10 Changes for the New Year

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday festivities with good food, family and friends and a little Christmas cheer.

As it is a new year, it is normal to reflect on the past year and think about the changes and improvements that we want to make in our lives. Clean air and water should not be a luxury but it seems to be an on-going challenge as business and profit take a priority over our environment. I saw the very interesting movie by Mark Ruffalo called “Dark Waters”. If you didn’t see it, I would encourage you to do so. If you don’t have the time or the inclination, you can read the article in the New York Times that inspired the movie (see link).

We need to continue to pressure our governments to keep climate and the preservation of our environment on the agenda. The fires in Australia are a chilling reminder of what is happening to our world in the era of climate emergency. That being said, we should not wait for someone else to take action for us. Each of us can make small or big changes in our lifestyle to help the planet.

I put together a list of 10 changes that we can make to help the environment. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it outlines small and big changes that we can consider making in 2020:

#1 Continue to say no to single use plastics. I think that if you are reading my blog, you are probably already on board with this idea and are not using single use plastics like water bottles, utensils, plastic bags and coffee cups. Choosing reusable items over recyclable ones is a simple but important change to make every day.

#2 Reject plastic packaging and carefully evaluate the types of plastics that you buy. Plastics take almost 500 years to breakdown. Some plastics, like fluoropolymers (Teflon and other non-stick coatings), are bad for the environment and your health because they are persistent. This means that they do not breakdown and can bioaccumulate in humans and animals which can lead to multiple health hazards. Avoid these. Instead of using plastic wrap for covering your food, consider using beewax coated fabric. A plate can even act as a cover.

Another area to explore is bringing your containers instead of buying your food in disposable packaging. I bring my stainless steel containers (from Life without Plastic https://lifewithoutplastic.com/ ) to the butcher, cheese shop and fishmonger.

#3 Avoid fast fashion.  The business model of fast fashion companies such as Walmart, H&M and Zara is to produce inexpensive, poor quality clothes at a high frequency to encourage over consumption and a throwaway culture. These fast fashion houses encourage additive weekly shopping. We need to refuse this approach to fashion by buying fewer clothing items and buying good quality clothing. In fact, our instinct should be to buy nothing and to get creative with the clothes that we have. Try “shopping your closet” and using Pinterest to see how you can restyle your pieces into something new. A 10×10 challenge is a good way to challenge yourself to make new outfits.

#4 Try not buying anything new. Since there are so many used item websites (Kijiji, Varage Sale, Craig’s List, etc), it is relatively easy to find anything that you need used. I recently needed a coffeemaker and I was able to find one slightly used for only $20. The whole transaction took 2 days. In December, I accidentally broke my daughter’s decorative mirror tray for her dresser. I found her a new one with tags for only $5. Every time I buy something used, I am happy on three fronts: I found what I needed, I saved money and I saved something from the landfill.

#5 Consider a “no buy” or “low buy” for 3, 6 or even 12 months. This means buying nothing but food and essentials. It is all too easy to buy things because they are on sale or a great deal. We need to be more mindful of our consumption and really ask ourselves if this item that we want to purchase is necessary. Getting off the consumerism train is a great way to reduce our impact on the environment. In 2019, I allowed myself to buy some things but I realize now, that I actually didn’t really need anything. I myself got caught up in some consumerism, even if it was on used clothing.  Consequently, for 2020, I am starting the year with a 6 month no buy. It is also a great way to kick start savings for a summer vacation.

#6 Eat more vegetarian meals. Start by eating vegetarian once per week to get everyone used to new recipes. Meatless Mondays are a good way to start. Our family has been eating vegetarian 3-4 times per week and this change has allowed us to try lots of good vegetarian recipes (and even some vegan ones!). For inspiration, here are some links to my a few of my favorite recipes: https://theveglife.com/vegetable-barley-soup-vegan/and https://cookieandkate.com/best-lentil-soup-recipe/ and https://www.bingingwithbabish.com/recipes/2017/5/4/aglioeolio

#7 Look at ways to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels.  I am not perfect.  I drive a gasoline powered car and we have a bi-energy system at our house (heat pump + oil furnace).  In 2020, we will be looking at replacing our oil furnace with electric heating or geothermal energy. Instead of driving my car, I plan to walk and ride my bike more. Plus it will be good for my health and it can even be relaxing, if I am not running late!.

#8 Plant a tree.  Planting trees are not only beneficial for our environment, they are beautiful and provide a home for birds or other animals.  I have a friend who planted a tree after the birth of each of her children.  If you can’t plant a tree on your property, you can have someone else do it for you for a small fee.  There are several organizations now planting trees on behalf of citizens:  One Tree Planted, Tree Canada, Trees for the Future, Plant for the Planet, etc.

#9 Be kind to yourself and others. The planet is important but so are each of us.  We are all in this together and our outcome with the planet is our shared result.  However, if it happens that you occasionally have to take a single use item, don’t stress too much about it. Life isn’t always perfect and we have to be forgiving of ourselves and others if we want to progress.

#10 Share what you have learned about the environment with others.  My friend Adrian says that changes happen one person at a time.  When I share with someone information that I have learned about the environment or the 5 Rs, it can have a positive effect both for the person and for me.  I love it when people come back and tell me that they have made changes to their lives because of the information that I shared. I have been doing training on zero waste living in my “spare time” and I really enjoy it. If you would like me to speak at your place of work, community or children’s school, please let me know. I love spreading the word about the ways we can all make a difference.

Thank you to everyone for your comments and support as I continue this blog. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is reading me and it is very rewarding when I get your feedback.

Challenge for the week: What changes will you be making in 2020? Do you have any ideas or suggestions to share?