As we go through our everyday life, we make choices. They can be more or less influencing our health and health of the Earth. But most of us can make the choices that have low environmental impact, if we only have the right information.
Here is the second part of my article.
6. Help To Change The Fast Fashion
- 5.5-9.5 trillion liters of water is used by fashion industry each year
- One of the 3 most polluting industries
- More than 8000 synthetic chemicals used
- 24% of the global pesticides usage to grow cotton (source: http://www.greenpeace.org)
- Support organizations trying to move fast fashion towards more sustainable one
- Write emails to your favorite brands (telling them that you love their products, but would purchase more if they were using sustainable and fair procedures)
- Shop second hand
- Choose clothes that you will be able to wear for years, not weeks
7. Be Conscious Of Overpackaging
- Many items in the shops have too much unnecessary packaging
- More packaging = more trash
- Try to pick the option with less (plastic) packaging
- Support organizations working towards package-free produce
- Shop on farmer´s market
8. Reduce – Refuse – Recycle
- We often buy unnecessary items that we do not use after all
- Remember, that there are resources, energy and maybe even human exploitation involved in the production of everything we buy
- Avoid buying things just because they are cheap
- Reduce what you need
- Refuse what you do not need
- Recycle and reuse what you can not reduce nor refuse
9. Bring Your Own Bag
- This year, 5 trillion plastic bags will be consumed worldwide (source)
- If discarded improperly, plastic bags kill marine life
- Plastic bags degrade into microplastics that get into our drinking water
- Surprisingly, cotton bags have higher impact on the environment, than plastic or paper bags (when their whole life cycle is considered, see the study here)
- Buy hemp or linen bag instead of cotton or polyester
- Reuse your plastic bag as many times as possible and then discard it properly
10. Buy Local Produce
- Transportation of goods accounts for a big part of their carbon footprint
- Regional food is often way more fresh and full of vitamins
- You can support your local economics and producers by buying local products and food
- Look at the country of origin and if possible, choose the product made or food produced the closest to your region
- Shop at farmer´s market
Extra Tip For People With Periods 🙂
- Lots of money spent monthly on menstrual pads and tampons
- These disposable products mean around 136 kg of additional trash during a woman´s lifetime (source)
- Regular pads and tampons contain toxins
- Consider buying a menstrual cup, it will last you for years
- You can choose from many brands of cups
- The cups are made of a medical grade silicone, which means no more toxins for your body and environment
- Save money and the environment in the long run
Silviology 
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