LIFE

Fact: Plastic kills 100 million animals per year. And if that doesn't get you to start reusing and reducing, we don't know what will. That's why we've got 20 easy ways to go more sustainable—right now.

Tip your hat to the patron saint of climate change (Greta Thunburg, ofc) and take strides to reduce your environmental impact this year. Turns out that tiny tweaks (think: using your own fork with your Chipotle takeout; trying to curb your food waste) can add up to major change, especially when we *all* do it. And that's pretty revolutionary. Get ready to level up your greenness...

Bring your own. Napkins and cutlery from fast-casual and fast-food restaurants clutter landfills. Next time you pick up your *delish* takeout or curbside pickup, be sure to pair with a cloth napkin and your own utensils. 

Skip the straw. Or better yet, get a reusable rainbow one from FinalStraw. This ingenious fold-up model comes with its own carrying case and telescoping cleaning brush *and* helps protect cute li'l turtles, too.

Keep a hanky handy. Yeah, tissues are a godsend when allergy season hits. But that ever-increasing mountain of discarded Kleenex? Ugh. Cut down on waste (and trips to the grocery store) with an old-fashioned hanky—just wipe, wash, repeat. 

Try a menstrual cup. You don't want to know how many tampons get thrown in landfills each year (the average person uses 10,000 in a lifetime, so yeah, it's a lot). A greener option when you're bleeding? Nixit's medical-grade silicone menstrual cup. It's surprisingly easy to use, holds up to four tampons' worth and is wayyyy better for the Earth. Period.

Switch to tree-free TP. More than 7 billion rolls of toilet paper are sold in the U.S. each year. That's a lot of trees harmed in the making. Bamboo is a more renewable resource and is 100% biodegradable to boot (check out some purr-fect rolls here).

Unplug electronics. We know, we know, someone's always yelling for you to turn the lights off after you leave a room. But turns out, they're right. Anywhere from 5 to 10% of your house's power is sourced from appliances that are just sitting on standby. Meaning it's time to pull the plug on that printer you barely use.

Line-dry more laundry. Find a foldable drying rack and get hanging: It's not only better for your clothes, it's better for the planet. Sure, drying your duds in the machine is faster, but it also causes fibers to break down quicker, meaning you'll need to buy new clothes sooner—it's a vicious cycle.

Hands off the thermostat. Constantly complaining about feeling cold? Hate being hot? Don't run to the HVAC. All those mini thermostat adjustments add up to a major energy drag—and extra $$, too. Instead, try popping on a sweater/using a fan.

Clean with a conscience. How many of your family's cleaning products are housed in plastic bottles or filled with harmful ingredients? Try swapping your hand soap for a bar and skip the paper towels in favor of a classic sponge or rag.

One word: Carpool. Once social distancing is over, you're going to want to spend *all* the quality time with your friends—why not organize a carpool to help keep more cars off the road (and give you an extra bonding sesh with your squad)?

Plog along. The Swedish concept of plogging—picking up litter while jogging (or dog-walking!) might sound like it takes a ton of extra time, but just think of all the do-gooder bennies you'll get in addition to those exercise endorphins. Don't have plastic gloves to touch trash? Try it in your own house—take a walk through the halls and throw out any trash you see. 

Get jazzed about recycling. Yes, it takes a tiny bit of time ot break down a box or rinse out that glass pickle jar, but in truth it's a nominal amount of work for you to ensure that your recyclable waste actually ends up where it's supposed to go (i.e., not a landfill).

Avoid SUP (single-use plastic). Even just starting to notice the amount of SUP that passes through your hands is a good first step: From sandwich baggies to water bottles to plastic cotton swabs and floss picks, we normally just toss these items without a second thought. But even though they're small, they add up to literally tons of landfill waste every year. Yikes.

Reuse it first. The second part of avoiding SUP? Actually reusing it when/where you can. In depressing news, Greenpeace discovered that just 9% of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled. And those bottles we drop in the bin? They're only able to be turned into another product one time in their lifecycle. Your best bet? Turn that plastic water bottle into a flower vase. Use those old containers as easy storage for your craft supplies. The key is to get creative with your plastic waste (oh, and buy less).

Ban the bags. Once we're able to shop safely again, challenge yourself to swap plastic bags for this trendy tote. Forgot your sack? Carry home all those birthday cards, nail polishes and candles you just bought at Target. But don't toss your current plastic bags into the trash just yet: Reuse them first (for scooping kitty litter or dog poop, holding other garbage or plogging). 

Eat more plants. It's likely no surprise that animal proteins (meat, dairy and eggs) use more environmental resources than, say, lentils, rice and beans. Just making small swaps every week (like only eating meat on the weekends or just at dinner or swapping your regular egg sammie for overnight oats), can really add up in benefits for the planet—and your body. 

Cut down on food waste. Always scraping leftovers into the trash? Ask mom to freeze those spare servings of her favorite chili, take smaller portions (you can always go back for seconds) and sit down with your parents to help meal plan *before* placing your grocery delivery order.

Start composting. It's way easier than you think to turn your food scraps into nutrient-rich soil. Scout your area for a composting drop-off spot (some natural food stores offer this service) or persuade the 'rents to get an outdoor compost roller. Then, just keep a big glass jar or bin with a lid on your counter and fill with veg and fruit peels, tea bags, eggshells, paper towels and other compostable bits, and empty as needed.

Shop secondhand. Opting for thrifted clothes over brand-new pieces benefits the environment by reducing carbon emissions, waste and even saves water. And with so many cool apps out there, it's easier than ever to find good thrifted pieces. Download Depop, Poshmark, The RealReal or Tradesy to get shockingly good deals on new-to-you designer and vintage duds.

Learn to sew. Repairing a lost button, stitching a patch on your jeans or transforming an old tee into a totally new blouse (grab a kit from SewSquad) used to be common knowledge, but it's really a lost art. Ask your parents or get on FaceTime with your grandma to show you the ropes (er, threads), and start watching your donation pile diminish.

How can you be green today? Comment below!

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our April/May 2020 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE. 

by Jessica D'Argenio Waller | 4/22/2020