With the start of a new year comes hope and change and most importantly, opportunity. It´s this time of year when most of us start compiling unrealistic, unobtainable resolutions for the year ahead. So this year, let´s do it a little differently. Below is our list which tackles the most common New Year´s resolutions with a ´green twist´…
Resolution #1: More Family Time
- Explore the great out doors with the kids – do some research and find out more about the environmental treasures in your own back garden or teach them how to plant your own herb garden at home
- Your significant other – take weekly trips to your local farmer´s market and help sustain local growers while enjoying the fresh, organic produce
- Parents – repay your folks for all the meals they prepared for you when you were a child and make mom´s favorite recipes using environmentally conscious ingredients.
Resolution #2: Resurrect the workout
- Take a jog around the neighbourhood instead of driving to the gym and using the treadmill
- Cycle to work
- Round up the kids and the dogs and enjoy a brisk evening walk on the promenade
Resolution #3: Kick the butt
We know about the health risks that smoking carries for your body but what do cigarettes cost the planet? According to TreeHugger, “Each year, nearly 600 million trees are destroyed to provide fuel to dry tobacco. Put in another way, one tree is destroyed for every 300 cigarettes. Globally, tobacco curing requires 11.4 million tons of solid wood annually.”
But once the crop is stable, it takes quite a bit to keep it going. “Tobacco is a sensitive plant prone to many diseases. It therefore requires huge chemical inputs: up to 16 applications of pesticide are recommended during one three-month growing period.”
But the planetary harm of cigarettes doesn’t stop at production. One of the most environmental damaging results of the cigarette industry lies in the trash. During the 2008 International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers collected 1,362,741 cigarette butts along U.S. coastlines.
Do you really need any more reasons…?
Resolution #4: Get out of debt
Many believe that balancing a budget and going green don’t exactly fit together, but the truth is, the two go hand-in-hand. Though many eco-luxuries may still be out of reach for most, many daily green activities can actually save you money e.g. grow your own veggie garden, reuse, recycle and reinvent your wardrobe.
Resolution #5: Take time out
Although there are many ways to add relaxation to your list – yoga, mediation, organization – a good old fashion holiday can often do the trick. While planning and saving for your next trip, keep in mind the keys to green traveling.
Eco-tourism is about respect for the environment. If you’re traveling by car, remember to reduce your potential waste by using reusable storage containers for travel snacks and other take-along items. And, for optimal gas mileage, ensure your vehicle is in tip-top shape before hitting the road, therefore reducing its environmental impact. If you´re going abroad, click here to check out the world´s top eco destinations.
What´s on your green resolution list…?
Happy New Year!!
Nicola
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