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Eco friendly actions are a great way to help save the planet. As an individual, you have a significant impact on the environment and how it is treated. The choices you make every day can either harm or protect our world. Help support the effort.
The world is in peril.
We need partners, people, ideas and companies to join together to solve this crisis.
We can act local but our impact must be global.
When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. When is the second best time to plant a tree? Today!
Solar power and wind power are great but they are just the start if we are to rescue the earth and preserve the future.
These 15 eco-friendly actions will make your life easier while also making the global community healthier! We must address these issues today and look for solutions in every thing we do.
One of the easiest ways to help is by recycling. Every time you recycle an item, it’s a step towards improving the health and safety of our world.
The average American throws away more than 200 pounds of plastic per year! This doesn't mean that we should avoid buying plastics altogether; rather, think about what you need and what can be recycled before purchase.
Instead of buying water bottles or sports drinks packed tightly into boxes, consider investing in reusable containers such as mason jars.
As if saving money and helping the planet wasn't enough; using biodegradable garbage bags can really make a big difference!
Not only are these types of trash bags more sustainable; but they also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions all over the world. In fact, every time you use one of these products instead of regular plastic or paper ones; you are reducing your carbon footprint
These types of bags are also easier to recycle than their plastic counterparts too.
Try using them at home or for your business and see how much more sustainable they can be. The environment is in our hands, everyone- so let's do what we can to protect it from harm!
According to the National Restaurant Association, nearly 50% of Americans drink coffee daily and more than 80 million cups are thrown away every year. This means that almost 40 billion cups of coffee are thrown away and not recycled every year!
There is a way to reduce this number, however; by bringing your own reusable cup when you purchase coffee or tea.
If everyone brought their own cup to the coffee shop, less paper and plastic cups would be needed.
This means that fewer trees will need cut down in order produce more disposable cups for consumers; it also saves money on manufacturing costs as well.
Another simple eco-friendly action you can take when shopping is to bring your own reusable bag. Plastic bags are convenient, but they also have a lasting negative impact on the environment.
In order to produce one plastic grocery bag, it takes 12 million BTUs of energy according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This means that each time we use a plastic bag, we are depleting our natural resources and using up energy.
When you shop for groceries or visit other retail stores to purchase items like clothing; bring your own reusable bags. This will not only reduce the number of plastics in landfills, but it also helps save money on manufacturing costs!
If bringing your own reusable bag is not an option, try to avoid plastic bags whenever you can. Most stores now offer paper or cloth options for those who forget their reusable bag at home.
Believe it or not, feeding your pet is one of the most environmentally conscious things you can do. Not only are they helping themselves by eating food scraps that were already going to be thrown away; but they are also reducing their carbon footprint!
It's amazing what they will eat too!
If you have an animal that is fed at certain times throughout the day and they do not eat all their food; consider taking what’s left to a local shelter or even feeding it to your pet.
If this isn't an option for you due to medical restrictions, consider composting the remains to reduce waste.
One of the quickest ways you can start living a more eco-friendly lifestyle is by making your own household cleaners. This reduces emissions in our environment as well as saves money on products that are not built with natural ingredients or additives.
By bringing your own reusable containers and filling up with homemade cleaners; you are doing two things at once.
According to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), more than 40% of food in America is thrown away every year. With millions of Americans going hungry each day, this statistic should be a wake up call for everyone!
Not only does wasting so much food contribute to climate change; but it also costs consumers money on their grocery bills.
If you are unsure about how to reduce food waste and save your leftovers, consider buying a smaller refrigerator.
By doing this, you will be able to see what is in the fridge at all times and prevent items from going bad quickly. In addition, try using an airtight container for storing leftover foods so it lasts longer! If fresh leftovers are not an option, consider freezing your food to have it for a later date.
One of the simplest ways you can be eco-friendly is to turn off your water when brushing your teeth. According to Treehugger, “it takes about a gallon and half of H2O to make one toothbrush” meaning that we are wasting thousands of gallons every year simply by not turning our faucet off while flossing and brushing.
We can all be better in this area.
If you find it difficult to remember to turn off the spigot, consider putting a reminder on your bathroom mirror that will catch your attention immediately after finishing up with your teeth.
Or try setting an alarm on your phone or computer for 30 seconds so you can finish up in time. These small actions contribute to saving water and it will not only make your sink a little bit shinier; but also could save an ocean.
One of the most obvious ways to reduce your carbon footprint and be eco-friendly is by buying local products. Although there are many benefits to organic products, supporting businesses in our own communities has a ripple effect that we cannot ignore.
Not only does this contribute to reducing our ecological footprint; but it also helps small business owners thrive instead of big corporations.
The best part about being eco-friendly is that it’s all relative to the individual; as long as you are doing your research and trying to prevent waste in any way possible, then you are making a difference!
By shifting our habits towards more sustainable lifestyles, we will become healthier individuals while living on this planet for many years to come.
