{"id":6053,"date":"2021-04-21T17:51:04","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T17:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/wellness\/?p=6053"},"modified":"2021-04-21T17:51:08","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T17:51:08","slug":"how-to-make-everyday-earth-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/wellness\/blog\/how-to-make-everyday-earth-day\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Everyday Earth Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”Intro Blurb” content_max_width=”100%” width=”100%” title_text=”Earthday” image=”https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/wellness\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/04\/Earthday.jpg”]<\/p>\n

Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling aren\u2019t going to cut it if we want to make it to the year 3000 where we all hope to be living underwater<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span>s the Joe Bros put it<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span>. At this rate<\/span><\/span>, after watching\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Seaspiricy<\/span><\/span>\u00a0on Netflix,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we will be in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>submarines<\/span><\/span>\u00a0with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>thousands<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of dead fish\u00a0<\/span><\/span>floating\u00a0<\/span><\/span>around us<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and our great\u00a0<\/span><\/span>great<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>great<\/span><\/span>\u00a0granddaughter\u2013is NOT doing fine.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” title=”What is sustainability? ” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”What is Sustainability? Blurb” content_max_width=”100%” width=”100%”]<\/p>\n

Environmental sustainability is taking on the responsibility of interacting with the planet to maintain natural resources and avoid jeopardizing the ability for future generations to meet their needs. Things such as reducing your personal\u00a0<\/span>carbon<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>footprint<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>reducing<\/span>\u00a0the use of single use plastics<\/span>, and shopping second hand are all great examples of how one can practice being sustainable.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An easy way for me to practice sustainability is that whenever I go shopping, I ask \u201chow many\u00a0<\/span>li<\/span><\/i>ves<\/span><\/i>\u00a0can I get out of this product?\u201d By life, I mean how many ways I can re-use or repurpose this product to give it a sec<\/span>ond, third or even fourth life?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>The more lives you get from a product<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0the more sustainable it will be. Let me give you some of my personal favorite tips and tricks on being more sustainable and how to make everyday earth day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How to Make Everyday Earth Day<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” column_structure=”1_2,1_2″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” title=”Invest in a Reusable Single-Use Plastics ” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”Single-Use Plastic Blurb”]<\/p>\n

Water Bottle for School\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I invested in a metal leak-proof water bottle with a handle to use as my main water bottle\u00a0<\/span>to help reduce my single use plastic waste.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pro Tip:<\/em> Have one designated water bottle, or mug, specifically for what it is carrying. Over the years, I\u2019ve learned that it\u2019s best to have one\u00a0<\/span>water bottle<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>designated for each purpose. I have one that\u2019s just for water, one that\u2019s just for tea, and another just for coffee. This helps\u00a0<\/span>ensure that I always have the freshest tasting water and help<\/span>s to<\/span>\u00a0prevent the flavor profiles from mixing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reusable Straws & Other Re-Useable Single Use Plastics\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Save the Sea Turtles<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0has been a slogan for years<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>which has caused several major companies such as Starbucks to reinvent their packaging to help avoid si<\/span>ngle use plastic waste.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Investing in a set of reusable straws for at home or to stick on your keychain is another great way to help minimize the use of single-use plastics.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” title=”Give Your Product a Second Life & Shop Second Hand ” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”Second Hand Blurb”]<\/p>\n

Now before you start filling up your virtual shopping cart with eco-friendly products \u2013 hear me out. You are\u00a0<\/span>actually being<\/span>\u00a0counter-productive if you make the switch all at once. Think about what sustainability really means\u2013finding a second life for your product.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before throwing something out, ask yourself \u201chow can I give this product another life?\u201d Could you reuse it for something else at home? Could you paint it and sprinkle some glitter on it and transform it into something new? Is<\/span>\u00a0this something of value that\u00a0<\/span>you c<\/span>ould sell or donate? If yes\u2013then do it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the flip side,\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>hrifting clothes and shopping second hand<\/span>\u00a0ha<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>always been my go-to. Want already broken in jeans? Skip the shipping with S<\/span>hein<\/span>\u00a0and visit your local thrift stores to see what they have.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” type=”1_2″][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” title=”Wash & Deconstruct Recyclables ” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”Wash Recycle Blurb”]<\/p>\n

Did you know that not everything you put in your recycling bin\u00a0<\/span><\/span>actually gets<\/span><\/span>\u00a0recycled? Taking the extra step of washing out the containers and deconstructing them (such as breaking down boxes, ripping off paper labels, etc.) will exponentially increase their chances of getting recycled once they reach the facility.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” title=”Start a Bottle Brick ” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”Bottle Brick Blurb”]<\/p>\n

Elevate your recycling game to the next level by starting a bottle brick.\u00a0<\/span>Grab your nearest disposable plastic water bottle, a pair of scissors, a garbage can and start your very first bottle brick. A bottle brick is a plastic bottle that is packed ti<\/span>ghtly<\/span>\u00a0with single use plastics and packaging<\/span>\u00a0to create a brick of plastic.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only does this help condense the amount of single use plastics from floating in our oceans but you can donate your filled bottle\u00a0bricks\u00a0<\/span>to various\u00a0<\/span>accepting<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>locations<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.8.1″ _module_preset=”default” title=”Shop with Sustainability in Mind ” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ admin_label=”Shop Sustainably Blurb”]<\/p>\n

Everything we buy comes in packaging. Think about\u00a0<\/span>Halloween<\/span>\u00a0candy, hundreds of bite sized pieces of individually wrapped candy that comes in a bigger bag of\u00a0<\/span>plastic<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 that was probably put into another plastic bag as you walk out<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the store.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Personal hygiene products are a huge source of single use plastics that are nearly unavoidable to purchase. Here are some of my tips and tricks to help reduce waste on your self-care r<\/span>outine:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n