What Steps Can You Take To Help The Environment?

 The attention recently has been on the COVID-19 pandemic, and while this is clearly the main issue at the moment, it means that other critical topics have been pushed to the side. Climate change is a prime example of this.

Climate change has been in the spotlight in recent years, and understandably so, as have the steps we all need to take to stop and reverse its consequences as much as possible. The Extinction Rebellion marches and Greta Thunberg have made huge steps in highlighting the issues. 

Here are some of the things you can do to help. Even the tiniest improvements are a step in the right direction.

Image via Pixabay

Minimize your meat consumption

Veganism and vegetarianism have recently gained popularity, and while they have many benefits, it is not an option that everybody wants or can make. However, we should all make a small reduction in our meat consumption, even if it's only one meal per week. It's a lot simpler than it sounds, and there are many alternatives to meat on the shelves in the supermarket - just look at this No Evil Foods review.

When you do eat meat, try to buy it from a local source wherever possible, and keep in mind that beef has a high carbon footprint.

Ditch the one-use plastic

To put it bluntly, plastic is now the environment's menace. Even the tiniest piece of plastic will take hundreds of years to degrade, and until then, it sits in landfills, floats in the sea, and does immense harm to our rivers and oceans, as well as the animals that live there. It also consumes a tremendous amount of natural resources to manufacture. Some plastics are more straightforward to remove from our lifestyle than others. Instead of buying bottles, take a reusable water bottle out with you and fill it up. Instead of buying shower gel or shampoo in plastic bottles, try organic soap and shampoo bars.

It is not just single-use plastics we should be ditching. We are all required to wear masks at the moment, and while it is important that we continue to do so, disposable masks will pose a significant problem. Using reusable masks that can be washed and reused as much as possible. If you must use disposables, make sure they are properly disposed of in a bin.

Reduce, reuse and recycle

The first thing we can do is cut down on the amount of ‘stuff' we use. Consider anything you purchase or use and ask yourself if it is something you really need. If you do need to purchase it, consider how you may be able to reuse it. Have you ordered takeout for dinner? Using the plastic tubs to freeze cooked-in-batch meals. Is it possible that the side table has seen better days? Can you upcycle it instead of buying a new one? Finally, if none of the options above are feasible, recycle all you can. Every municipality appears to have its own set of rules and guidelines for what can be recycled and when, so double-check.