Reducing your Environmental Footprint

Have you ever wondered what you can do to help the environment? Or felt like your contribution will not make a difference? Well in this blog I am going to show you different ways you can reduce your footprint!

Here are 5 ways you can do it:

1. Bring your own bottle and straw – Bringing a bottle is one of the easiest things to do, and it has multiple uses. You can use it for water, smoothies or any other drink! Bringing your own bottle means that you will not have to contribute to the millions of water bottles thrown away each year. You will save money too, because you are not having to buy bottles and restaurants like Starbucks give you a discount.
2. Bring reusable fabric bags – Bringing your own bags to stores prevents the use of plastic bags which can take up to a thousand years to break down. using fabric bags means you have sturdy bags to carry your purchases and if they do break you can repurpose them.
3. Go to your local farmers market – Flagstaff has two of them! The Flagstaff Community Farmers Market, and the Flagstaff Farmers Market. Shopping local allows you to have other options, instead of stores to wrap everything in unnecessary plastics. Another bonus to shopping local is getting to know your community and others were trying to lessen their impact on the environment.
4. Bring a glass or stainless steel container – Bringing a container gives you the opportunity to refuse the styrofoam and plastic containers that cannot be recycled. glass and stainless steel or both reusable and recyclable. Now you have a way to bring home leftovers or bring your lunch with you, without having to throw away plastic.
5. Try going zero waste – Zero waste means you do not throw away anything, and you can do this by using the tips above! Going zero waste or even trying to reduce the amount that you throw away is a great way to realize how much we waste. This may be a difficult one but it’s so worth it! Going zero waste, or less waste reduces or impact on the climate, conserves resources, and prevents more pollution.

These are just some ways you can reduce your plastic waste footprint, and most of them are pretty easy. In fact, these five tips will save you money and time. When you reduce your impact on the environment you really do feel like you make a difference, and you feel empowered to encourage others to do the same!