As the climate crisis looms ever closer, most of us wish we could come together to help the environment. But as individuals, we often feel paralyzed to rein in the disasters and keep our planet from melting, all while witnessing how corporate polluters only add more fuel to the fire. Thankfully, there is a way to lessen the devastating effects of climate change, and it all starts with our everyday choices.
So let us introduce you to the 'ReduceWasteNow' project. This online purveyor set out on a mission to share advice about simple life adjustments that can help us do our bit to protect the environment. Their 'Old Me vs. New Me' series reminds us that we have a personal responsibility to back away from a wasteful life and mitigate our ecological footprint one meme at a time.
In hopes of a better future, we at Bored Panda have gathered some of their best tips and tricks to spread some environmental enthusiasm. As you scroll down, be sure to upvote the posts you found most useful and share your own eco-friendly solutions everyone must know in the comment section below! After you’re done reading through this piece, check out Part 1 of this feature for even more 'Old Me vs. New Me' goodness.
More info: reducewastenow.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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Christmas fabric is 100% reusable. Christmas themed table cloths from the thrift store work great. Even a handkerchief tied with ribbon is better than brown paper.
Graydon Lawson knows that little changes can make a difference. He is the founder of ReduceWasteNow, an impact-focused social enterprise that offers sustainable solutions for people who care for future generations, the well-being of animals, and who want to do their part in the fight against climate change. His mission is to help hundreds of thousands of everyday people make an impact by helping the environment on an individual level. However, he explained that in 2018, he founded his project for the wrong reason.
"I first started ReduceWasteNow solely to build an audience," he wrote on his website. "At the time, I was creating my own reusable coffee mugs with an overseas supplier. The plan was to build an audience on Instagram with my new account 'ReduceWasteNow' by posting content related to environmental issues. Then, I'd advertise the reusable coffee mugs on that account."
But after a few weeks, he began to realize the dire situation of environmental issues affecting our planet and chose to take immediate action. He abandoned his idea to promote reusable coffee cups just three days before the launch. "At that moment, I decided to do everything in my power to help the environment. So I began researching and sharing simple, actionable ways people can help the environment," he noted.
We have cats. Everyone knows we have cats. Yet we keep getting poisonous bouquets of flowers. I know I know I sound ungrateful but it sucks when someone spends what I consider to be too much money for something I can’t keep in the home. My flower loving neighbor is thrilled so it’s always fun to bring them to her. My point….flowers aren’t always a good gesture.
Then, the following began to grow. As of this writing, the ReduceWasteNow Instagram account has accumulated over 361K followers who want to start implementing simple alternatives to move towards a greener Earth. "It was clear to me that people wanted to learn how they could live more sustainably, but something was missing. People didn't just need information, they also needed the right tools to take action," Lawson added. So in 2020, ReduceWasteNow launched its online Zero Waste Shop to provide people with the right tools and knowledge they need to reduce their ecological footprint.
Also, use the tape that's strong enough for it's purpose. I received a parcel with nice plastic free paper tape on it. Only the tape had broke on the way, half of the content had gotten lost, postal services had fixed the parcel with plastic tape, and the sender needed to ship another parcel to replace the missing items.
As a woman, I was skeptical of doing this myself, but honestly, I do not regret switching to a safety razor at all! It is so much better than the disposable ones.
The founder of ReduceWasteNow told us in a previous interview that he has been operating his social project alone ever since he started it. "I create all of the social media content, write the weekly blog posts, and manage the store — all while trying to balance school at the University of Victoria," Lawson told Bored Panda. "It's a lot of work, but every second is worth it. People seem to be really grateful to learn simple, actionable ways they can help the environment, and I love helping them do exactly that."
And aloe is such a fast growing plant. Don't be afraid of breaking off pieces to use. They will grow incredibly fast.
Dry the herbs. You're wasting oil. And, apparently, storing herbs poorly in the fridge.
Lawson mentioned that social media is a great tool to educate people about the climate crisis and what small steps can help us fight it. "A lot of people use it every day, and if you want to see how you can be more eco friendly, all you have to do is visit ReduceWasteNow and you have access to hundreds of different ways you can help the environment," he said and added that social media is also a perfect place to talk about your interests with your friends. "So if someone really likes this Instagram post about sustainable products that save you money, they can just tag their friends in it, and maybe that inspires them to try some of the tips and be more eco friendly as well."
