Earth Day: Ways to Conserve

With Earth Day being this past Monday, I thought it would be a good way to share ways that you can help your Mother Earth this spring! It feels as though everyday we hear new reports about climate change and how our consumption in products, goods, and land will one day (very soon) be irreversible. Being conscious of the way we treat our planet will only help us for generations to come... I've broken down in four categories way that we can be sustainable!

Home: The first and easiest way to help is to recycle, seems like a no-brainer but I catch myself throwing away things that I could recycle! Just a quick google search will show you all the things that CAN and CANT be recycled! I know my apartment building has a recycle bin that I'm constantly using. Another way is cutting down on electrical use in the home and turning off small appliances when not in use. LA is known for its heat in the summer and as the weather gets warmer, power outages and rising prices will not only affect our pockets but affect the environment as well. Finally, adding pollution eliminating plants to your home will create a safer home for your family. Chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde can accumulate in the home and get into our air, hurting each other and our sweet Earth.

Transportation: Since moving to LA, not only have I gotten more cynical about the amount of people that live here but the time it takes to get anywhere!! Personally, I've found that taking the Amtrack train down to see my family on days off has not only saved me a ton of gas and mileage, but I can actually get work done in the process! Public transportation is far from perfect here, but taking the bus or the train can be so convenient and easy to use. I've signed up for points and have gotten free rides from it, plus ask your employer if they give benefits for using public transportation! It releases less emissions into the air and its time affective. For short distances, sharing Ubers / Lyfts or using Bird scooters and Metro Bike Share are inexpensive ways to get around town without hurting the environment.

Products: Every time I buy something from the store thats wrapped in plastic I cringe a bit. The unnecessary use of plastic when there are more sustainable options out their baffles me! But some ways to combat that is using reusable bags for going to the grocery store, reusable containers for storing food and cups that you can use for buying coffee! Since a plastic ban is *supposedly* supposed to start on straws coming soon, check out online retailers for metal ones that are pretty inexpensive and can be cleaned easily. Not only should you be holding your items in reusable compartments but your cleaning products should be the same! Harmful chemicals can be mixed in cleaning products and can be harmful to the people living in your home, plus the water that we use. Implementing these items in small waves can take time, but make a difference in the long run.

Clothing: If you guys know anything about me, you know my love of thrifting. I won't get on my soap box about the importance of recycling clothes but I will say to be conscious of where you should shop! As a fashion student, I learned the horrific conditions of sweat shops that are funded by certain retailers including Zara, H&M, and Forever21. Although the price point is affordable, the conditions that their workers are exposed to, the amount of fabric wasted, and the millions of units being produced PER DAY is one of the leading causes of environmental harm (aligned with the food industry). Places that resell clothing or use ethical practices are on the rise, and for good reason. Our capitalist ideology about want is surpassing our desire to create an Earth that will last, and its catching up to us.

I hope these small, everyday life suggestions inspire you to take this problem seriously. If you're discouraged like me, there are ways to help! Organizations that are designed to combat this sort of issue are close at hand and a click away! I challenge everyone to look at their own lives and waste consumption and do something about it this Earth Week. I'll link places / websites where you can get help on these four areas!

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed." -Mahatma Gandhi

Home: What to Recycle Places to Recycle in LA Plants to Reduce Toxins

Transportation: Amtrack Metro Bus Bird Scooter

Products: Reusable Cups Reusable Bags Reusable Straws Clean Home Products

Clothing: Crossroads Buffalo Exchange Best Thrift Stores in LA Reformation Why Fast Fashion is Bad

Photos: Pinterest

#fashion #personal #lifestyle #travel #home #clothing #products #sustainability #earthday #planet #transportation #savingtheearth