Let’s be more eco-friendly
The Cambridge Dictionary defines “eco-friendly” as “not harmful to the environment, or trying to help the environment.” The interest in this way of living comes as people learn more about how damaging some human have on the environment.
While big industries are responsible for a bulk of the emissions in Canada (like oil and gas), there are things that can be done on a personal level that help to decrease the level of toxic gases released into our delicate atmosphere.
Reduce how much energy you use
In Ontario, electricity is mostly “clean”, meaning the resources used to generate energy don’t produce much greenhouse gases. It still doesn’t hurt to reduce how much energy (electricity) you use.
Here are some small, easy steps you can take: change to light emitting diode (LED) bulbs—they are brighter, last longer and use less energy (saving you money); turn off lights that aren’t in use; unplug things that aren’t in use.
Cut down your water use
According to torontohousing.ca, “only 9 per cent [of fresh water in Canada] is considered renewable and only 2.5 per cent is accessible.” It’s important to make sure that we use this limited resource responsibly.
Here are some activities that help to use less water: turn off your tap while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers; use a dishwasher—if you don’t have one, try turning off the water while you soap your dishes.
Take public transport
By taking public transit, you’re helping to reduce how many cars are on the road and lessening the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. A lot of cities’ transit systems, like Toronto, are changing to electric vehicles. This change also helps lessen emissions.
Compost
The waste you produce from your food—scraps, peels, etc.—is given a new purpose when you compost. In Toronto, compost is turned to gas and helps to provide fuel for vehicles and power city-owned buildings. Compost goes in a green bin or in-unit containers if you live in an apartment.
If you need help with composting, this City of Toronto webpage can help.
Throwaway culture and the invasion of plastic
Companies found a way to lessen costs by using plastic for products. Now we see plastics everywhere, in everything. This change led to the culture that we have today where many things are single-use. Being eco-friendly means being more aware of the things that you buy and how they are packaged.
Reduce your use of single-use plastics
Single-use plastics are products like plastic cutlery, straws, cups and bags. They are defined as products that normally only last for one use and then have to be disposed of. Since 2018, the Canadian government has taken some steps to address the problems with plastics. In recent years, they’ve prohibited the manufacturing of six single-use plastics. They specifically prohibited checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware (think takeout containers), ring carriers (the plastic that was used on soda), stir sticks, straws. We can still do our part as customers to be more aware of how we use and throw away plastic.
Switch to a reusable water bottle
Whether you’re at home or going out for the day, it’s good to get a reusable bottle. This helps to avoid buying one-time plastic bottles. Thermal bottles are preferred if you need your water, juice, etc. to remain at a certain temperature for a long time. It can be easy to think that you need different kinds of bottles in different colours, but one reuseable bottle is good enough. With the proper care, a single reusable water bottle can last you quite a while.
Recycle
Increasing how much you recycle starts by changing how you buy. Be conscious of the packaging your groceries come in. In some cases, some plastics aren’t recyclable, so make sure to check the packaging before purchasing.
The City of Toronto has a good guideline for what products are recyclable and how to dispose of them.
Don’t be a litterbug!
If you wear a disposable mask or have trash while you are out, make sure to throw them in the garbage, and not on the ground. Litter harms the environment, so let’s put it in its correct disposable bin, where it belongs.
Limit your fast fashion purchases
Fast fashion stores like H&M, Zara, and Old Navy play a big role in throwaway culture. They provide customers with trendy clothes that aren’t made to last, also known as fast fashion. As clothes get worn, customers throw them away. Those clothes then end up in landfills and contribute to greenhouse gases being released into the air.
Not to mention, the process for making these types of clothing isn’t good for the environment. What you can do is try to buy from stores that have good sustainability practices. Some Canadian choices are Kotn, tentree and Arc’teryx. The websites mygreencloset and goodonyou also have lists of other Canadian companies. Aside from buying, a good practice is to try to keep your clothes in good condition for as long as you can.
Here are even more things you can do:
- Switch your dish sponge to a dish brush
- Switch to solid bars for things like shampoo and dish liquid
- Grow a garden and make your own mulch
- Try to reduce how much meat you eat
- Switch to electronic mail (banks, phone bills, Internet bills) where you can
Greenwashing
Let’s talk about greenwashing. The term was coined by environmentalist Jay Westerveld in 1986. It refers to the advertising companies use to make their products look like they are better for the environment than they actually are. Greenwashing misleads customers into thinking that they are making informed decisions about their purchases when they aren’t. A report on H&M revealed they were promoting many of their clothing items as better for the environment than they actually were. Companies like H&M want to benefit from saying they are eco-friendly without actually changing anything.
Try to be vigilant when buying. Sites like Ecolabel Index help Canadian consumers to keep their eyes out for logos that certify eco-friendly goods and services.
There’s a quote that says, “perfect is the enemy of good”. You don’t need to be perfectly eco-friendly, you just have to make an attempt. In the words of singer Jana Stanfield: “You cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that you can do.”