50+ Easy Resolutions to Reduce your Environmental Impact

It’s December 31st and I’m sitting here reflecting on 2021; the year of COP26, the ongoing pandemic and extreme weather events around the world. Locally, I saw pandemic closures, the temperatures hit historical highs with records being surpassed 3 days in a row, forest fires and debilitating smoke across the province. By the fall, the heat changed to flooding that wiped out towns and major highways. It hasn’t been all bad news, but these events certainly kept making headlines. People often seem powerless and overwhelmed and the question that keeps resonating is “how can we make a difference?”. These 50+ easy resolutions to reduce your environmental impact strive to make a difference and get you on your way to being eco-friendly.

Governments and corporations need to step up and do their part with policy changes and being good corporate citizens, but every person has the power to improve things.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
― Margaret Mead

It doesn’t need to be super difficult. Start small and get used to the change, then keep chipping away at the list. Before you know it, you will be an environmental change maker.

Get started; look through the list and start with a few. If you’ve been at this for years, hopefully you’ll find some new ideas.

50+ easy resolutions to reduce your environmental impact-

Reusables Instead of Disposables

Avoid trash in transition by steering clear of disposables. Switch to reusables.

Make sure to use what you already have or pass it on to someone in need. There is no point in creating more waste for environmentally friendly options. Once you need something, get the more sustainable option.

Bring your own cloth shopping tote/bags

It’s one of the easiest places to start, refuse plastic bags. We use 5 trillion plastic bags… per year! That’s 160,000 a second! And over 700 a year for every single person on the planet. We can do better than that.

Bring your own cloth produce bags

Who needs plastic produce bags? Most fruits and veggies don’t need a bag in your cart or basket. If you prefer a bag use a light, reusable cloth one.

12 minutes of use, 1000 years of pollution. Most bags are simply thrown out, less than 1 percent are recycled.

Buy in bulk

Learn to avoid plastic food packaging by buying in bulk. Other options are buying from farmer’s markets or from local vendors with reusable containers.

Reusable water bottle

Just say no to plastic bottled water. A million plastic bottles are bought every minute, fewer than half of the bottles are collected for recycling and just 7% of those collected were turned into new bottles. At this rate, by 2050 the ocean will contain more plastic by weight than fish.

With so many good quality reusable water bottles out there, there is no need for disposables. Choose glass or stainless steel water bottle (preferably plastic-free or at least BPA-free) some even filter tap water. If you do not trust tap water, filter or boil it beforehand (you use it for cooking already, right?)

Reusable coffee cups

It’s estimated that 600 billion disposable cups are used and discarded every year. 50 billion in the USA and 2.5 billion in the UK.

Disposable coffee cups and lids create an astronomical amount of waste. Bring your own mug. Otherwise, stop and enjoy the experience and ask to have it in a ceramic mug.

Reusable cutlery

Plastic cutlery gets used once and goes straight into the trash or worse: waterways and oceans. Use bamboo, stainless steel or camping utensils.

Reusable straws

Refuse plastic straws! Use stainless steel or glass straws. Otherwise, just skip it!

Reusable plates

Disposable cups or plates cups are garbage in a matter of minutes; sturdy camping ones are a great option.

Long lasting lunch containers

No need for disposable lunch bags when you can use steel food containers; mason jars, silicone reusable bags, bees wax wrap or tea towels.

Reusable take-out containers

Order in and transfer to your containers: stainless steel food containers, mason jars, bees wax food wrap, silicone reusable bags, dish towels, or take the time to eat in.

Cloth napkins

Paper napkins are a thing of the past, consider the trees, consider our future.

Reusable paper towels

Say no to paper towels, use microfibre, cotton cloths and reusable paper towels.

Handkerchiefs

These are nicer on your nose and solve the waste of tissues.

Natural dish sponges or wooden brushes

Cotton cloths, wooden brushes with natural bristles, loofahs or Swedish dish sponges easily replace the wasteful plastic ones.

Waste free coffee

There’s no need for wasteful coffee pads, filters, cones or pods. Use a simple french press, a moka pot or reusable coffee filter cones, pads or pods.