One of the simplest ways you can be eco-friendly is by carpooling or riding your bike to work on occasion.
With traffic becoming more congested every day; cutting down trips alone will make a huge difference in reducing climate change!
If you find that your route to work is not suitable for biking or carpooling, consider making a few small changes.
For example, if there are multiple people in the office who live near each other; try arranging time throughout the week where everyone can meet up at the same location and travel together on their way into work.
Have an errand close by? Walk. Need to go up or down a few floors. Forget the elevator. Walk.
We are all one big community working together.
It's amazing what an efficient shower head can do, especially when combined with shorter showers. If we could scale this responsible action across the globe the effects would be enormous. Instead of it taking 9 gallons
Leaving electronics on standby is one of the easiest ways to contribute to the environment; especially when it comes to your television and computer screens! According to Energy Saving Trust, over 300 million TVs are in use today that collectively cost consumers $230 a year just by leaving them plugged into the wall.
Not only are we wasting electricity by doing this; but it also makes your appliances less durable over time.
Does everyone in your company take this action at the end of the day?
Try to remember these simple steps before leaving for work or heading out of town for a few days. Again imagine what it would be like if all the people in all the countries in the world could learn to do this what an impact it would make.
Another simple habit you can incorporate into your daily routine is by shutting off lights when they are not needed. Not only does this reduce greenhouse gas emissions; but it also saves money on energy bills as well.
The average household wastes $40 a year just by leaving these devices on while no one is around to use them.
If this habit is too much, try installing a programmable thermostat or motion sensor lights in your home! This way you can be sure that these devices are being used when needed and not wasting electricity when everyone has gone to sleep for the night.
One of the biggest ways you can be eco-friendly is by traveling responsibly and reducing pollution on a personal level. Think of the clean air and the forest you might be saving. Let's all do our part to lower those carbon dioxide emissions.
Not only do these methods help planet earth; but they also allow individuals to meet new people, experience different cultures, and relieve stress.
If you must travel by plane; try using carbon offset or renewable energy to compensate for the emissions your flight will produce.
This way you can still go on vacation without changing the environment at home!
For example, if a family is traveling from London to Miami one week; they may choose instead to fly in first class and take a train to their final destination.
While this may cause the family to spend more money in one week; they will be able to travel responsibly and limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by choosing an alternate route.
Many companies are doing their part by limiting unnecessary business travel and hosting meetings on site.
It's that simple. LEDs prevent climate change. Another no nonsense way to help planet earth is by replacing your regular light bulbs with LED ones. These lights are more durable, last longer, and use less energy than ever before!
In fact; they can save you up to $60 a year in electricity costs alone without sacrificing any brightness or quality of lighting at all. Try installing these devices in your home or purchasing a more eco-friendly device for the office.
You will also be able to make an impact in your wallet as well! Try replacing these lights with LEDs every few months and see how much money this effort can truly save over time. While it may seem like nothing at first; the savings really do add up over time!
Think of the whole world transitioning to LEDs. What a bright future that would be.
All of these tips are simple ways to make a big difference in our environment. By taking just one or two of them on board, you can help and protect the planet from further destruction at the same time.
Try using as many eco-friendly techniques as possible. Saving the planet is something that requires everyone’s help and participation; but there are so many easy ways to get started if you take the time to research eco-friendly actions.
Whether its reusing plastic bags or keeping track of what goes in the trash, it all helps to limit carbon emissions and preserve our natural resources.
Our company is dedicated to to the global initiative of conservation and looking for helpful solutions.
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]]>You do have alternatives to plastics, commercial cleaners, polishes, and similar items. Again, carefully review your choices to make the planet safer and more environmentally sound.
HHW (Home Household Waste) Products
Some of the products you need to scrutinize include the following:
Making Substitutions
To get started, you might consider the following products and making substitutions with more natural substances or items.
Instead of drain cleaner, clear drains with a snake line or plunger.
Clean windows or mirrors with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in a quart of lukewarm water. Use this instead of glass cleaner. Spay the mix on and wipe with a soft clean rag or paper towel made of bamboo.
Replace furniture polish by using 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in a pint of vegetable oil or mineral oil. Wipe with a soft and clean rag.
Substitute rug deodorizer with baking soda. Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the rug, waiting about 15 minutes before vacuuming. Repeat, if needed.
Instead of using a chemical, such as silver polish, boil 3 inches of water with salt and 1 teaspoon of baking soda, in a shallow aluminum pan for 3 minutes. Submerge your silver in the boiling liquid and boil for an additional 3 minutes. Wipe away the tarnish. Repeat, if needed.
Replace mothballs with dried herbs, such as rosemary or lavender.
Disposing of HHW Products
While hazardous wastes are considered corrosive, toxic, or reactive, wastes generated from regular household activities, such as routine yard or home maintenance, are excluded from the definition of hazardous wastes.
