Earth day 2023: Easy sustainable swaps for families

Earth Day is a great opportunity for families to take action and make positive changes for the planet. But with busy schedules and an endless list of parenting demands, it can be hard to know where to start. This is why I've put together a list of simple sustainable swaps you can implement in your family home to reduce environmental impact.

What is Earth day?

Earth Day is an annual celebration that recognises the achievements of environmental movements, whilst raising awareness of the need to continue protecting the planet for future generations. Earth Day is celebrated on either April 22nd or the day the spring equinox occurs.

Getting the family involved in Earth day & sustainability

Encouraging kids to get involved in celebrating Earth day and supporting sustainability is a highly beneficial, fun family activity. Start by explaining why sustainability is important and how small actions can make a big difference. Engage kids in activities like composting, gardening, or reducing plastic waste. Make it fun by turning sustainability efforts into a game. You could see who can pick up the most litter on a family hike for example. By involving kids in sustainability efforts, families can instil important values and make a positive impact on the environment.

[Photo by Fateme Alaie on Unsplash]

Why we should encourage sustainable swaps

Plastic usage

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental challenges we face today. It's a frightful statistic that millions of tonnes of plastic waste ends up in landfills and oceans every single year. Fortunately, there are many simple swaps my family and yours can make to reduce our plastic use. For example, using reusable shopping bags and water bottles, switching to cloth napkins instead of disposable, and choosing products with minimal packaging can all help. You can also swap out disposable plastic straws for reusable stainless steel or silicone alternatives, and bring your own containers when getting takeout food. By making a few small changes to reduce plastic use, you can help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and oceans.

Water conservation

Conserving water is a simple way to make a big impact on the environment. By making small changes to your daily routine, you can reduce your water use and help protect this valuable resource. This could be anything from turning the taps off whilst brushing your teeth or getting younger kids to share baths/bath water. By using water saving techniques you're diverting less water from natural sources keeping the environment healthy and water sources consistent.

Energy consumption

Reducing energy consumption not only helps the environment, but it can also save families much needed money on their energy bills. Simple steps like turning off lights when you leave a room, using energy-efficient light bulbs, and unplugging electronics when they're not in use all add up to make a massive difference. Additionally, you can use mother nature to your advantage when required. For example use natural light whenever possible, open windows to cool your home and air dry your clothes instead of using a dryer. Making small changes to your daily routine can reduce your carbon footprint and make a difference for our future generations.

Benefits of composting

Composting is an eco-friendly way to dispose of food scraps and other organic waste. By composting, families can divert food waste from landfills and create nutrient rich soil for our gardens. It's the perfect thing to start at this time of year. Starting a compost pile is easy and can be done in a relatively small space. Just collect your food scraps and yard waste in a bin, and let nature do the rest. By composting we are reducing our environmental impact and making both a positive contribution to the planet and to our children's education.

Food waste

Food waste is a major contributor to environmental damage, and something my family was incredibly guilty of. We can make a big environmental impact by reducing food waste. Start by planning meals ahead of time to avoid buying more food than you need. Use up leftovers creatively, and freeze extra food for later use. Finally, consider donating excess food to local food banks or composting it to create nutrient-rich soil.

Upcycling

Upcycling old clothes and furniture is a fun and eco-friendly way to give new life to items that might otherwise end up in a landfill. There are many creative DIY projects that families can get involved in all together. You could turn old t-shirts into tote bags or give old furniture pieces a new lease of life. These projects not only help the environment but also allow families to bond over a shared activity.

_{[Photo by Marcell Viragh on Unsplash]}

Easy sustainable swaps for families

• Use silicone/metal straws instead of disposables
• Take a reusable cup to your local coffee shop
• Reusable food boxes
• Invest in tote or reusable bags for shopping
• Get younger children to share baths/bath water
• Turn taps off whilst brushing teeth
• Bamboo toothbrushes
• Choose LED energy saving light bulbs
• Opt for cloth nappies and wipes for babies
• Use food wraps instead of cling film or tin foil
• Choose refillable toiletries
• Use second hand websites/apps for clothes
• Choose zero waste detergents
• Opt for sustainable reusable menstrual products
• Visiting no waste grocery stores
• Buy silicone food covers to protect and store any left over food
• Set up a bamboo toilet roll subscription
• Reusable eco friendly razors

By making small, eco-friendly sustainable swaps in our daily lives, we can have a big impact on the environment. It will no doubt help create a sustainable future for generations to come. Whether it's choosing sustainable products, reducing waste, or engaging in eco-friendly activities with our kids, every effort counts. Let's continue to prioritise sustainability and work together to make our planet a better place for years to come.