Loose leaf tea

Loose leaf tea and a tea strainer are a no brainer to avoid the waste of tea bags.

Avoid tin foil/ cling film

Put it in a food into a container or jar, Other options are bees wax food wrap, silicone covers, plate as a lid, or wrapping it in a dish towel.

Ditch the paper muffin liners

Grease your muffin tray or use silicone liners.

Baking parchment

Ditch the parchment paper by greasing the cake pan or using a silicon mat.

No need for toothpicks

Forget disposable toothpicks for your appetizers use stainless toothpicks or turkey lacers.

Go without cleaning wipes

We did just fine without them for years! Use microfibre or cotton cloths and your homemade vinegar cleaning solution (1/4 cup distilled vinegar + 1 cup of water)

No need for trash bags/ bin liners

Hopefully, at some point you might not need those anymore, until then- go for newspaper origami.

Say no to disposable liquid hand soap bottles

Refill reusable bottles or use bars of soap.

Disposable shampoo, conditioner or body wash

Opt for refills if you are lucky enough to have that option close by. If not use, shampoo and soap bars. Apple cider vinegar hair rinses can work wonders.

Reusable razors

Disposable razors and cartridges are super expensive and add up to have a large environmental impact. Use a straight-edge razor, safety razor or an electric shaver.

Cotton rounds

Washable cotton rounds are simple and reusable.

Avoid disposable creams and balms

Say no to plastic packaging by using bars or creams and balms in reusable containers. Make make your own with natural oilseed waxes.

Deodorant

Opt for a reusable holder with refills, deodorant in glass jars or in paper tubes. Alum stone deodorant is another low waste option.

Switch from plastic toothbrushes

Switch to bamboo, a compostable PLA or a toothbrush with a replaceable head.

Toothpaste

Avoid the plastic tube. Use toothpaste in a recyclable metal tube or refillable paste/tablets in glass jars.

Refillable dental floss

Switch to non plastic silk or corn based dental floss refills that come in a steel or glass container.

Toilet paper

Not everyone can have a bidet, but consider the Japanese seat or toilets as they have it figured out. Other low waste options are a handheld bidet or water bottle or even a wash cloth.

Also, Who Gives A Crap does great zero waste toilet paper.

Waste free period

A routine that can include a menstrual cup, washable panty liners, or period underwear such as Knix or Thinx.

50+ easy resolutions to reduce your environmental impact-

Food Waste

If food waste were measured as a country, it would be the world’s third worst emitter of greenhouse gases.

Americans toss out 133 billion pounds of food each year. That means about 40 percent of our food supply goes straight into the trash.

Wasting food also squanders the resources (like water and energy) that went into the production of that food. Here are some easy ways to shop and eat more efficiently to waste less food.

Make a plan

Tackling the grocery store aisles armed with a list can avoid an overloaded cart. Who needs items that will ultimately end up in the trash.

Track your trash

Start logging a weekly record of every moldy fruit and half-eaten food you toss in the trash. Over time, you can start to see patterns, and tweak your shopping habits accordingly.

Find your local food bank/kitchen

If you’re still buying more than you can eat, consider another possibility before trashing that still-good food. Lots of people in need would really appreciate the food you were just about to toss.

Understand expiration dates

I don’t recommend anyone drinking sour milk for the sake of saving the environment, but if you’re tossing food as soon as they hit the sell-by date, you could be wasting a lot of perfectly good food.

Food expiration dates actually refer to the product’s quality, not its safety. 

Learn to love leftovers

Throwing away leftovers just to avoid the boredom of eating the same thing isn’t the most eco-friendly option. Instead, simply enjoy not having to cook another meal. Breathe new life into those old meals by getting creative.

Experiment or, freeze leftovers and eat them down the road. 

Compost

This is the most eco-friendly disposal method. Composting means recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, which keeps food out of landfills.

Some communities have local composting programs. Or, start your own compost. New counter composers keep popping up and are a great option for small spaces.

Take it home

As restaurant portions keep getting bigger and bigger, it’s getting harder and harder for some of us to finish every bite.

Come prepared with a reusable container to take home whatever you don’t finish.