Home household waste (HHW), under the law must be generated on a temporary or permanent residence and the waste stream must be made of materials mainly created by consumers inside their homes.
You should check your state’s laws about HHW, as it is regulated at a state or local level. Find out what measures are taken to dispose of this type of waste. With that being said, it is still better to find more natural and toxic-free solutions to HHW – solutions that will make you feel confident about cleaning your home and eliminating environmental hazards.
Making a Substitute in Kitchen Bags
To clean up the HHW or other waste in your house, have you also considered what type of kitchen bags you are using?
Regular plastic kitchen bags linger in landfills for hundreds of years. They also threaten wildlife and pollute waterways and large bodies of water. If an animal gets caught up in one of these bags, it often is suffocated and dies. Therefore, it is important to find a biodegradable substitute.
Fortunately, you can switch out the plastic bags you are using now and replace them with a biodegradable bag, called BagUps. This kitchen bag, which is assembled by veterans and people with disabilities, comes in a recyclable cardboard box. You can dispense the bag easily, as well – as easy as removing a tissue from a tissue box.
BagUps are made to biodegrade in 24 to 36 months, so they do not take up space in a landfill for a long time. Not only are you reducing landfill waste, you are also making things safer for wildlife.
If you want to make one substitute that will make a major difference in reducing waste and improving the environment, place an order on the BagUps site. You can order by subscription, thereby you will never run out of the convenient and degradable bags.
Ways You Can Ecologically Reduce Waste at Home
To reduce waste at home, you can also do the following:
Questions to Ask and Answer
What have you done to improve the environment? What eco-friendly products have you used or do you use? What items do you have that you can donate or repurpose?
Do your part in making the planet a cleaner and safer place to live. If you have not done so already, add products, like BagUps, on your shopping list of items that are both sustainable and eco-friendly.
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Have questions about how you can help save the planet?
Contact us at BagUps.
Want to join the thousands of others committed to a cleaner tomorrow?
Get a BagUps subscription today.
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]]>Composting is a way of reusing leftover scraps of food and yard waste, such as leaves, for the production of fertilizer.
It also is a great way to improve the condition of your grass and soil. Composting reduces the amount of organic waste ending up at a waste-to-energy site or landfill.
Some people call compost “black gold,” as it enriches their soil and greens their lawns without chemicals.
Materials Used for Compost
Some items used for materials include the following:
To participate in composting, begin by creating a compost pile. By adding compost to the soil in your yard or garden, you will reduce erosion, keep organic materials out of landfills, and increase your soil’s water retention properties.
During the hot summer months, or when it really gets hot, raise the cutting height setting on your lawn mower.
Doing so will keep your grass’s roots shaded and cooled, prevent weed growth, stop the grass from browning, and decrease the need for watering.
You can also grasscycle – leaving grass trimmings on your lawn instead of bagging them.
The leftover clippings will return nutrients to the ground and soil and free up the landfills.
If you have healthy plants that you wish to replace, do not throw them out. Instead, start a community garden or donate them to an established community garden, park, or school.
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After all, I manage a community garden that advocates organic practices and regularly use reusable bags when I go shopping.
I also try to walk or bike instead of drive my car when I go shopping or need to run an errand a short distance from home.
All these activities reduce waste, clean up the environment, and lend to a healthier and more harmonious life.
That is why I was excited when I discovered the product and brand, BagUps, online.
These kitchen bags are not only easy to use – you can dispense them easily; they are both an ethical and eco-friendly product choice.
Here is why I love BagUps –
These biodegradable kitchen bags are as resilient as other non-ecofriendly kitchen bags.
They also come in a recyclable cardboard box. The bags, if tossed in a landfill, degrade in about 2 to 3 years instead of centuries.
Therefore, this product, when you are done using it, is both recyclable and sustainable. It reduces the carbon footprint and the bags’ green color truly reminds you that you are contributing to a greener environment.
The Benefits of Using BagUps
Here are some of the benefits of this great product:
Plus, I love the patented dispensing system.
I never have to scramble clumsily, trying to pull out another bag. The dispensing system makes it easy for me to adroitly remove another bag when I need it.
Plus, the company sells the bags on a subscription basis, so you do not have to worry about running out of the bags.
They are always there when you need them.
As a result, I cannot say enough good things about BagUps. By using these biodegradable wonders, I am contributing to the economy and a cleaner environment.
If you would like to do your part for the greening of the planet, I highly recommend BagUps. Add them to your online shopping list. You will be glad you did.
How BagUps Biodegrade
While items, such as cardboard, have components in them, that can be broken down and reused, biodegradable bags, such as BagUps, produce zero waste.
After they biodegrade in 2 to 3 years, they have disappeared from sight – never to be seen again!
Therefore, BagUps decompose much faster than recyclable and traditional plastic bags.
That is because the company adds a chemical agent that causes the bag to decompose super quick when exposed to sunlight and oxygen.
