World Environment Day: How To Help Save The Planet

Since 1974, World Environment Day has been celebrated annually on the 5th June! The aim of this internationally-recognised day is to engage with governments, businesses, celebrities and citizens to focus their efforts on global environmental issues. World Environment Day calls us all to create a good relationship with nature, and to all do our part in raising awareness and coming up with solutions to help protect the planet.

Here are 9 simple ways to help save the planet.

Walk instead of drive 

We are all guilty of jumping into the car for short trips, but think before you do so! If you walk to the shops or to a nearby restaurant instead of driving, you will cut out on your carbon footprint. It will be good exercise for you too!

Buy from second hand stores

Aah.. pre-loved goodies - hated by some, loved by others! For some, the idea of purchasing something second hand might seem cheap but the reality is that you can find some amazing treasures, and at a fraction of their original cost! As a bonus, buying from charity stores ensures that your money spent is going towards a good cause, and things that would have otherwise been thrown away into a landfill are now being re-purposed and reused.

Don't throw away leftovers

If there are leftovers, please don't throw them away. There are various others ways to consciously deal with leftover food, such as giving it away to homeless people, freezing it for future meals, or composting any fresh produce.

Reduce Reuse Recycle

The amount of waste humans produce annually is pretty shocking. Good waste management follows the 3 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. Following the 3 Rs ensures that waste is managed in a way that will minimise its harmful impact on the planet. There are many products that can be repurposed through recycling and reusing. This will help to reduce the amount of waste which often ends up in landfills and oceans. 

Save plastic and glass containers and reuse them for storing food, detergents, jewellery, pens, pencils or any other odds and ends. Collect items such as paper, glass or cardboard that can be recycled. Check where your local recycling centre is in your community to drop off items or hire a recycling service to collect your materials.

Refuse the straw

Almost every restaurant you go to, a straw will be brought to your table along with drinks. This is an example of extreme waste being generated for minimal convenience. While straws may seem like a 'normal' part of dining out, the impact that straws have on wildlife and the ocean is not just unnecessary but extremely detrimental to ecosystems for years to come.

Many restaurants are now ditching plastic straws and instead offering paper straws. You can also purchase bamboo straws or metal straws which last a long time and are easy to take with you to restaurants. If you don't have reusable straws at hand, simply refuse the single use straws being offered to you, and drink directly from the glass.

Ditch single use plastic 

Avoiding the use of single use plastic straws, plastic bags and plastic bottles is an effective yet simple way to cut the waste. Single use plastic never disappears but breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces (micro-plastic) which are almost impossible to get rid of, and causes significant ecological issues. These plastics choke animals and release toxic chemicals into various ecosystems..

There are now reusable plastics being brought into the markets, as well as recyclable alternatives. An increasing number of businesses have also phased out plastic products and have replaced them with paper equivalents which are biodegradable and eco-friendly. We can look up to countries like Kenya and Rwanda in this regard. They have banned single use plastics in protected areas, and imposed restrictions on the manufacture, importation, and use of plastic bags used both commercially and in households. Let's hope that the rest of the world follows suit!

P.S. Slowly but surely, cosmetic brands are eradicating unnecessary plastic packaging for their products. Support them in ditching plastic bottles and going with be.bare Shampoo, Conditioner & Shaving Bars, as well as Olgani Toothpowder.

Plant a veggie garden

Start planting a veggie or herb garden to grow your fresh produce. There is nothing more local than your own back garden! As supermarket prices continue to soar, you will be cultivating your own produce at a fraction of the price and reducing the use of fossil fuels used to transport produce. Get into gardening, there’s nothing better than eating fresh organic veggies that you have grown with your hands! If you don't have the garden space, you can also sprout your own seeds in your kitchen! 

Tip: While bee populations are dying (which poses a serious threat to all species on planet earth), you can turn your garden into a bee-friendly garden. The more flowers you have, the more you'll attract bees. With more bees buzzing around, more pollination and honey-making will take place, and healthy bee colonies are able to thrive! 

Meatless Mondays

Did you know that eating less meat could help save the planet? Eating less meat can reduce your carbon footprint, as it is estimated that the meat industry generates approximately 20% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions! It will also help to save water because livestock need huge quantities to survive.

Cutting back your meat intake can also minimise chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and even cancer. Go meatless once a week by joining in the worldwide Meatless Monday campaign and do your bit for your health and the planet. You could also go vegetarian or vegan altogether – Mother Earth will thank you!

Shop online

Online shopping makes it easy for customers to browse and order almost any product, minus the travelling and carbon emissions related to visiting malls and physical shops. Studies show that physical shopping costs 24 times MORE carbon emissions than online shopping, on a worldwide scale! Boost your ethical shopping by not only shopping online, but making sure to purchase local, eco-friendly products!

P.S. Feelgood Health provides our worldwide customers with secure online shopping, door-to-door delivery, and FREE South African shipping for orders of R399 and above! 

If you have any queries, contact our team for FREE advice. We're always happy to hear from you!