Use a smaller plate

Start small and get seconds if need be. Buffets are notorious traps for anyone whose eyes are bigger than their stomach.

Avoid temptation by starting with a smaller plate. The full plate will trick your brain into thinking you’ve gotten your money’s worth.

50+ easy resolutions to reduce your environmental impact-

Change your eating habits

Every stage of the food production process, from packaging to shipping, uses energy. And certain foods leave a bigger carbon footprint than others. Check out these tips for eating in a more environmentally friendly way.

Set small goals

Overhauling an entire diet at once can be a recipe for failure. A much more realistic approach is to set small goals. Swap out vegetables for meat one meal a week, or make a small percentage of your produce purchases organic. Build from there.

Buy organic

Buying organic is a vote towards more sustainable agriculture.

Eat less meat

Cattle use up the most land and produce more greenhouse gases than other animals raised for food. That’s why the most eco-friendly diet is meat-free, or at least beef-free.Producing 2 pounds of beef releases 132 pounds of greenhouse gasses. The same amount of peas? Just 2 pounds of greenhouse gasses.

The best bet is to choose vegetarian proteins or eggs. If your going to choose meat choose chicken or pork over beef.

Whole foods

Buying fruits and veggies is a smart move for the environment and your health. Wrapping each red pepper and head of cauliflower in its own plastic bag? Eh, not so much. Experts estimate it may take as long as 1,000 years for the average plastic bag to break down.

Buy fruit and veggies loose or use a reusable bag from home. Try to buy other foods with minimal packaging or even better make your own. Many things can be surprisingly easy to make, check out the zero waste chef.

Eat Local

Support local farms, vendors and farmer’s markets. It’s low waste, nutritious and environmentally friendly, not to mention very tasty. A great option is Community supported agriculture, it brings farm-fresh produce directly to you. Participants receive a box full of fruits and veggies every week. See if there’s a CSA near you.

Make your own

Learn some new skills and make a real difference. So much household waste comes into our homes through the kitchen.

Start with easy ones like pancakes from scratch, homemade granola or bread. Check out the zero waste chef for more ideas and inspiration.

Grow your own

People are taking eating into their own hands by growing their own food. It has many benefits and can save you money. A backyard garden might be ideal but you can can grow herbs on a windowsill or tomatoes in an indoor planter most city settings.

Avoid high-flying foods

Some foods spoil so fast that they wouldn’t survive a long-distance truck or boat trip; they have to be air-shipped to stores. Flying foods produces 50 times more CO₂ emissions than sending by boat or truck.

Find foods like asparagus, green beans, and berries locally instead of buying imported ones.

50+ easy resolutions to reduce your environmental impact-

Transportation

Keep the car at home, swap out your car for eco-friendly modes of transport like walking, biking, and public transportation.

Save money and improve your fitness, leaving the car at home. It also reduces the amount of greenhouse gases we release into the environment.

One powerful way to minimize the environmental impact of driving is to trade in your old gas guzzler for a more eco-friendly vehicle when the time comes. 

Bike to work

One study found that half of all car trips were less than 5 kilometres. Given the short distance, cycling or walking could easily substitute for 41 percent of these trips. Get fit, save money and drastically reduce emissions.

Walk

Sneak more walking into your daily routine and cut down on carbon emissions in the process. Walking is obviously not viable for long distances but works just fine for short local trips.

Use Transit

I live in a town with the slogan “hotties ride the bus”. You never know, you could meet your lifelong partner or maybe just your future ex, all while helping save the planet.

Switching to the subway cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 76 percent per passenger mile compared to driving your own car. Taking the bus drops emissions by 33 percent per passenger mile over commuting solo.

If you are lucky enough to ride the train or subway, use the extra time to catch up on emails, read a book, or get just a little more sleep.

Car Pool

For every person that shares a ride, it takes one car, and its greenhouse gas emissions, off the road.

The more people who jump on the carpooling bandwagon, the less congested the roads will become.

Double up on errands

Each time you drive to the supermarket, liquor store or drugstore, it burns fuel. Short trips are especially hard on fuel economy, because that cold engine needs time to warm up with each stop. Doubling up on errands saves fuel, driving time, and emissions.