After a short time, the bag is reduced to molecular crystals. If the bag ends up in the water, it is less likely to suffocate the wildlife, given its ability to degrade in this way.
This bag is a real example of a product that produces zero waste.
I want to do good things for the environment as well as for my family.
That is why I love BagUps.
I would not even dream of using another kitchen bag. The product is made by wonderful people, produced in the U.S., and contributes to a better world. That is why I consider it my favorite kitchen product.
I have even told my friends about BagUps and they love the product too.
Like me, they like the fact that their purchase provides jobs for people who are U.S. veterans and people with disabilities.
They also like the fact that BagUps are so simple to use and can be easily refilled by ordering a subscription.
Place an Order Here Online – Here is the Link
I know that there are several eco-friendly products featured in the marketplace online. However, when it comes to an all-around eco-friendly and ethical product, BagUps is first-rate.
If you want to do your part for greening the planet and reducing the carbon footprint, you need to head over to the BagUps site and place an order now.
I also like BagUps because the shipping is free. Whether you buy a 2-pack, 4-pack, or 12-pack package, you don’t have to pay this added expense.
The subscription system also makes it easy to automate your orders and receive BagUps at your home address on a regular basis. You don’t have to think about it. The kitchen bags arrive at your doorstep on a routine basis.
Placing an Order – What to Expect
A 2-pack box of the bags includes 2 refill rolls and 30 bags of 13-gallon sized tall kitchen bags. You can also opt for 30-gallon sized bags if you so choose.
The company processes your order within 1 to 3 days.
After the order is processed, it is shipped immediately. BagUps are sent USPS Priority Mail if they are in a 2-pack box. It usually arrives in 5 business days.
For a 12-pack packages, the company uses its own cardboard box and ships the product by FedEx Ground, UPS Ground or USPS Ground, depending on the shipping zone and rates. The 12-pack BagUps usually arrive in about 7 to 10 business days.
Again, I know you will really like this eco-friendly product. If you are committed to doing your part for the environment or want to do something, but do not know where to begin, go online to the BagUps site and place an order today.
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Have questions about how you can help save the planet?
Contact us at BagUps.
Want to join the thousands of others committed to a cleaner tomorrow?
Get a BagUps subscription today.
]]>After all, we live in a world that promotes the use of fossil fuels for heating and power and our general transportation needs.
How many people do you know take a bike to work instead of driving, choose to walk to the store rather than using their car, use reusable bags, do not drink from plastic bottles, or regularly recycle?
Unfortunately, most people have not adopted an eco-friendly lifestyle . . . yet.
They are used to buying products that make their life more convenient and carefree.
They drive cars that operate on gasoline and buy everyday items that generate pollution during manufacturing or add to landfill wastes and debris after they are used.
They do not think about the future implications of adopting this kind of “convenient” lifestyle.
Why Eco-friendy Makes Sense
What most people do not know is that an eco-friendly, green-centered life is also one that will help them save money and improve their overall well-being in the long run.
Making things easier on yourself now can end up causing you future troubles.
For example, the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, or using some non-organic products can lead to later problems with your health.
Because chemical pesticides have been shown to pollute the environment, too much movement around the chemicals can contaminate the groundwater or surface water, or injure non-targeted species, such as animals and people.
In addition, the use of chemical pesticides has been shown to be attributed to the cause of health problems, such as cancers of the breasts, brain, ovaries, testis, and lymphoma and leukemia.
Pesticides may also cause reproductive harm that leads to still births, birth defects, infertility, sterility, and spontaneous abortion. While synthetic pesticides are meant to control pests on food, they can also bio-accumulate in our body over time.
Therefore, we need to make a concerted effort to practice eco-friendly activities.
Ignoring the Consequences
We have gotten into the habit of leading such “convenient” lives that we ignore the consequences of using non-organic items, eating foods grown by synthetic means, and performing daily activities that harm the environment and the health of animals and humans.
For instance, our overuse of plastic has lead to problems with clogged landfills and in the material ending up in the ocean.
Unfortunately, winds and showers carry plastic waste into rivers and streams through drainage systems.
These drains lead to the ocean.
Carelessly disposing of this kind of waste contributes to a plastic surge in the seas around the world – a surge that strangles and kills marine life.
An Eco-friendly Solution to Problems with Plastic Waste
Instead of using plastic kitchen bags, you can prevent problems of this nature by buying an eco-friendly product, such as BagUps.
BagUps are made of a certified biodegradable material that is strong as plastic but degrades much faster. It turns into food for worms in about 24 to 36 months.
If people could look into the future and see the results of living a less eco-friendly lifestyle, they might change their mind about how they live their lives now.
If you want to create a better life for yourself ecologically, economically, and health-wise, it is important to support eco-friendly practices now.
Eco-friendly Practices
Besides using biodegradable trash bags, such as BagUps, you can also do the following:
What tips can you share for being more eco-friendly?
Today is the day to make up your mind to adopt green-friendly practices.
