10 Eco-Friendly Resolutions for the New Year
Every year we make New Year’s Resolutions that most of us never actually fulfill—from joining the gym to saving money by sticking to a budget each month.
We might have the best intentions at heart, but the reality is that nothing bad will happen if we don’t keep to our promises. That’s why our New Year’s Resolutions should be a little different this time around.
It’s so important, more than ever, that we protect the fragile planet we are living on by living more sustainably and minimizing our environmental impact.
Here are 10 practical changes you can do to help make 2023 the greenest year yet.
- Reduce Shower Time
It’s easy to lose track of time in the shower. Fifteen minutes feels like a mere five when you finally get to relax with a hot shower after a long day. But all good things come at a cost. The average American shower uses 2.1 gallons of water per minute. And this adds up quickly. By simply reducing your shower time, you’ll save on your utility bill and help conserve water.
- Use Reusable Batteries
They are a great alternative to traditional batteries. Roughly 3 billion batteries are thrown away every year compared to the 350 million rechargeable batteries that are sold. Investing in rechargeable batteries may have a higher upfront cost, but the investment is more sustainable, can save you money and reduce pollution in the environment.
- Attempt To Go Plastic-Free
Plastic bags, bottles and utensils are all very convenient, but they are difficult to recycle and are often thrown away. Plastic can take up to 400 years to break down in a landfill. And an alarming 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. With more and more plastic-free alternatives popping up on the market, opting for a reusable cloth tote and a stainless steel water bottle is the way to go.
- Be Smart About Your Cosmetics
Common everyday products such as face and body wash sometimes contain microbeads in them to help exfoliate your skin. These plastic microbeads, when released into the ocean, cause harm to marine life and may work their way up through the food chain into the human populations that consume marine life. Set a goal to make conscious choices to avoid products that have harmful effects on the environment.
- Eat Less Meat
Eating less meat helps the environment because it lowers the demand for meat products, and in turn reduces the land use and environmental damage of the meat industry. Depending on how much meat and dairy you already eat, you could try doing a Meatless Monday, being Vegan Before 6, only eating meat on the weekends, only purchasing meat and dairy that’s ethically and sustainably produced, or going vegetarian or vegan.
- Cut Down On Your Vehicle's Emission
Keep the car in good working order. Do regular maintenance, and keep tire pressure at proper levels. Don’t let your car idle for more than a few minutes. This contributes to emissions and gives you zero miles per gallon fuel efficiency. You can also switch it up and try taking public transportation, carpooling, biking, e-scootering or walking at least once a week.
- Donate Your Stuff
Donate anything you don't want or need anymore rather than throwing it away. Spend an hour on the weekend going through kitchen cabinets, garage and wardrobe, and look for items you can donate. You’d be surprised how much stuff you have to give. You can take decluttering one step further by reducing your impact by shopping less or shopping at secondhand or thrift stores.
- Invest in Sustainable Furniture That Last
The fast furniture industry is poised to have catastrophic effects on our environment. More and more brands are now using recycled wood, bamboo and other sustainable materials to create high-quality, eco-friendly furniture. By making small decisions to shop more consciously and investing in furniture that lasts for years, you’ll help reduce waste and carbon footprint.
- Get Outside More
The outdoors offers many opportunities to be physically active. Spending time outdoors not only improves your overall health and wellness, but it can also promote mental health and stress reduction. Start off by committing just 30 minutes a day and you’ll begin to appreciate nature and how important it is to protect the environment.
- Volunteer
Volunteering and giving our time is something we can all do more of. We tend to think about this more around the holidays but why not do it all year round? The benefits of volunteering can be enormous. It offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes and the community.
