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Politics and Activism

5 Easy Ways To Be More Eco-Friendly

Going green has never been easier

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https://www.instagram.com/diegocab93/
Julia Kane

We only have one planet and while it may seem like there's nothing you can do to change whats happening around you that's not true. While some of these changes may seem small, they add up and if enough people make them a real change can occur. Here are five easy things that won't completely disrupt your routine but can disrupt the effects of climate change.

1. Shampoo & Conditioner Bars

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While they may look pretty, shampoo and conditioner bottles are unnecessary and create a lot of waste. In fact, the number of shampoo bottles we throw out a year in the United States could fill 1,164 football fields. One solution to this issue would be to recycle your shampoo and conditioner bottles but that takes time and effort that some of us just don't have.

So why not just get rid of them all together? Lush as well as other companies sell shampoo and conditioner bars that will keep your hair just as silky smooth as your old shampoo and conditioner but could also save you money. These bars can last longer than the old liquid shampoo you used to use. It can last up to 80 washes!

They come in multiple scents and colors so no, you don't have to sacrifice your delicious lavender scented shampoo or conditioner you can just upgrade it. Trust me your hair will thank you and so will the environment.

https://earth911.com/living-well-being/easier-recy...

Links to Shampoo and Conditioner Bars!!:

https://www.lushusa.com/hair/shampoo-bars/?gclid=C...

2. Reusable Water Bottles

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In the past year, 50 billion water bottles were used by Americans but only 23 percent of those were recycled leaving 38 billion water bottles to be poured into our oceans and landfills, polluting our earth. While they may seem convenient in reality they cause more harm than good and tend to be quite expensive.

Their alternative, reusable water bottles, have a lot of perks. In addition to being eco-friendly, reusable water bottles keep your water cooler for longer, in the long run, save you money, lets you incorporate fruit or natural flavors into your water and allows you decorate them however you want to! While this change does not require a lot of effort it can help keep plastic out of our oceans and make a huge difference. So make the change!

https://www.banthebottle.net/bottled-water-facts/

Links To Reusable Water Bottles:

https://www.swellbottle.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwns_bBRB...

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=fruits+...

https://www.nalgene.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwns_bBRBCEiw...

3. Reusable Straws

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While all plastic is bad, plastic straws not only pose a threat to our climate they also have a negative impact on wildlife. These marine animals are eating these straws which are littered into the ocean causing these animals extreme harm and in some cases can even kill them. Companies such as Starbucks have begun to ban straws but this is only a start, as a society we need to stop using plastic straws altogether.

There are various alternatives to plastic straws or you can just stop using them period. Some of the most popular alternatives to plastic straws are silicone, metal, bamboo, paper and glass straws as well as many others. This change could help save millions of marine animals and save you a couple of bucks for your next vacation. So stop wasting money and plastic on straws and buy a reusable one.

https://get-green-now.com/environmental-impact-pla...

Link to Reusable Straws:

http://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-reusable-...

4. Go Thrifting Or Buy Eco-friendly Clothes

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Not only is thrifting a huge trend right now it is also trending for the environment. The toxic chemicals used to dye fabric and the amount of water used in their production can be extremely harmful to the environment. Now trust me I love shopping just as much as your next shoppoholic so I am by no means asking you to stop shopping I am only asking that you consciously choose to shop in an eco-friendly manner.

Thrifting allows for the recycling of clothes, cutting down the pollution as a result of clothing production, as well as adding a unique twist to your wardrobe. Now, if thrifting isn't for you there is another way to shop without destroying the environment thought it tends to be a little bit pricey. There are stores that use eco-friendly or reused materials to make their clothes and in their production reduce the amount of water used. So by no means stop shopping just shop smarter.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/fashion/e...

Links to eco-friendly stores:

https://www.thereformation.com

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-y...

Names of thrift stores in NYC:

https://fashionista.com/2016/01/nyc-thrift-stores

5. Eat Less Meat

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Meat has become such a huge part of the American culture but the reality is that it is killing our environment. The meat industry causes 40% more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the cars, trucks, SUV and ships greenhouse in the world combined.

While asking everyone to become a vegetarian is an unrealistic goal, substituting one meat meal a week for a vegetarian meal is not. In fact, if all Americans were to substitute one meal a week for a vegetarian one the reduction of carbon dioxide would be the same as if we took more than half a million cars off the road.

This small change would make a huge difference in the health of our environment as well as your own.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/the-b...

List of delicious vegetarian recipes:

https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-col...

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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