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Have questions about how you can help save the planet?
Contact us at BagUps.
Want to join the thousands of others committed to a cleaner tomorrow?
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]]>If you do not reuse, recycle, or refuse to use products that are environmentally unfriendly, you lose more than you gain in what you experience in terms of well-being and s better quality of life.
That is why I like to use products, such as BagUps, which are biodegradable – products that don’t produce the type of unwanted waste that kills marine life in oceans or creates over-clogged landfills.
BagUps are strong and biodegradable bags that degrade naturally after about 24 to 36 months.
They fade away nicely and therefore make the planet more sustainable.
I also like to reduce, reuse, and recycle items.
Recycling, for me, has become a habit.
I believe in the old saying – Waste Not, Want Not, and therefore believe recycling unwanted items is much better than pitching them in the trash.
Making Recycling a Habit
Because it takes more energy to produce raw materials, I have made recycling a habit.
If I do use any plastic bottles, I recycle them.
Otherwise, I use a steel reusable container when I drink water.
By recycling, we can break down reusable products and produce less pollution and waste.
When this happens, we also improve the environment – an environment that becomes extremely fragile when we abuse it with harsh chemicals and emissions.
A Budget-friendly Practice
Not only is recycling eco-friendly, it is also budget-friendly.
The practice conserves our natural resources, creates jobs, and saves people money.
Therefore, a greater revenue is generated by recycling materials.
In the U.S., recycling can also be considered patriotic, as we are reducing our dependence on raw materials from countries abroad.
The company, BagUps, shows its patriotism and commitment to a better world by hiring U.S. veterans and disabled people to assemble its bags.
Therefore, buying a product from a company with these types of ethics makes being eco-friendly even more worthwhile.
Regardless of how big a part you play in the greening of the planet, it counts.
Therefore, being eco-friendly means integrating recycling, reducing, and reusing in our daily activities.
Being eco-friendly should be the standard by which we live, not an exception.
By adopting eco-friendly living practices, we can also serve as good role models for our kids.
Taking this stance builds a solid foundation for a greener future and planet.
You can do your part by buying green-friendly BagUps and recycling unwanted soda cans, glass and plastic bottles, and cardboard and wastepaper.
Make recycling a family activity so your kids can show their kids in the future.
Conserving Energy
Living green also means conserving energy and choosing alternative forms of energy, such as wind power and solar power.
At this time, we, as a society, are highly dependent on fossil fuels to drive our vehicles and overall power.
Therefore, these limited resources are used extensively in transportation, industry, and electric generation.
However, we still need to remember that these types of energy are not renewable – a day will come when we will not be able to use them.
At the rate we currently use them, these resources will become exhausted fairly soon.
Needless to say, getting in the habit of conserving energy is vital.
That means switching off the lights or electronics when you are not using them and using energy-efficient appliances and forms of transportation.
Now is the time to make it a habit to choose eco-friendly products over products known to harm the environment.
This type of destruction may happen during the manufacturing process, during use, or upon disposal.
You can find eco-friendly products, such as BagUps, online.
Besides biodegradable products, you can buy items, such as organic foods, organic beauty products, and organic clothing.
While some items may be more expensive, they will benefit you and the environment.
The additional money you pay now can be offset by the medical bills you may pay later.
Growing Plants and Trees
Part of eco-friendliness for me also includes growing plants.
Growing trees and plants balances out the eco-season and reduces the effects of pollution. You can grow your own garden, participate in growing plants in a community garden, or volunteer your time at a nature reserve.
If you choose to plant your own garden and cultivate plants, you can save on what you pay at the grocery and add to the overall air quality.
Plants add oxygen to the air, and make the air we breathe purer and fresher. Moreover, gardening is shown to calm you and the plants provide a sense of peace.
That is why this hobby is one of my favorite eco-friendly activities.
Gardening will also teach you more about the organic process.
Instead of using harmful pesticides and fertilizers, you will learn about growing and cultivating plants naturally and safely.
Adopting organic and green gardening processes will help you learn more about the importance of crop rotation and matching plants to soils and to the environment where they grow.
I have plenty of reasons to be eco-friendly.
I hope you can see why this type of practice makes life better overall and why you should start getting into this habit now.
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Have questions about how you can help save the planet?
Contact us at BagUps.
Want to join the thousands of others committed to a cleaner tomorrow?
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]]>Therefore, “green” is a broad term used in today’s culture that covers sustainable practices, eco-friendly behavior, and environmental responsibility.
When you practice green activities, you are contributing to conserving the earth’s natural resources, reducing waste, and using less energy. Keep in mind that the planet’s resources are limited.
Yet, as the population continues to expand and technological advances unfold, we tend to consume and use more natural resources.
The rate of use is particularly obvious in developed countries, especially North America and Europe.
Cutting down trees to produce paper and extracting oil, coal, and other natural fuels to drive autos, airplanes, and machines puts everything in perspective.
