Now that summer is officially here, we’re all obviously very excited about all the plans and trips we have planned with family and friends, but it’s also important to take a step back and evaluate the ways that our actions and activities are affecting our environment. Summer is as perfect of a time as any to embrace eco-friendly practices and make certain changes in our lifestyle.
By making conscious choices in our daily life, we can have a sustainable summer that lets us have fun and make amazing memories without compromising our planet’s beauty. Here are some environmentally friendly practices that you can incorporate into your summer routine!
Another Way to Get Around
Instead of getting to places in a car the way you usually do, spend the summer taking other modes of transportation that let you see new and exciting places with a different perspective, while also reducing your carbon footprint. When the days are just so beautiful, you should really spend your time enjoying it, and a great way to do so is by walking or riding your bike. Not only do you get a bit of cardio in, but you’re also removing emissions altogether.
For relatively far destinations like the beach or an amusement park, consider carpooling with your family and friends instead of taking separate vehicles. This allows you to lessen the environmental impact, while also being a much more fun way to travel. Apart from the different conversations you can have with your loved ones, you can also play some fun road trip games or make some stops along the way.
Embrace Sustainable Eating Habits
There’s something about summer that makes you want to eat as naturally as possible. But instead of simply popping into your local grocery store and buying your fresh produce there, you can choose to support the local farmers’ market instead. When the fruits and vegetables come straight from the ground, you know that it’s going to be fresh, and you get to support locally sourced produce in the process.
Reduce Waste
The bright summer sun might inspire you and your loved ones to take your meals outside with a picnic, but you might be producing a lot more plastic waste than you realize. Picnics usually come with food from restaurants and other establishments, and these often come with a lot of plastic.
Aside from choosing places with compostable packaging, you can also make your picnics a potluck as well and invite everyone to bring their own home-cooked meals to the gathering. Not only will this be much more interesting as you get to see everyone’s cooking capabilities, but you’ll also be cutting out single-use plastic altogether.
Along those same lines, when engaging in fun outdoor activities, make sure to clean up after yourselves, especially when this is taking place in public spaces. This includes picking up your trash and disposing of it properly, making sure that your gathering isn’t disrupting wildlife or vegetation, and staying in permitted spaces to preserve natural habitats as much as possible.
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