In our modern day, there are so many factors that are constantly overlooked that have immense impacts on the planet. I know you have probably seen hundreds upon hundreds of videos, speeches, campaigns and posters about this topic, but I thought it would be good to write an article to just help summarise anything you can do and share some facts that you may not have known before.
So much waste is created from so many little actions. Throwing away your rubbish in the wrong bin, tossing litter on the side of the road, buying single-use plastic over and over again, and the list could go on. It may not seem like much now, but slowly and surely, it builds up to create enormous harmful impacts on our planet, like the damage to marine life, global warming, pollution, and once again, so much more.
Another huge contributor to our global crisis, is one of the most frequently occurring activities. Driving. You know those early morning traffic jams that last for hours on end? Frustrating, right? Well, they’re a problem for one of many reasons. This is because, as of right now, many owned cars run on fossil fuels, which are generated from long-dead plants and animals. They emit harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which contribute to global warming, and any oil spillages can be lethal to the environment, which destroys the beautiful scenery we are surrounded by.
This issue can easily be solved in several ways. You can carpool with friends or family, which makes travelling much more entertaining. Or, if you’re on your own, and only travelling a short distance, walking could be the perfect opportunity to enjoy some fresh air and hot sun. You could even ride a bicycle to travel, which will also improve your health, alongside being environmentally friendly. Even when ordering things online, you can think about where your desired products come from, and if possible, get it somewhere locally sourced.
Even daily, there are many ways you are already so sustainable, without even knowing it. Many calculators have small solar cells, which keep your calculator working by generating renewable solar electricity from the sun. The bottles many people use to keep their water cold or hot are also beneficial in reducing plastic waste from single-use bottles, and these are one of a whole lot of sustainable ways.
To be even more sustainable and environmentally friendly, what could you do? If you’re feeling especially ambitious, you could try growing your own plants, fruits, or vegetables, or do crafts using plastic/ paper waste to make interesting decorations. But of course, it doesn’t have to be big things. It could just be throwing your rubbish in the right areas, saving energy on transport occasionally, checking expiration dates on your food to prevent excess waste, reusing plastic bags, or even trying to make a delicious new recipe at home. There are so many ways you can help save the planet, so which one would you do?