As you’re scrolling through the 'Old Me vs. New Me' meme series, you’ll notice they touch upon a host of environmental topics. It addresses responsible consumption, recycling, excessive plastic use, food waste, and many other themes. It also explains how to build healthy and environmentally-friendly habits and move toward a more sustainable lifestyle. And at the very least, it reminds people to consider the impact their choices will have on the environment. Lawson told us he gets most of his ideas from his company's followers and always pays attention to what they comment on across ReduceWasteNow’s social media accounts. That way, he understands the demands of everyday people and knows he's sharing information about what's important to them.
However, the fact that laws, international agreements, and systematic changes to how corporations operate are required to prevent the devastating effects of global warming is nothing new. That's why some people disapprove of individual efforts and believe that changes we implement into our daily lives are meaningless. But Lawson thinks this is far from the truth. "If more and more people vote with their dollars, try their best to live more sustainably, and continue to use their voice as well as their vote, change will come," he expressed his belief in the power of the community.
But vinegar comes in a plastic container... You're not helping anything..
If you have a clothes line why use a dryer at all? Living in an apartment now clothes have to dry on a closed in balcony, I so miss being able to dry them outside.
does anyone know where to buy a good lint roller? I can't find a single good quality, reusable and affordable one.
"Cooper, one of my best friends, made a great point about this as well, and I 100% agree with him. He said, 'Due to the rise in popularity of social media, it has become easier for individuals to voice their opinion, and to have their opinion heard and shared. As a result, corporations are facing the largest amount of social pressure in history, which has the potential to create real change. The power of numbers has never been so great.'"
Lawson added that nowadays individuals can speak louder than ever before and that we can create real change "by using our collective voice to tell the big corporations what we want. All we have to do is step forward, and speak up."
Don't use hot water for blood, just a fair warning it won't come out as easy
What's wrong with compost? Then next year you have good dirt for growing your own greens.
Sorry, no. In our house, those are used for first aid, and I'm not compromising our health to save on a few ounces of garbage. Some things take precedence. It can be made up in other ways.
Why does it matter if the bristles are frayed? I use a broom until it's bristles are too short which takes a long, long time.
Here's how to make these potato peel crisps:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
2) Toss potato peels in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, and whichever herbs & spices you like!
3) Spread peels evenly on a baking sheet lined with (preferably) a non-stick reusable baking sheet
4) Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes
The amount of olive oil you drizzle on entirely depends on how many peels you have, and how much you like! I recommend starting with 1-2 tbsp of oil and add more if you please.
I learned from our postlady that single-use plastic containers can be used as shipping boxes as long as the lids are taped on tight. Like yogurt tubs and wide-mouth peanut butter jars. More durable than cardboard in some cases, too.
Alternately, if you want to ripen your avocados, keep them in a paper bag (closed space) with an apple or a banana.
So, as the owner of a small ecological restoration company, this has been a passion project of mine for a while. We plant tens-of-thousands of native plants every year, but they all come in disposable plastic pots with peat-based soil (which comes from MINING WETLANDS, for those of you that don’t know. The issue is that, at least here in the US, peat-free options are VERY hard to find and cost NINE-TIMES as much as typical potting soil. We really need a collective effort on a solution to this issue.
Aren't baths supposed to be worse than showers for the environment? If this is your whole thing, why do you need bathbombs at all?
Is it potato water or pasta water that's supposed to be good for washing your hair in?
I have difficulties with ecosia. The results are not what one is used to
Honestly I make my own with some coconut oil and cocoa butter and a few other ingredients :) buy it in bulk and it’s like $1 per 500ml (only for body use, not face!)
