When you have a routine sometimes you are no longer aware of the impact you are having with each of your decisions. We all get immersed in our day-to-day activities and it may be hard to pause and think about what you accomplished every day. But when you can, you would be surprised how many things you do in a day – and how much goes to waste!
In terms of food and packaging, think about how much you buy on the go or how much you bring from home. If it’s more than you thought or you want to change your lifestyle to start being more environmentally friendly, then here are a couple of ideas to get you started right away. And best of all, it’s easier and cheaper than you think!
BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug)
Coffee is this magical drink that wakes many of us up and bring us back to life. There’s no need to stop having what you love most, but instead of buying a single use, disposal cup, just bring your own mug to any coffee shop instead. Not only will they pour you more coffee, but many will give you a discount for doing so. One of Canada’s worst garbage polluters is Tim Hortons and Starbucks, and no wonder why – you can see disposal coffee cups and plastic lids littered anywhere you look. So remember to BYOM next time you go for your coffee run, it’ll make a difference. If you want to go to the next level, you can even brew your own coffee at home – just try not to use those single-use coffee pods.
Avoid Eating Out
How convenient is to go out at lunch break and buy food? It is even better if it comes directly to your door right? Sure, it’s great to skip the cooking at home and do what you love in your spare time, however, every time you buy food you are generating extra waste. Think about the plastic container, single use cutlery, napkins and even the receipt that you are disposing of in less than half an hour. Think about how many meals a day people have at restaurants and how many days per week people repeat the same behavior. Now that you have an estimate of how much garbage you are generating, you can start thinking about bringing your own lunch and snacks using reusable bags to work instead. It will not only significantly decrease your waste but will also save you more money. And who doesn’t like saving money?
Buy Food in Bulk
Consider buying your groceries in bulk. You’ll not only find you will be reducing your food packaging waste significantly – which is great since only about 10-20% of what ends up in a blue bin gets actually recycled in a city like Toronto, with the rest going to the landfill according to recent series of articles from Global News. But another reason for buying in bulk, is because you buy what you actually need. The fact that you can buy the quantities you need while also getting to try new products in small amounts (in case you don’t like them), is unique to bulk food shopping. When you go to the supermarket to buy in bulk, don’t forget to bring your own reusable bulk food bags!
These three points highlight just how simple it is to make changes that you can kickstart your journey on waste reduction. Keep in mind, changing habits takes time so be patient and kind with yourself and just take one step at a time. Once you do, I guarantee you’ll see the benefits, not to mention more money to spend on that next holiday.
This is great – will start implementing these three things! Thanks for sharing!
I am on the path of righteousness! I do confess that I never bring my own cup/mug whenever I go out for coffee. Thanks for reminding me!
You are right, it may be hard to have a travel mug with you at all times. Just try to remember, as much as you can, to bring your mug with you so you start creating a habit. This way, you will start creating a positive impact