The use of fossil fuels has resulted in pollution, acid rain, and global warming – a cause-and-effect situation.
Therefore, the greening of the planet means finding ways to preserve finite resources and protect animals and plants that are on the verge of extinction.
It also means protecting marine life and preventing the disposal of waste and pollutants in the ocean and streams.
Some Green Facts
According to a report produced by the World Wildlife Fund, people are using over 20% more natural resources than what the Earth can provide.
Moreover, from 1970 to 2000, animal species on the land, in freshwater lakes, and in seas have dropped by 40%.
This makes going green especially important – now more than ever.
Deforestation and fewer trees cause problems with the absorption of carbon dioxide, which leads to increases in global warming.
This, in turn, triggers climate changes as well as floods and erosion – all which destroy natural plant and animal habitats.
In some areas, over-fishing has virtually eliminated fish populations, an imbalance that upsets the marine eco-system.
Also, plastic bags are dumped in the ocean and strangle the marine life who get caught up in the plastic debris.
That is why we need to use products that can be reused or can biodegrade. One of the ways we can effect a change is in the kitchen bags we choose to use.
That is why our product, BagUps, is a trending solution.
The kitchen bags are biodegradable garbage bags and will not linger in landfills. Instead, they degrade in a short matter of time – about 24 to 36 months, thereby making it easier to go green and practice eco-friendly measures.
A Sustainable and Ethical Product
BagUps are assembled by disabled people and U.S. veterans, and therefore represent a product that is both sustainable and ethical.
BagUps help people understand the importance of consuming only what they need and using zero-waste products.
You can also go green by buying reusable products and practicing recycling.
Therefore, going green means assessing what we need and want we want, and making the distinction.
Do you really need or want a new car?
Do you truly need to use that plastic wrap or bag? Why are you using paper towels when you can use more sustainable bamboo substitutes?
Another aspect of being eco-friendly, or choosing to go green, involves energy conservation.
Again, fossil fuels that create energy from coal, natural gas, and oil are limited.
Therefore, greening the planet involves using solar energy and wind energy as well.
When you use more sustainable energy sources, less pollution is created. Moreover, the mining of coal or extraction of oil causes a large amount of pollution.
These same resources also cause even more pollution when used to drive autos, operate factories, and support power plants.
In addition, going green means reducing waste and consumption, or following the principle of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
When waste is reduced, we also use less energy or resources for managing unwanted waste. Less pollution is emitted from both incinerators and landfills.
Protecting the Earth’s Ecological Balance
When you go green, you are basically protecting the earth’s ecological balance – a balance that is in need of some major adjustments.
When the balance is favorable, both plants and animals, along with humans, can co-exist harmoniously.
Unfortunately, we have also destroyed many plant and animal habitats by overbuilding or through developing the land.
To build up areas or develop them, we have also extracted finite resources at an accelerated rate.
Through deforestation and overconsumption, we have made it difficult for the earth to get rid of excess chemicals and carbon dioxide – stretching the earth’s resources beyond what is reasonable.
Things like genetic engineering, hormonal injections in livestock, and chemical fertilizers supply our desire for money but lends to a lesser quality of life.
What are you doing to green the planet and make it a more harmonious place to live?
Begin by considering what you buy and by practicing recycling. Use biodegradable products to ensure a better quality of life and less landfill waste.
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Have questions about how you can help save the planet?
Contact us at BagUps.
Want to join the thousands of others committed to a cleaner tomorrow?
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]]>Use biodegradable garbage bags to eliminate plastic bags around the home.
To begin organizing your recyclables, start with plastic bags. If you recycle any plastic bags that contain food, make sure any of the food residue is removed. You can organize and add the following plastic bags in a bin, as follows:
]]>Recycling is one of the most important things you can do to reduce landfill waste and keep the planet clean and beautiful. Once you get involved in organizing your home’s recycling, you will feel a sense of accomplishment. The following information clues you in on how to organize different recyclables.
Recycling Plastic Bags
Use biodegradable garbage bags to eliminate plastic bags around the home.
To begin organizing your recyclables, start with plastic bags. If you recycle any plastic bags that contain food, make sure any of the food residue is removed. You can organize and add the following plastic bags in a bin, as follows:
Recycling Cardboard
You should also have a bin for cardboard, and not just the corrugated cardboard used for shipping. You can also add the cardboard or paperboard that holds foods, such as crackers or cookies. Just make sure you don’t leave any food waste. For example, don’t add a greasy pizza box in with your cardboard recyclables. Also, open up the boxes completely so you can fit them inside your recycling bin.
Recycling Papers
Another recycling bin in your home can be used to hold papers. Separate the paper from the newspapers, as recycling centers normally recycle newspapers separately. The paper bin should include all types of office paper, junk mail, and magazines. You can add glossy papers to paper recycling. In addition to keeping the newspapers separate, you might create a separate stack of magazines, as well, as they are more voluminous.
