Substantial Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint This Year
Every small step toward sustainability can significantly impact the environment, like turning off your lights and unplugging items when they aren’t in use to reduce your energy consumption. However, there are bigger measures you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and make a lasting impact on the environment. Here are some other substantial ways to become more eco-friendly this year.
Change Your Mode of Transportation
Driving harms the environment in many ways, from the fuel it takes to power them to the carbon emissions they release into the atmosphere. The average vehicle annually emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air. Options to minimize these emissions are riding your bike or walking whenever possible. You can also consider carpooling or using public transportation to reduce your carbon footprint.
Reducing your flying miles is another excellent way to be kind to the environment because air travel produces more carbon dioxide than vehicles by a landslide. Consider alternative means of transportation like taking a train for long distances or — if you must fly — opt for the nonstop routes to lower emissions. Keeping your car serviced and in optimal condition can also reduce energy consumption.
Watch What You Eat
Agriculture has a significant carbon footprint, with about 80% of land contributing to dairy and meat production. Switching to a plant-based diet can decrease land use for agriculture by 75%. Animal agriculture creates more greenhouse gas than vegetable proteins. Beans are an excellent source of fiber and protein that has much less impact on the environment.
Along with reducing your meat consumption, you can also shift towards seasonal eating. Eating seasonally means buying produce only when it’s in season, which results in fresher food and reduced emissions from transportation. If you live on the East Coast, fruits and vegetables in season in the spring include apricots, pineapple, asparagus, carrots and bok choy. On the West Coast, you might enjoy cauliflower, kale, squash and citrus fruits. Quick research or a trip to a farmer’s market will help you make the switch to seasonal eating.
Opt for Sustainable Materials
When purchasing new items, opting for the more sustainable option can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re remodeling your home, you can use materials like reclaimed wood. This wood is reclaimed during deconstruction and recycled to lend sustainability, rich history, and durability to your home.
Shopping at thrift and secondhand shops is another excellent way to practice sustainability. Avoid investing in fast fashion, which substantially negatively affects the environment. Vintage and retro clothing is making a comeback and is a small thing you can do for the planet. Sustainable brands are also available that care about the environment, make efforts to go green and contribute to making the world healthier.
Go Zero Waste
You might already live a low-waste lifestyle by making sustainable swaps when you can. If it suits your lifestyle, you can go a step further by striving for zero waste. This means essentially sending no waste to landfills. Living with zero waste is not an easy task, and it may not work for everyone.
If you want to go zero waste, start by evaluating how much garbage you produce and find ways to eliminate it. This could mean cutting out all disposable products, like plastic utensils, paper products, takeout containers and so on. For items that are still essential and need to be replaced eventually, like toothbrushes or sponges, choose compostable or recyclable materials.
To avoid waste from packaging, see if any stores in your area offer refillable options. These stores allow you to bring your own containers to fill with food, soap, cleaning products and more. If you do need to buy something that comes in normal packaging, aim to reuse as much as possible. Packaging like jars or shoeboxes can be reused in countless ways. In any other circumstances, only buy items that come in recyclable or compostable packaging.
Decreasing Your Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. It’s all connected, which is why it’s so vital that everyone does their part.
Being kind to the environment isn’t a one size fits all approach — you can control the gases you emit by making lifestyle changes that impact the planet's health. No step is too small, but bigger steps offer more opportunities for change.
