1- Use the Fish List as a reference for eco-friendly seafood choices. 90% of the large fish of the oceans are gone. Our oceans are being harvested at an alarming rate and the technology being used is extremely destructive. 75% of ocean fisheries are being fished to or beyond capacity. Commercial fishing methods are responsible for killing dolphins, sea turtles, seals, whales and sea birds as well. Farm raising poses negative environmental consequences as well.
Alternative: Make eco-friendly seafood choices. The Fish List is a handy little reference that makes it easy to do: (http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/SeafoodWatch/web/sfw_regional.aspx).
2- Shop in Style! BYOB: bring your own bags Worldwide, an estimated 4 billion plastic bags end up as litter each year. Tied end to end that’s enough to circle the earth 63 times. Alternative: Don’t take a bag unless you need one. (And contrary to popular belief, paper bags are no better than plastic!). And if you do, bring your own.
…and (of course) bottle. The negative impact of plastic bottles parallels the plastic bag problem. Approximately 40 billion plastic bottles are produced annually in the U.S. About two-thirds of them end up in landfills. The amount of petroleum saved by using post-consumer recycled bottles instead of virgin materials in the manufacturing process is enough to power a city the size of Atlanta for a year.
Alternative: buy a refillable water bottle or coffee mug – the bottle will pay for itself in no time, and Nubius just happens to carry the coolest options.
3- Say no to Styrofoam! Styrofoam is forever – it’s not biodegradable or easily recycled. 500 years from now, that cup you used for your morning beverage will still be sitting in a landfill – don’t let that be your legacy! 25 billion Styrofoam cups are thrown away a year.
Alternative: Bring your own mug. Buy recyclable and compostable paper cups.
4- Choose free range meats and poultry Large factory farms foul our lakes and rivers and threaten drinking-water supplies with pathogens and chemicals. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hog, chicken and cattle waste has polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states and contaminated groundwater in 17 states.They are the largest source of toxic ammonia air pollution in the U.S. The air around factory farms is contaminated with suspended dust particles, which have been linked to asthma, bronchitis and other diseases. Alternative: Purchase free range meats, poultry and eggs, or try an eco-friendly substitute such as tofu products or eco-friendly seafood.
5- Buy recycled – save our forests! Recycling paper prevents unnecessary destruction of natural resources. In addition to saving our forests, producing recycled paper uses less water and energy than paper made from trees.
Alternative: Whenever possible, buy unbleached and keep toxic chemicals out of the environment. Recycled paper towels, tissue, TP and napkins are available at most major retailers, or order online at www.seventhgeneration.com. Buy dishtowels or rags to wash and reuse.
6- Reduce your use of conventionally-grown cotton. It is one of the most toxic crops on earth, using over 25% of the world's insecticide and more than 10% of the pesticides, many of which are cancer-causing. Did you know? It takes about a third of a pound of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to grow enough cotton just to make a T-shirt.
Alternative: Buy organic or pre-owned when you can, and otherwise shop lightly - be cognizant of the hidden costs of purchasing so-called bargain cotton clothing.
7- Eat Organic – it’s better for you and gentler on the planet Modern agriculture is intrinsically destructive to the environment. Chemicals used in pesticides and herbicides destroy the quality of soil and reduce arable land, and continue to pollute air and water long after the crops have been harvested. And they’re often unnecessary. In the last 50 years, with the intense use of pesticides, the US has doubled the number of crops lost to pest. Worse than that, pesticides are harmful to humans. These chemicals are toxic by design. They kill bugs, weeds, fungi, rodents and other "pests." Although pesticides are regulated, actions are taken far too slowly…. the government said that highly toxic pesticides like DDT, chlordane, dursban and others were safe right up to the day the EPA banned them. See www.ewg.org to access a “chemical report card? for more details.
8- Don’t buy higher octane gas than you need
Only one car in ten manufactured since 1982 requires high-octane gasoline. High-octane gas releases more hazardous pollutants into the air, and may even be bad for your car.
Alternatives: Buy the lowest-octane gas your car requires as listed in your owner's manual. If possible, make your next car purchase a hybrid, or join up with friends from work or school and make a plan to commute. Or…ditch the car and take public transportation, ride a bike, or walk.
9- Beware of PVC plastic 70% of PVC is used in construction, but it is also found in everyday plastics, CD cases and some children’s toys. Vinyl chloride, the chemical used to make PVC, is a known human carcinogen. Also, additives, such as lead and cadmium, are sometimes added to PVC to keep it from breaking down; these additives can be particularly dangerous in children’s toys. PVC is also the least recycled plastic.
Alternative: Avoid plastics that are labeled as “PVC? or “#3.? Look for #1 and #2 plastics, which are easier to recycle and don’t produce as many toxins, or choose sustainable materials instead. Learn more about best and worst plastics: Take action to tell manufacturers to stop using PVC plastics, especially in children’s toys.
10- Ditch the disposables Avoid plastic forks and spoons. Disposable plastic utensils are not biodegradeable and not recyclable in most areas.
Alternative: Use compostable food service items. Companies such as Biocorp make cutlery from plant materials such as corn starch and cellulose.
Best option: Carry your own utensils or leave a set at your desk at work for daily use.
This list contains suggestions that seem most readily adoptable, but is by no means comprehensive. Alas, like housekeeping, it’s always a work in progress. Opt-in to Nubius e-news for bi-weekly updates, tips and resources.