Some Basic Recycling Guidelines to Follow
When it comes to metal and glass, you can save aluminum foil for recycling at home. Again, make sure to clean the foil of any food residue before adding it to its own recycling bin.
Types of Glass Products You Cannot Recycle
While most types of glass can be recycled, you cannot recycle the following:
*You typically can recycle compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) light bulbs at a hardware store.
Separating Container Plastics (Including Water and Soda Bottles)
You can recycle most container plastics with resin numbers stamped on the bottom of the container of 1 to 7. Separate plastic bottles from other container plastics. When you make this a practice, you will be able to tell the differences in the types of plastics so they can be recycled more efficiently. Different plastics cannot be recycled together, so this information is helpful and good to know.
Stamped Numbers of Plastics – What They Mean
Number 1
Most of plastic containers that are recycled are either stamped 1 or 2. Number 1 plastics or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) plastics represent soda bottles, water bottles, medicines containers, and bottles that contain cooking oil.
Number 2
Number 2 plastic containers represent HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastics, or containers used for laundry/dish detergents, shampoo, milk, conditioners, grocery bags, and various toys.
Number 3
Number 3 plastics represent V or polyvinyl chloride plastics, and include pipes, clear medical tubes, vinyl dashboards, seat covers, and shower curtains.
Number 4
Number 4 plastics include LDPE or low-density polyethylene plastics, and include products, such as grocery bags, wrapping films, and sandwich bags. Most municipalities will accept all these types of plastics at their facilities except grocery bags, which can get stuck in the sorting machines. Check with the recycling facility to make sure what is accepted.
Separate out the grocery bags and give them back to the store, if it has a recycling box. You can also repurpose the bags for shopping and for carrying books. Some thrift stores will also accept grocery bags for repurposing.
Number 5
Number 5 plastics include PP or polypropylene plastics, such as Tupperware™, orange medicine containers, plastic caps for soda bottles, and yogurt tubs.
Number 6
Number 6 plastics include polystyrene plastics, such as plastic cups, disposable cups and cutlery (both clear and in colors), packing peanuts, Styrofoam coffee cups, and insulation made of Styrofoam.*
*Most municipalities will not take packing peanuts or anything made of Styrofoam, as they become contaminated easily by food.
Number 7
Number 7 plastics are usually made of a less commonly used plastic or with a combination of plastics (numbered 1 through 6). These biodegradable plastics may be non-petroleum based, or made of products, such as corn.
Some Recycling Tips
Some Recycling Tips
When separating plastics, make sure you separate the bottles from the caps, as the bottles normally are number a number 1 and the caps are number 5, and these 2 plastics cannot be recycled together.Also, even if you believe you know the number of a plastic, always check for a recycling number and
confirm it before sorting the plastic.
What to Use to Organize and Store Your Recyclables
To store your recyclables, it is probably best to choose bins that are stackable, and come in different colors, so you can color-code your items for repurposing.
Set Up a Recycling Space
Set up a recycling space either inside a cabinet or outside, so you can stay committed to repurposing recyclables. Learning how to organize waste in this way will help you see the value in both recycling and managing waste.
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]]>One of the craziest ironies in this sustainable world of ours is the continued use of regular plastic bags instead of biodegradable plastic bags.
It's amazing how much non-biodegradable material is used for garbage bags, straws, cup lids, bottles, and bubble wrap.
That stuff really clogs up landfills, not to mention the ocean.
According to research findings, the ocean contains approximately 46,000 plastic bags per square mile.
That kind of waste can profoundly affect aqua marine life. It's also just plain nasty.
For instances, a turtle can suffocate if it gets entangled in a plastic bag or a whale can starve if he eats the stuff and has no way to get rid of it.
Here's an infographic on how bad the problem is.
Please share this with everyone you know!
Recycling Plastic Is Not All that Simple
Many people think if they throw plastic away to be recycled, they don’t have to worry.
However, not all plastic can be recycled – only bottles can be easily repurposed.
All other plastic materials are not usually sent for recycling.
When you consider that 500 million straws are sold each day or the bubble wrap produced per year could circle the globe . . . not 1, but 6 times, it puts everything into perspective.
Plus, all the coffee we drink in cups with plastic lids can cause major landfill problems, as 16 billion of those lids are used annually.
The problem even gets worse when we use plastic for bags, as we use approximately one trillion plastic bags per year.
One TRILLION!
1,000,000,000,000.
That translates to 2 million bags per minute.
That really makes the idea of biodegradable plastic bags very appealing.
Even when people try to kick the habit of plastic, they tend to fall back into the trap again.
For example, one store that sold eco-friendly garbage bags noted that its customers asked for plastic to tote the bags home.
That’s when you stop to reason that people are much too addicted to using plastic.
Moreover, scientists state that it takes from 450 to 1,000 years for traditional, petroleum-based plastic to decompose.
1,000 years!
Decomposition Takes Less Time
Compare that with biodegradable bags, which take 12 to 36 months to fully break down.
