’ Meals and Agriculture Group, 14.5% of all human-caused greenhouse gasoline emissions are attributed to livestock farming, which produces carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — all main causes to world warming and local weather change.

Due to these statistics, when it’s attainable, attempt to minimize out meat in a few of your meals. There’s numerous alternate options on the market, from utilizing simply veggies, tofu and perhaps even dabbling in plant-based meat.

6) Begin your individual little house backyard

Whereas beginning a backyard could be daunting, the secret’s beginning small. Even when you don’t have an enormous yard or perhaps stay in an residence, there are literally some meals which might be straightforward to develop.

For instance, inexperienced onions develop quite nicely indoors, you’ll be able to usually replant the basis finish after chopping up the highest. Rising herbs are additionally an incredible choice to usher in contemporary flavors, and if you’re up for a problem you possibly can additionally attempt planting lettuce and carrots.

Plus, group gardens are rising in recognition the place you’ll be able to develop extra fruits and veggies in a shared area.

7) Use electrical energy properly

The easiest way to do that is to unplug your units and wires from electrical retailers when not in use. When you don’t, you possibly can be shedding your cash to phantom electrical energy.

A straightforward option to cut back the price and environmental influence is to make it a behavior of unplugging, utilizing good energy strips and fully shutting off units reminiscent of TVs and computer systems as a substitute of leaving them on standby mode.

And when you haven’t but, change out these incandescent mild bulbs to LEDs.

8) Occurring a path or to the seashore? Decide up your trash

In Hawaii, locals and guests alike take pleasure in enjoyable at lovely seashores and strolling alongside picturesque climbing trails, however to maintain these locations wanting like this, we additionally should malama the land.

This why it’s essential to choose up what you pack in. Abandoning trash doesn’t solely influence folks, it impacts the animals and vegetation that stay and develop there too.

Even when it isn’t your trash — and it’s secure to choose up — throw that out too. It’s all our kuleana to look after the locations we go to and name house.

9) Volunteer on group work days

Top-of-the-line methods to offer again to your group is volunteering.

There are tons of organizations throughout Hawaii that host volunteer days the place folks can take part in seashore cleanups, kalo planting, invasive species elimination and so many different vital duties.

Doing occasions reminiscent of these are extraordinarily rewarding and also you go house realizing that you simply had an lively position in combatting environmental points on an area degree.

For a listing of some organizations, click on right here.

10) Vote: Your voice issues

Whereas there’s many issues we will do on the person degree to scale back our influence on the atmosphere, greater change comes from authorities motion.

By voting in leaders who put local weather and other people as high priorities, we will secure guard native ecosystems, create extra resilient infrastructure and work to assist underserved communities who usually take the the brunt of local weather catastrophes.

At it’s core, the struggle in opposition to local weather change just isn’t solely an environmental downside, it impacts folks too.

For extra on the dialog, hearken to Episode 13 of Repairing Earth, “Creating Inexperienced Habits,” on the HNN web site or anyplace you get your podcasts.

Copyright 2023 Hawaii Information Now. All rights reserved.