SOMETIMES, SMALL ACTIONS HAVE BIG IMPACTS. MAKING A DIFFERENCE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE DIFFICULT, EXPENSIVE OR TIME-CONSUMING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SOMETIMES, WE CAN MAKE SMALL CHANGES HERE AND THERE WITHOUT MAKING ANY DRASTIC LIFE-CHANGING TURNAROUNDS AT ALL. BY PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAILS, YOUR ACTIONS MAY HAVE A FAR BIGGER IMPACT THAN YOU COULD EVER HAVE IMAGINED. BELOW WE HAVE LISTED SOME OF THESE SMALL CHANGES THAT WILL LEAD TO JUST BIG DIFFERENCES.
1. PLEASE REUSE
Reusing things is the easiest way to do something for the environment. Producing things takes natural resources and pollutes the environment, where as reusing something that is already made saves the resources. Absolutely everyone can do it, rich or poor, as it is for free.
All Bag-all products are specifically designed to last a really long time and can be used and reused, hundreds, if not thousands, of times. A reusable fabric bag is a great investment! Keep it in your purse and bring it around always! Whether you’re at the grocery store or in the mall, say no to plastic.
2. Don’t use paper towels
Think about it - do you really need to dry your hands on paper towels after a visit to the bathroom. Or press the dryer, which consumes a huge amount of energy? The answer is no. Wash your hands, then let them air dry. They are dry in a matter of minutes. We promise! Can you imagine how many trees this would save yearly? Hundreds of thousands is our guess!
3. Say goodbye to plastic straws!
With all of the alternatives we’re being offered today, there’s really no need to use traditional, plastic straws anymore. At this point, straws made of paper, bamboo, or metall can be found in most cities and stores. In Brooklyn, you’ll see people who bring their foldable, reusable straws everywhere! Do the planet a favor and skip plastic :)
4. DON’T LEAVE THE WATER RUNNING
Winter has hit New York and it’s getting colder and colder outside. However, skipping those long showers and turning the water off between shampooing and conditioning, and when brushing your teeth, makes a huge difference for the environment.
The same goes for doing the dishes. Turn the water off in-between rinsing plates and save tons of water!
5. A Vegetarian meal a day keeps the… climate change away
It’s a known fact that meat consumption isn’t the best for the environment - and it turns out - our bodies. Have you seen the movie Game Changer on Netflix? They make the point that eating meat is the equivalent to what smoking used to be, meaning adds for smoking back in the day showed cigarets to be healthy. Many now believe that meat is straight up bad for your health and causes many deaths a year. If you do not believe you can be a vegetarian full time, at least go vegetarian a few days a week. Cutting back on meat and being more mindful of other alternatives doesn’t hurt, and it’ll benefit both your body and the environment.
6. Get a reusable water bottle
Again, cutting back on plastic is one of the best things we can do for the environment. Getting a reusable water bottle that you can refill over and over again will save hundreds of plastic bottles every year! Also, what a great opportunity this is to get a unique water bottle and show off your style in a cool way.
7. MAKE YOUR HOME MORE ECO-FRIENDLY
Many people may not think about all of the small changes that can be implemented in their homes, in order to make it more sustainable. For example, the lights can be replaced with ECO friendly lightbulbs, the heat/AC can be switched off when not at home, and the clothes can be dried on a clothing rack.
Having many plants in your home is also a really good idea as it purifies the air and contributes oxygen.
There are so many small tweaks that can be done to a house without compromising on comfort or style.
8. Be mindful of your consumption habits - Shop second hand!
Shopping is fun! Don’t get us wrong - we love to shop too! However, choosing sustainable materials and things that are made to last will help the environment tremendously. For example, when purchasing a shirt, consider natural materials such as cotton, linen or cashmere. We know that these materials can be expensive, but the garments will also last longer than items made from different materials.
We also recommend second hand shopping, both when it comes to clothes, accessories and furniture! Reusing is one of the best ways to help the environment, and it’s also fun! For example, all the furniture in Bag-all stores are bought from flea markets.
9. Walk, ride a bike or take public transportation whenever you can
Sometimes, using a car is unavoidable, we know this, too. But, being mindful of other options and considering a train, bus, or bike from time to time can do wonders. In New York, we have something super helpful called, Revel. Revel is a service that offers electric scooters to whomever may need them. The scooters are parked on the streets of New York and many other major cities in the World, and with the help of the app, anyone can rent them for a certain amount of time. Electric options to cars are amazing, and whenever you can, remember that there are more ways than one to get from one place to another. Be creative and planet friendly.
10. RECYCLE
Whether you’re looking to get rid of old clothes, bottles, furniture or else, remember that most items can be recycled today. Also, before throwing something out, ask a friend, neighbor or family member if they would get some use out of your stuff.
If you are throwing something out, remember to dispose it where it should be disposed. It’s easy to throw everything in the same bin to save time, but it makes such a big difference if you take the time to separate plastic from paper and food from metal and electronics from cardboard. The little gestures that take you a couple of extra minutes are usually the small changes that make the biggest differences.
Together we can make a huge difference!
xox
Bag-all
