As spring bursts into bloom this year, we are finally moving beyond an extraordinarily dark winter—a winter that feels as though it lasted for a full year. Let’s take this moment of renewal to look at what we have learned from this unprecedented year. One major discovery has been that when each of us makes small changes to our daily habits, we can have a powerful collective effect on everyone else. In fact, wearing masks—and even social distancing—have, in a way, brought us all closer together. By accepting shared responsibility, we cared for and protected each other and helped humanity to survive the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic .
By the same token, we have a shared responsibility to protect and care for our planet, which has also been under siege. If each of us makes small changes to our daily consumption, collectively we can help the Earth to survive the ravages of pollution and climate change.
Small changes can be as simple as swapping out your old incandescent light bulbs for LED lighting—and making sure to turn them off when you leave a room. Grab your reusable water bottle whenever you go out, so you never have to buy a plastic one. Replace your plastic toothbrushes with bamboo toothbrushes, your plastic drinking straws with wheat drinking straws. Plant and harvest your own organic spring vegetables—and then clean them with loofah vegetable scrubbers instead of plastic ones.
And check out sites like Green Future (www.greenfuturebox.co.uk), that is poised to provide you with innovative sustainable products and simple creative ideas for reducing your carbon footprint and helping you enjoy an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Making small changes to your daily habits may feel like an insignificant way to tackle a global crisis. But remember, every great wave starts with a little ripple.
Best of all: These earth-friendly changes are even easier to adapt to than wearing a mask… and they won’t fog up your glasses.