I find it hard to believe that paraffin candles are greatly contributing to air pollution. Paraffin oil, yes, in areas with spotty electricity where people legitimately need to use lanterns, but nobody really needs candles these days unless it's an emergency situation. In which case, I just want something cheap that will work, and that stores well. As much as I like all this earth-friendly stuff, I'm not going to worry about my carbon footprint using a few candles for a couple days when all hell is breaking loose. If you're fancy enough to buy soy candles that you just set around and burn for fun, you can afford a generator. Maybe the answer is that we just don't need so many useless things in the first place. By all means, I'm not saying anyone is a bad person for enjoying soy candles, but those things are basically the poster child for elitist-eco-bs, and I don't feel like they belong on this list. Curmudgeonly rant over
1) Save veggie scraps in a bag in your freezer
2) Once the bag is full, place veggie scraps in a large pot
3) Cover veggie scraps with water and bring to a boil
4) Let simmer for 30min to 1h 30
5) Separate veggie scraps from broth by setting a thin mesh strainer over a bowl, and pouring the pot of veggie broth & scraps over the strainer into the bowl.
6) Use a ladle to scoop broth into containers of choice
Homemade veggie broth lasts 5-7 days in the fridge, and should be used within 6 months if stored in the freezer.
When storing the veggie scraps in a bag, you can use a large ziploc bag if you already have it, and clean then reuse the bag after making the veggie stock.
You can also use a thin mesh reusable produce bag to store your veggie scraps in
Pretty sure the peels are where the pesticides hang out. Is that a grape twig in the picture? I guess I'm a little dubious.
Pulverize it in food processor to make breadcrumbs or just make bread pudding.
Soap nuts don't really work and will ruin your clothes long-term. Using powdered laundry detergent instead of liquid is the better option.
Or, alternatively, just let the pasta boil for 2 to 4 minutues, then turn the heat to low and cover the pot. It will finish cooking on its own. This works for quinoa, oatmeal, white rice too.
'Learns to make own milk...' *line break* Oh, thank goodness. That turned out different than I expected
Canvas is woven, t-shirts are knit. Actually, not very many clothes are made out of canvas, so I don't know how practical this is. Unless you're Ariel.
This post is a really good example of how environmental responsibility is put on the individual, when it belongs to corporations who are responsible for creating the waste in the first place. Half of these tips are about what to do with plastic packaging, when the question should be; how does the manufacturer change their packaging so that it is made from fully reusable or biodegradable products?
Couldnt agree more , 100 companies are responsible for 71% of the pollution. Consumer level recycling is not making a dent in this and never will.
Load More Replies...I'm sure this is a wonderful person but I wouldn't want them to serve me a chilled beverage. Ice cube roulette.
Load More Replies...Old me: runs a huge corporation that polluted the environment. New me: shuts down the corporation that pollutes the environment, starts a new one that doesn't pollute. Those are the people who need to be making changes. An individual faffing around with reusable this and that is just being kept busy so that they don't have the mental bandwidth to engage in activism.
I can see the pros and cons of making changes in one's habits. If I understood correctly, it can be a distraction to prevent people from committing to activism to change policies, laws, regulations. It also lets corporations off the hook. The one possible pro is that someone starting with their own life may be more open to activism (organizing campaigns, research etc.). I don't know that shopping carefully to reduce consumption sucks a lot more mental energy than carefully shopping for the latest gadget.
Load More Replies...This post is a really good example of how environmental responsibility is put on the individual, when it belongs to corporations who are responsible for creating the waste in the first place. Half of these tips are about what to do with plastic packaging, when the question should be; how does the manufacturer change their packaging so that it is made from fully reusable or biodegradable products?
Couldnt agree more , 100 companies are responsible for 71% of the pollution. Consumer level recycling is not making a dent in this and never will.
Load More Replies...I'm sure this is a wonderful person but I wouldn't want them to serve me a chilled beverage. Ice cube roulette.
Load More Replies...Old me: runs a huge corporation that polluted the environment. New me: shuts down the corporation that pollutes the environment, starts a new one that doesn't pollute. Those are the people who need to be making changes. An individual faffing around with reusable this and that is just being kept busy so that they don't have the mental bandwidth to engage in activism.
I can see the pros and cons of making changes in one's habits. If I understood correctly, it can be a distraction to prevent people from committing to activism to change policies, laws, regulations. It also lets corporations off the hook. The one possible pro is that someone starting with their own life may be more open to activism (organizing campaigns, research etc.). I don't know that shopping carefully to reduce consumption sucks a lot more mental energy than carefully shopping for the latest gadget.
Load More Replies...