As parents, we want the best for our children, and that includes passing down a livable, healthy planet.
There are many small things we can do every day to begin living a more sustainable life for us and our kids.
Today we are sharing 5 beginner-friendly ways to be eco-friendly that can help jumpstart a new habit or two into the daily rhythm of life, for a more sustainable future.
1. Reuse
We get it. Disposable items are convenient, especially as parents. Grocery bags, water bottles, sandwich bags, and packaged snacks are all common items in the American household. Swapping from disposable items to reusable ones is a great first step to being more eco-friendly, and not to mention a money saving hack!
Instead of:
A plastic grocery bag, use a reusable grocery bag
A single use water bottle, refill a stainless steel bottle. For toddlers we are biased towards our stainless steel straw cup. It’s lightweight, and keeps their drinks nice and cool.
Plastic sandwich bags, use glass tupperware.
Pre-packaged snacks, prep snacks ahead of time (our mason jars are great for holding small snacks on the go).
2. Conserve Energy
This is probably the simplest way to be more eco-friendly. Simply unplug items that are not in use. Children can easily participate in this by teaching them to turn off lights when they are leaving a room.
It’s a small way to make a big impact in the overall energy consumption of the home.
3. Go Meatless
Have the family go vegetarian or plant-based a day out of the week, or even just one meal out of the day. The overconsumption of meat has been proven to be detrimental to our health, and the planet.
Going meatless a couple times out of the month is a sure way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and as a bonus, it allows for more creativity in our meals with veggies (parent win)!
4. Walk or Carpool When Possible
If you’re in an area where you can walk, try walking to your different destinations, or carpool to your destination with friends. This is a huge money saving tip, but it also helps the planet in lessening the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere.
5. Get Involved
This last tip doubles as a great activity you can do with children. Sign up for local sustainable events. Maybe it’s a trash cleanup, or maybe it's even supporting local farms by bringing your own container and purchasing some fresh produce. Whatever it is, pencil a day out in your schedule to get involved in your community. You’d be surprised how many other people are also taking steps to live more eco-friendly.
