5 Ways to Be More Eco-Friendly This Week

Don’t stop looking for ways to lead a more sustainable & eco-friendly lifestyle just because Earth Day is over! Here are 5 simple daily tips you can do this week to make a difference.
Earth Day was last Friday, but that doesn’t mean we should stop looking out for the environment until next year! If we approach every day as “Earth Day,” with respect and care for our planet, we can make a big difference in the world on a long-term basis.
Here are 5 simple switches that you can make in your daily routine this week to reduce consumption, be more eco-friendly, and do your part for the environment.
Monday: Have a shower singalong.
……………………………………………Cut down on your water use today by timing your shower to your favorite song. Put on a tune that you love (preferably one that lasts less than five minutes), hop in the shower, sing your heart out, and hop out by the time it ends. The average American spends eight minutes in the shower a day, and uses about 18 gallons of water—see how much you can shave off this number today!
Tuesday: Make a zero-waste dinner.
It should come as no surprise that food waste is a huge problem—nearly 40 percent of food in the U.S. (along with the money, water, and energy used to create it) eventually ends up in a landfill.
Today, test your culinary creativity by preparing a dinner that’s entirely waste-free. That means no broccoli stems tossed in the trash, no misshapen tomatoes cast aside, and no leftovers thrown away—everything that’s edible should be, well, eaten. Anything from overripe bananas to avocado pits can be incorporated into a tasty meal, so take a cue from professional chefs like Dan Barber and reformulate your trash into tasty treasures.
Wednesday:…….
……………………………………………Thursday: Ditch the plastic.
Ready for a shocking stat? It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean, by weight, than fish. Plastic is one of the most egregious environment offenders, because it’s in just about everything and is often thrown away after just one use.
Today, in what’s likely the toughest challenge of the week, see if you can last the entire day without using any disposable plastic. That means no plastic shopping bags, no plastic-wrapped food, and no single-use cutlery. If you’re packing your lunch, transport it in reusable glass or steel containers. If you’re going grocery shopping, stick to loose fruits and veggies and grains and beans from bulk bins….
Friday:…………
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Read the full article at MindBodyGreen.com…