There are thousands of small actions and changes we can make in our habits to reduce our impact on the planet and thus achieve a more sustainable world. Below, we talk about the 5Rs (Reject, Replace, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) to help you think about your day-to-day life and how you can do your bit to be more environmentally friendly.
Reject
We must start to be aware of the power we have as consumers, and start to say NO to all those products that are harmful to the environment. If we decide to reject and not buy those products that are unnecessarily wrapped in plastic such as fruit or vegetables and buy those that are free of single-use plastic that we can easily find, in a short time we will stop selling fruit, vegetables or other products wrapped in plastic as supermarkets will see that they do not sell. Like this small action, there are hundreds of things we can change in our daily lives that, without any effort on our part, have a great positive impact on the ecosystem.
Another clear example, which is becoming more and more common in cities, are shops where you buy in bulk. Many people refuse to buy nuts, pasta, pulses or other foods packaged in plastic wrapping and shop in shops where these same products are available in bulk and served in paper bags.
Replace
In our daily lives we use many items that could easily be replaced by others with a much lower impact on the environment.
One option could be to choose the same product made from more responsible materials, such as bamboo toothbrushes, stainless steel straws, glass jars or bar soap.
Another option is to replace disposable products with one that has the same functionality, but with a longer life span, such as replacing paper hand towels with towels, using a menstrual cup or razors with replaceable blades.
In many cases, we only have to think about how our grandfathers and grandmothers did things and we are sure to find a more sustainable answer.
Reduce
Nowadays many resources are wasted that could be saved by acquiring small habits that are healthy for the planet. For example, we can reduce water consumption by stopping the water while brushing our teeth or rinsing with soap in the shower; we can also reduce electricity consumption by changing energy-consuming light bulbs for LEDS or turning off electronic devices completely instead of leaving them on Standby all day.
We can reduce plastic consumption by using reusable bags for shopping, or buy in bulk to avoid the plastic packaging that most products tend to have.
Reuse
Before throwing away something that has outlived its primary function, let's think about giving it a second use and thereby extending its life. Instead of buying plastic pots, we can use pots or containers that originally contained food or other objects and extend their useful life with another purpose such as pots for plants and flowers.
This technique of reusing objects to create new elements through creativity is known as Upcycling. More and more artists are using their imagination to transform waste into objects of great value and utility. But don't think that Upcycling is only for artists or artisans with great skills, nowadays, the internet is full of tutorials that teach us how to reuse objects such as making a "Chill Out" area from old pallets.
Recycle
It is very important to recycle correctly in order to obtain materials from objects that have reached the end of their useful life and thus be able to re-manufacture new objects without having to obtain the resources from nature and thus reduce our impact on the environment.
But recycling goes beyond separating packaging from glass and cardboard: how many of you dispose of your frying oil or canned food in a separate container instead of pouring it down the kitchen drain? Actions like these, however small they may seem on an individual level, together contribute to reducing pollution of both the seas and oceans and the planet.