With Earth Day just a couple of days away, here are our final two tips to make your month a green one.
Thursday, April 21: #ReuseThursday
Instead of throwing out or recycling your paper grocery bags, save them and reuse. Tag-team the effort with your co-workers and friends, asking everyone to bring in one item or product to trade that they might have otherwise thrown out. Another fun spin could be a clothing swap with friends. Why buy more when you can get new, usable treasures for free!
If you’re feeling crafty, check out BoredPanda.com to get creative with home décor repurposing ideas!
Friday, April 22: #EasyEco
Being kinder to the environment can sometimes feel daunting, but it is not as hard as it seems. To carry you into the weekend, here are five ways to save the planet at home thanks to Real Simple magazine:
- Use bar soap instead of liquid soap. Liquid soap uses 20 times more energy for packaging!
- Check your electronic settings at home. Unplugging or switching to “home” mode before leaving can cut energy use by up to 50%!
- Attempt to not run the dishwasher and clothes dryer simultaneously. Plus, during off-peak hours between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., utility companies tend to charge less. The planet and your pocketbook will thank you!
- Don’t toss your coffee pods—recycle them. About 9.8 billion pods were sold in 2014, and the No. 7 plastic is not accepted at many recycling plants, especially if there is still coffee in them. Search “No. 7 plastic” online to find a facility near you!
- Goodbye, aluminum foil. Hello, parchment paper. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans threw out about 2.8 million tons of aluminum in 2013. Dirty foil cannot be recycled. Switching to unbleached parchment paper for cooking needs is an #easyeco fix!
From all of us at Align Impact, happy Earth Day!
