As we welcome the new year, many people start making resolutions to change certain habits in 2021. At Green Schools Green Future, we always encourage initiatives that can benefit both the planet and your own life. Here are three possible resolutions to live a more sustainable life:
1. Reducing plastic use
Using fewer plastic items is a great way to challenge yourself in the new year. As Susan Freinkel discusses in Plastic: A Toxic Love Story , we have produced nearly as much plastic in the last ten years as we have in all previous decades put together. This is a staggering statistic, but not entirely surprising. With such high plastic use, cutting down on plastics is a good step to take.
Freinkel predicts global plastic production could reach almost 2 trillion pounds by 2050 if current rates continue. This is 4 times as much plastic as our current consumption.
Plastic causes so much damage to the planet today. Single-use plastic containers and items end up in landfills or as litter, where they eventually enter streams and rivers that lead into the ocean. As a result, the plastics pose a risk to marine life who may consume the items as food or get tangled in the waste.
It is unrealistic to think we can all give up plastics. However, if we can all make small changes, we can reduce the harms. Here are some tips to Using bar soap or bar shampoo instead of bottled, or completely eliminating plastic water bottles from your home can be a simple challenge for you and your families in 2021. A challenge that planet Earth will really appreciate.
Learn more about the harmful effects of plastics.
2. Reduce EMF Exposure
With the recent lockdown in effect, it is easy to fall into the screen trap. As we sit at home, we often find ourselves scrolling endlessly on our phones or laptops. Many find themselves working from home, which ramps up screen time and sometimes removes a real “clock-out” time.
While screen time often takes away from time spent with family or enjoying nature, it is also a source of health problems for many people. EMFs (electromagnetic fields) comes from everyday devices such as phones, laptops, Bluetooth devices, and Wi-Fi routers. Excessive and prolonged exposure to EMFs can lead to numerous health issues. A few are:
- headaches
- anxiety
- insomnia
Extreme causes of high EMF exposure can lead to:
- damage to cells/li>
- Increased risk of cancer
- unusual growths
- female and male infertility
You can make changes to your routine to reduce exposure, such as:
- Using products from DefenderShield or Airestech to protect against EMF exposure
- Using the speaker function on your phone instead of holding it up to your ear
- Putting your phone on airplane mode when not in use
- Shutting your phone off completely at night to reduce blue light exposure
- Moving your Wi-Fi router to a less traffic-heavy location in your house
3. Shop Local
Use 2021 as your year to make healthy changes. Going to local stores and farmers’ markets is a great way to support your community.
Buying local promotes the local economy. After a difficult 2020 for many small businesses, it will be especially important to support locals in 2021 to create wealth and jobs in the local area.
This also reduces fossil fuel emissions from food transportation. When you shop local, your food is going from the farm to your table, reducing energy consumed through planes, trains, trucks, and ships.
Supporting local farmer markets also provides you with healthy options for fresh produce. Since many people start the new year with goals to eat healthier or lose weight, shopping local is a great way to start. The health benefits of local foods often outweigh products in grocery chains.
Conclusion
As we enter the new year, think about the changes you can make to benefit your life and the Earth. Cutting down on plastic use, reducing your EMF exposure, and shopping local are just a few options when considering beneficial lifestyle changes in 2021.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/emf
https://www.well.org/conscious-consumers/10-advantages-of-buying-local/
