Many people are attending classes, studying, and working from a home office. Here are a few ideas to reduce waste and energy use in your home office.
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I recently saw a post asking how to motivate behavioral change to encourage sustainable actions by individuals. I can’t remember where I saw the post so I can’t respond directly, but I can provide a few ideas here. Few people will make large lifestyle changes in a short period of time unless they are motivated by a crisis such as a serious health scare. Making small changes is much easier. Try choosing one small change and making it a habit. In a few weeks, when the first change is integrated into your lifestyle, choose another small change. The small changes will add up over time into a larger meaningful lifestyle change. The literature I have seen that discusses changing habits emphasizes a few major concepts. The bullet points below are from the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. I have also heard good reviews about “Tiny Habits” by BJ Fogg but have not read it. Both books emphasize making changes in small steps that eventually add up to big changes.
Phthalates are a class of synthetic chemicals that are widely used in a variety of consumer products including medical devices, food wrap, building materials, packaging, automotive parts, and children’s toys. Phthalates are also used in cosmetics to hold fragrance, reduce cracking of nail polish, reduce stiffness of hair spray, and make products more effectively penetrate and moisturize the skin. In children, phthalates pose risks to the development of the reproductive system, brain, and other organs. The chemicals may also be carcinogens and may pose risks for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Over time phthalates can leach out of products and diffuse into the air, water, food, house dust, soil, living organisms, and other media, particularly under conditions involving heat.
Some uses of phthalates, such as in children’s toys, are now prohibited in some countries. Some companies are changing their products to avoid use of phthalates. However, these chemicals are still found in large numbers of products. Phthalates are not included on labels for many products, so it takes some research to find products that do not use phthalates. The attached link has some information on how to reduce your exposure and help keep these chemicals out of the environment. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fighting-phthalates |
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