Newsflash! If you haven’t heard, our planet is in rough shape thanks to humanity’s tendency to overindulge in our most precious resources.
To put it into perspective, the World Oil Reserves have about 47 years left, sea levels are rising at the fastest rate in recent history due to global warming, and scientists estimate that 200 unique species go extinct every day. It’s like every time you turn on the news, the whole world is on fire.
But destructive as we are, humans are also brilliantly innovative. For every oil tycoon trying to keep their environmentally devastating industry afloat, there is another human being working to bring us revolutionary solutions.
Saving the world isn’t just up to the climate scientists and animal rights activists. The road to healing the earth is a long one, and we have some lofty demons to fight.
At TOMO, we believe that this change can come through unity, community, and constant innovation. Working together in harmony, leading with authenticity, and living in simplicity is necessary to bring real change.
Why You Should Care
A majority of the environmental problems we face have to do with a lack of corporate responsibility. Many of our favorite super-chains and big brands make statements daily about reducing their environmental impact. Yet, they continue to push plastics, animal-tested products, and pesticide-filled produce in our faces. It’s the only option most of us have.
Compared to the monolith of corporate greed, one person might feel too small to make a difference. This just isn’t true.
Despite the ugly truth of our planet’s destruction, even a tiny fraction of the 7.2 billion people on earth can tip the scales. If we band together against corruption and apathy in the world, we can push these tycoons out.
When you choose to make small changes to your lifestyle- to focus on simplicity and true happiness rather than wastefulness and fleeting comforts, you’ll start to feel the flow of nature within you wherever you go. The sun’s nourishing rays and the sound of ocean waves have a different vibe when you’re doing everything you can to give back to the earth that raised you.
If you’re unsure where to start, keep reading because we prepared 7 tips for you to live consciously in tune with your environment.
1. Go beyond "reduce, reuse, recycle."
This advice exists because it works, but you can tweak the formula to make it more beneficial for the environment.
Recycling is ineffective if you don’t know how to do it. Learn how and what to recycle and talk to your local recycling center to find out what they accept.
Apart from recycling, you can reduce how much you consume by mending your old goods and buying secondhand.
2. Eat animal products sparingly
Everyone has their vices. Some love chocolate and others drool over a good steak. The bad news is that meat and dairy farming is a significant contributor to the global crisis.
Mass deforestation for farms is driving many species to extinction, animal waste is poisoning our waterways, and livestock farming accounts for 14.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
You can have a juicy burger every once in a while, but treating meat as a treat could benefit the environment and your health.
3. Bring your own bag and water bottle
Ever enjoy a lovely day at the beach only to have your perfect environment permeated by a plastic bag blowing in the breeze? It’s an all too common occurrence nowadays.
500 million plastic bags are used and subsequently thrown out every year, but your one reusable plastic bag could save hundreds from the landfill in the same timespan.
The statistics speak for themselves here. Get yourself a cute reusable tote and ditch the plastic at the grocery store.
In the same vein, 40 billion plastic water bottles end up in the landfill each month. You can save over 1,000 plastic bottles every year by using a reusable water bottle.
4. Skip the dryer
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer, and it’s okay to indulge in this luxury every once in a while. However, dryers waste more energy than almost every other household appliance.
The reality is that air-drying your clothes makes them last longer, saves up to $100 in energy per year, and- if you can get them on a line- is a great excuse to spend time outdoors and in tune with nature.
5. Consider the compost
There are times when waste is inevitable. You might have soggy tea bags left from your morning ritual, paper scraps leftover from scrapbooking, or a plant that couldn’t quite feel your green thumb.
You can start composting to enrich the soil in your garden and reduce the amount of waste that goes to rot in a landfill.
6. Turn down the A/C
Speaking of energy-inefficient appliances, air conditioners contribute their fair share of environmental mayhem. For decades, the coolants initially used to supply air conditioners caused significant damage to our ozone layer.
While modern refrigerants are not nearly as damaging to the ozone, they still contribute heavily to global warming through the energy it takes to use them.
If it’s safe for you to do so, you can reduce your A/C usage by opting to use it only on the hottest days and relying on fans for moderate heat.
7. Buy local
When you shop locally, you give back to your neighbors and reduce the money that goes to the corporations exploiting the planet.
Shopping small businesses can help create local jobs and make your community thrive as a haven of entrepreneurship and creativity. You and your neighborhood will be healthier and more connected.
At the end of the day, the choices you make are what will ultimately help our planet thrive. Everything you do serves to bring you more in tune with the environment as a partner and protector.
Once we demand better quality and higher social responsibility from our products, lest we stop using them altogether, society will have to inevitably change along with us.
Together we can bring equilibrium back in the world to live in harmony for the coming millennia.