Shop Online

Ditch the car entirely and shop online as it’s super easy.

It can lessen your carbon footprint. Make sure to avoid rushed shipping, buy more items together to minimize shipments, and support brands with eco packaging.

Telecommute

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average daily commute time is nearly 27 minutes. Eliminating the daily commute not only avoids wardrobe expenses and traffic headaches, but it also cuts down on emissions.

Maybe your work doesn’t suit or allow telecommuting. Just switching from a 5-day work week with 8-hour days to a 4-day work week with 10-hour days trims fuel use and emissions by 20 percent. 

Share a car

Why invest the money to buy a car, with all the maintenance and upkeep that goes with it? Car sharing services like Evo, Turo, Getaround, and Zipcar let drivers pick up a vehicle when they need it, and drop it back off when they’re done.

Car sharing cuts energy consumption by up to 47 percent, and CO₂ emissions by up to 65 percent, especially when the cars are hybrid or electric.

 

50+ easy resolutions to reduce your environmental impact-

Shop environmentally

Every single item we buy and it’s packaging and shipping have an impact on the environment every step of the way.

Keep the environment in mind with every purchase with intentional shopping. Achieve sustainability through fewer and better things.

Aim to support social benefit companies like Patagonia for example. They aim to be sustainable in all their practices, they also give back and support grass roots environmentalism.

Simple Cleaning

Some seemingly benign household cleaners secretly harbour indoor pollutants that can harm the environment and your health. Never mind the pollution caused by its production and packaging.

The next time the urge to clean strikes, consider concocting your own safer cleaning products. Many of them work just as well as the chemical-filled stuff. Or, do a little searching online to find the safest products.

Eco-friendly beauty

Even basic skin care can hide some very questionable ingredients. And because the FDA doesn’t require approval of most personal care products (makeup, perfume, lotion, etc.), you have to do your own cosmetic research.

Take a look at the safety information for the products you use. Then buy alternatives with ingredients that are friendlier on your body and the environment. Consider the packaging as well.

Buy Second Hand

Give second hand products a second life.

Okay, so there are some things we’d rather not buy used, toothbrushes and underwear among them. But often it’s possible to save money and the planet by purchasing a used product instead. Over a year ago, I purchased a second hand washing machine and used the parts to fix my existing one that the repair company recommended I get rid of. I saved money, avoided sending my machine to the dump and still have a functioning washing machine.

Used goods reduce your carbon footprint, since new products are typically shipped across the globe. Plus, they typically come with less packaging.

Appreciate old stuff

They don’t make things like they used to. Older products are often repairable and weren’t designed to become obsolescent in the short term.

Newer isn’t always better. Using what you already have (or what someone else already has, like my mom’s pyrex dishes) reduces the amount of resources needed to create and ship new products. Reusing is friendlier to the environment, and your wallet.

More energy efficient when it’s time to replace

While no one is suggesting that anyone switch their washing machine to a washboard, an upgrade may be in order. When the time comes to replacing appliances, aim for significantly more energy-efficient ones. Look for long lasting quality that is easy to repair.

50+ easy resolutions to reduce your environmental impact-

One minute to the new year

Some of the most obvious ways to help the environment are to conserve energy, create less trash and create less greenhouse gases.

“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world”

–Howard Zinn

Some say that being eco conscious is inconvenient. I would argue that the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation are and will be much more inconvenient.

Small lifestyle changes add up and are a win-win. Take for example, changing from disposable to reusable grocery bags. With a quality tote in hand you can say goodbye to the bottom of your full bag blowing out and the mess of shattered groceries on the sidewalk. You can also feel good about saving turtles lives as they have been know to mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. You can imagine the impact of eating plastic instead of food.

No effort is too trivial, so start with one then add some others from the 50+ easy resolutions to reduce your environmental impact.

Feel good about doing your part.

Please share on your socials or even better subscribe below for regular updates. Thanks for reading,

Pat

Other inspiring lists

40 unexpected ways you can help the environment right now

75 small ways to cut your waste

75 simple swaps to reduce your waste

142 Zero Waste Swaps And Essential Products

Reduce, reuse, recycle