1) Tossing that apple core out of the car window
Many of us think that discarding food waste like banana peels and apple cores anywhere is harmless to the environment because “they’re natural and will decompose”. However, it turns out they can be just as bad as plastic and other substances, for multiple reasons. Firstly, they are probably being discarded in a place where the type of food doesn’t grow naturally, which can be a problem for ecosystems and wildlife which aren’t accustomed to it, and should not be ingesting it. In addition, they don’t biodegrade as quickly as you may think, as some fruit peels can take up to 2 years to do so. Finally, it can cause animals to venture dangerously close to roads and get run over, which then attracts more animals, creating a vicious circle. Instead, be sure to dispose of it in the correct bin, or you can even recycle it as compost if you can!
2) Sending an email or a text
This may come as a surprise to some, but sending and storing such messages leaves a carbon footprint. It requires huge amounts of energy for internet providers and email services to continually store data, including your photos, emails, documents, files… On average, sending an email has a carbon footprint of 4 grams. Therefore, working on your computer can be just as harmful to the environment as using paper, (if not more so because paper is recyclable and can be naturally regenerated). A small gesture such as regularly deleting old emails, unsubscribing from newsletters, or sorting through photos can not only reduce your carbon footprint, but keep your documents in order, and save storage space on your devices!
3) Buying strawberries in winter
This is quite a specific example, but my point is that buying fruit and vegetables out of season can have a negative impact on the environment, logically because they have to travel far – sometimes from the other side of the world – to get to you. Moreover, this doesn’t just apply to seasonal fruits and veggies, but to all kinds of food that get flown from other continents to get to your supermarket, which generates huge CO2 emissions. Instead, opt for locally grown produce from nearby markets, check the label of the food you buy to see where it’s coming from, and make more conscious decisions about what you buy and from where you buy.
Written in March 2023 © Your Green Footprint