How to Go Green & Choose Products That Are

Recycling paper and plastic is an easy way to go green.

Going green is a buzzword for living an environmentally friendly lifestyle --- one that minimizes the impact of human life on the planet. Most things we do on a daily basis impact the environment. From writing on a piece of paper to turning on the light, just about every modern convenience we enjoy uses the planet's resources. However, going green isn't always about sacrifice. Living an environmentally friendly lifestyle allows you to use your creativity to stretch your resources. Just being mindful of everything you use can mark the first step in going green.

Things You'll Need

• Spray bottle
• Vinegar
• Tea tree oil
• Reusable water bottle
• Reusable shopping bag

Instructions

Go Green

1. Recycle your cans, bottles and paper. Every city and town has different rules for recycling. Some collect materials curbside and others require you to drop them off. Contact your local waste management department to find out how.

2. Drink water from a reusable bottle to reduce the number of one-use plastic bottles that end up in the landfill. Buy either a stainless steel water bottle or a plastic, BPA-free water bottle. BPA stands for bisphenol-a, a chemical that mimics estrogen and may be linked to diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

3. Bike or walk as much as possible to reduce the pollution created from your car. Driving your car less frequently will also decrease the amount of gas and oil you use.

4. Use a reusable shopping bag for trips to the grocery store. If you must use plastic, reuse the bags. Plastic bags can be reused to pick up after your dog, substituted for small trash bags or used in place of Styrofoam for packaging.

5. Clean your kitchen with a solution of vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil instead of harsh chemicals. Store the solution in a spray bottle. Both vinegar and tea tree oil have anti-bacterial properties.

Choosing Green Products

1. Buy products that display the United States Department of Agriculture organic symbol on them. The symbol appears on approved food and personal products, such as shampoos and lotions. Organic ingredients have been grown without the use of chemical pesticides or growth hormones.

2. Select items that don't use a lot of packaging. If a product does have packaging, try to buy those wrapped in paper, which you can more easily recycle than plastic.

3. Read product labels. Just because a product claims to be "green" doesn't mean it's free of potentially harmful substances such as parabens. Parabens are a manmade preservative that may cause disease by disrupting hormonal balance, according to the Environmental Working Group.

4. Shop local farmers markets. Not only are you supporting local business and getting fresh-off-the-vine produce, but also much of the produce is grown without the use of chemical pesticides.

References

• Worldwatch Institute: 10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green
• Yale Environment 360; A Warning by Key Researcher on Risks of BPA in Our Lives; Elizabeth Kolbert; November 2010
• Environmental Working Group: Chemical Families: Parabens
• U.S. Department of Agriculture: National Organic Program
• Vinegar Tips: Cleaning with Vinegar