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Reduce if you can't eliminate

4/28/2025

There are frequently very good reasons why we can’t or do not wish to eliminate an activity or product that works against our attempts to live sustainably. However, sometimes we can reduce the amount of that product or activity that we participate in. Reducing harmful impacts is one way to live more sustainably. Here are some thoughts:

Your morning cup of coffee might be really important to you. Rather than give it up, consider ways to make your habit more sustainable. Look for coffee that is made from fair trade or rain forest certified crops. If you make it at home, don’t use disposable pods and save the coffee grounds. The used coffee grounds make excellent fertilizer for houseplants, gardens, and lawns. If you get your coffee at the local coffee shop, take a reusable cup.
Changing to a powdered laundry detergent saves plastic and also the energy used to transport the water in liquid detergents. However, due to skin sensitivities, it may be difficult to find a brand of detergent that works for your household. If you need to use the liquid detergent for clothing, use a powdered detergent for towels and similar laundry loads. Choose fragrance free products and use cold water.
Sometimes people suggest giving up your car and using public transportation. In many areas, public transportation does not exist, and a car is a necessity. However, you can plan your trips to combine errands and reduce the total number of miles you drive each week.
Harsh cleaning chemicals might be necessary for a few situations, so use them (sparingly) when appropriate. Use something more earth-friendly for everything else.
Many public restrooms offer only paper towels for drying hands. Instead of automatically grabbing two or three, try to get by with one. Shake your hands well before you dry them (this also helps reduce the time needed for an air dryer) so there is less water to absorb.
A fully vegan diet will not work for many people. However, you can still make a difference just by changing a few meals a week to substitute plant-based protein options or choosing poultry or eggs over beef or pork.

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Earth Day sustainability tips

4/20/2025

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Earth Day is April 22. Earth Day is a good day to reflect on our planet, home to a marvelous community of living things. Take a minute to thank the earth. Then take a few more minutes to think about taking care of the earth. Unfortunately, humanity is not taking very good care of our planet (and there is no planet B). Remember that baby steps are fine and small actions add up. Happy Earth Day, 2025!

https://www.npr.org/2022/04/18/1093387207/earth-day-live-sustainably-tips

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Environmental cost of electronics

4/13/2025

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This is a good article on the environmental cost of all those electronic devices we use. It covers manufacturing, use, and disposal, and then presents some suggestions to minimize the environmental impact of the electronics we use. A few suggestions to highlight:

Turn it off or unplug it when it’s not in use. Many of these devices draw small amounts of power even when they’re turned off.
Keep your devices a little longer and repair them instead of replacing them. When you replace them, buy the most energy efficient models or buy refurbished.
Before you buy a new electronic gadget, think about how much you are actually going to use it. Maybe you don’t need it after all.
When electronics are ready for disposal, take them to a reputable electronics disposal facility so that valuable materials can be recycled and toxic waste products can be appropriately managed.

https://earth.org/the-hidden-environmental-cost-of-your-devices-and-actionable-steps-to-reduce-it/

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