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Hi! My name is Mira! I have been trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle for a few years now. And if you have ever tried it, you know how hard it can be.

But I truly believe the first step towards creating less waste is being well-informed on the subject, and being aware of the specific issues and problems. So I started researching online and sometimes the information could be truly overwhelming and rather gloomy. After I would spend some time reading, I would have no willpower to live, let alone take any action whatsoever. The other issue was the depressing manner in which a big part of the information was presented, so it didn't seem likely that anyone would want to share it with their friends or family in order not to ruin their day as well.

You can find my previous post about my zero waste comics by clicking here.

More info: Instagram | patreon.com | Etsy | Facebook | awareanimals.com

So I said to myself—what if there was a way to represent useful information about climate change, sustainability, and the environment in a funny, colorful, and most of all accessible way? An approach that focuses on solutions, rather than problems. So that people will hopefully laugh, learn something new, and pass it along.

And that's how the Aware Animals webcomics were created. Every week I draw a different situation. Whether it's dealing with mountains of non-recyclable wrapping paper and paper bills, wanting to pack a waste-free lunch, buying second-hand clothes for environmental reasons, refusing a plastic grocery bag at the store, turning down plastic straws over and over again, or trying to repair broken items to prevent them from going to a landfill—the possibilities of new and exciting topics are endless.

#3

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brokenapollo
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually didn't know this. Did some additional research and will be more aware from now on. You've enlightened at least one person today..!

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Most of the situations have happened either to me or to my super-supportive partner (you can probably recognize us as Mr. and Miss Fox) and others have been shared or suggested to us by our lovely community on social media.

My favorite part about this process is how much I learn from it myself: once while I do my research and then again from the lovely comments and lively discussions when the comics have been posted. I'm constantly overwhelmed by the positive feedback we've received and very, very grateful. Our main message is that no action is too small to make a difference and that positivity and awareness will bring us further along than guilt or blame. So if you need more awareness in your life, feel free to join us on our journey.

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#7

My Sustainable Bag

My Sustainable Bag

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Amaranthim Talon
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup! Carry bags- preferably canvas! to the shops. reusables straws at home. No disposable utensils, plates, etc.

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Shocking Fact

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The Greatest Invention

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Super Powers

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BIG FOOT
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think it's supposed to represent chocolate and white it's supposed to represent how the glass bottle is better for the environment and the cartoon is worse because it's plastic

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Batgirl Kitty
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, wouldn’t a carton be better? It’s paper? Please correct me if I am wrong. Very confused.

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J. Cole
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of refrigerated items that seem like cardboard or paper contain wax/plastic in them that help keep the item cold. So, this addition to the paper is unfortunately non-recyclable.

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Ole Peder Amrud Hagen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm pretty sure it takes more energy to produce and recycle a glass container than a cardboard one. https://bioplasticsnews.com/2019/08/14/lca-carton-glass-pet/

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ComfyPanda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Correct me if I'm wrong please, but aren't they BOTH recyclable???? I know for a fact that I can put a paper carton of milk after its been used, in the recycle bin. As well as putting the plastic jugs and glass bottles in it.

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Mary Peace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That would be good, but where I live in England, they say they can't recycle the carboard that's had food touching it, e.g. pizza boxes.

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aj B
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Budget kind of factors in here, tripling the cost of your milk when every cent counts is a good way to trade your own health for environmental health. And yes at least here glass bottle of milk is around three times as expensive.

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Zophra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not if you don't have the money. You take what is cheapest.

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Zedrapazia
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... until the day you drop a milk bottle, shatter the floor and spill it anywhere. No thanks, i prefer the cardboard packages we have in my country.

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Máté Jancsek
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do we? In Hungary you can pick carton with plastic cup, or carton, without it... not much of a choice there, is it

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CharliAnn Olney
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my town, you can't buy milk in Glass. But you CAN rinse and recycle the plastic jugs. Also they make wonderful plants covers for those cool evenings in the early spring a mid to late fall.

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shado
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what dream-world are you living in? no, we DON'T ... having the 'power to choose' often requires a larger bank account and costs that person a fair bit more to shop responsibly - only hipsters buying coconut water who have an image to worry about are paying extra for milk in glass bottles, and then, they have stuff that needs to go somewhere they most likely don't have the time to take it so it goes out with the rest of the trash, once again failing this perfect image we want - it's infuriating to be reminded it costs almost double to shop 'responsibly'

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PauPain
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Confusing as obviously the material you assume those containers to be depends on where you life. I am thinking: Why is the cardboard container the devil here instead of the plastic bottle? Cardboard is recycled here. So are most plastic bottles, but cardboard should be the better choise.

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Johnny
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're trying to be sustainable, don't buy cows milk at all, by plant based milk. Oat milk is more sustainable than nut milks, but either one is better that cows milk.

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F. H.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry, that's not true. Nut milks are usually less sustainable that cow milk, especially those made from almonds. Rice milk is also pretty bad.

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#16

My Sustainable Kitchen

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F. H.
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's all a matter of perspective. I have a plastic dish brush I have been using for ten years now. When it gets to dirty, I put it in the dishwasher. How long does a wooden one last. Also, coffee filtered through paper is more healthy according to recent studies.

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The Specialist

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ADHORTATOR
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We plan our meals, so shopping for the week is done in less than two hours and nothing is wasted

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#19

It's A System

It's A System

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Ole Peder Amrud Hagen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is this relevant to consuming less? Also, it is the most ridiculous way of organizing books I ever see...

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#20

6 Things You Can Do To Be Happier

6 Things You Can Do To Be Happier

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cookie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sono una volpe means "i am a fox" in italian, in case anyone was wondering.

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#21

The List

The List

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Kendra Miller
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And this is why grocery stores put staples at the back and periodically move stuff around, so you will have to search to find what you need and hopefully (for them) find more than you wanted.

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#23

My Sustainable Bathroom

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Kendra Miller
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ear swaps should be struck from this list. Even if they feel great, they are terrible for actually removing earwax. Earwax exists to keep our keep our inner ears moistened so the skin doesn't dry and crack, as well as creating an acidic environment so bacteria can't survive. Your ears naturally clean themselves by using the motion of your jaw when talking and eating to shift older wax out. When you use ear swabs it shoves the wax deep into the ear and it gets stuck. Stop using ear swabs no matter if they are reusable or not.

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