In addition, some bio-degradable garbage bags are made with an agent that causes the bags to decompose faster.
When it does decompose, the biodegradable bag turns into crystals.
If you place food in a biodegradable bag, the bag will break down and the food will decompose into methane gas.
Because the gas can be turned into energy, you end up with zero waste and a cleaner environment.
Consider this too – Most synthetic plastics are made with crude oil, which does not really sound all that safe.
Also, during the processing of fuel-based plastics, additives, such as BPA, may be used to make the material more stretchy or pliable.
Therefore, using a biodegradable bag – one that is made with more sustainable substances, creates less problems with ongoing waste.
Like BagUps.
To truly appreciate biodegradable bags, you have to better understand how regular plastic is made and why it does not degrade all that easily.
Indeed, plastic is one popular material, as we use 20 times more plastic now than what we did about 50 years ago.
Again, our use of the material has simply gotten out of control.
Plastic Recycling
Because plastic bottles are usually recycled, they can avoid the landfills, provided a user separates his or her bottles from the regular trash.
When plastic is recycled, it goes through several processing steps, as follows:
When the plastic is sorted, it is done so all the contaminants are removed.
Once the plastic has been sorted and cleaned it will either be shredded into flakes or melt-processed to form plastic pellets, either of which can be used to make new items, including more bottles.
Always Use Biodegradable Bags
While it is good to know we can recycle the material, it still does not mean it will not end up in the landfill.
If you recycle anything, make sure you don’t throw away those plastic bottles.
As for plastic bags, statistics show that only 1% to 3% of bags are recycled.
All the other bags are pitched in landfills, or end up polluting the deep blue sea. Therefore, when it comes to bags, use the biodegradable type – bags that take much less time to biodegrade.
Well Worth the Investment
When bags are made of a biodegradable material, it may cost more to make them.
However, it is well worth the investment.
When you consider the clean-up costs associated with traditional plastic and its effect on the environment, you will discover that choosing biodegradable bags over traditional plastic bags is smarter.
Also, consider this – Less energy is consumed when making biodegradable plastic bags compared to ordinary plastic bags.
For example, when a polymer is corn-based, the manufacturer uses 65% less energy than when a polymer is made from a petroleum.
Moreover, the making of any bioplastic does not use hydrocarbons, all which means fewer fossils are used and pollution is reduced.
In turn, about 68% fewer greenhouse gases are emitted into the air.
Zero Percent Waste
Where you have a significant benefit is in the breakdown of biodegradable plastic – something that takes a very small amount of time when compared to traditional plastic.
Also, as soon as it breaks down, the plastic is gone, which means 0% waste. Compare that with traditional plastic, which makes up approximately 13% of the current stream of waste produced, or 32 million tons of trash per year.
Only 9% of this type of fuel-based plastic can be recycled, which, indeed, creates quite a dilemma.
When you use a biodegradable plastic, you are making significant inroads in keeping the planet cleaner and safe.
If you get too used to using regular plastic, you end up becoming part of the problem, not the solution.
Given our addiction to plastic, it’s time to start participating in an environmental rehab program – one where we use biodegradable bags instead of traditional plastic.
By using biodegradable bags to conquer our plastic addiction, we can realize our goal of a sustainably cleaner planet and a higher quality of life.
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One great example of this would be the use of biodegradable plastics or green trash bags in place of the harmful plastics.
]]>Not Just Another Kitchen Gadget
The health of the environment is more important now than ever, and alternatives to synthetic plastics are emerging in the market.
One great example of this would be the use of biodegradable plastics or green trash bags in place of the harmful plastics.
Though this might be difficult at first, we can actually live without using these single-use plastics by incorporating biodegradable and environmental friendly trash bags instead of the conventional disposable plastics.
These green trash bags are not just another kitchen gadget because they are part of the solution.
One major advantage of switching to green trash bags is that they won't eventually turn into teeny tiny bits of plastic molecules in the ocean.
These biodegradable plastics take about three to six months to decompose fully, which is a whole lot quicker than its synthetic counterparts.
Simple Ways to Reduce the Use of Plastics
Did You Know Plastics are Ruining the Oceans?
The oceans are among our most important resources for life on earth, and also our biggest dumping grounds.
We are facing an environmental disaster and the clock is ticking.
We use and dispose of hundreds of products a year that aren't biodegradable.
Many of these products end up in our oceans.
Our green planet is suffering.
There is no doubt.
There are things we can do to save the planet and make our environment safe for our kids and grandkids.
Green trash bags aren't the only solution, just part of the answer.
Every little bit helps.
Even if we don't litter on the beach, mismanage an oil rig, or throw soda bottles on the ground, we are all likely still harming the ocean without realizing it.
The problem lies with the single-use plastics we discard, the consumer goods that fill our stores, and in our clothing, which sheds micro-plastic fibers in the wash.
The disposable plastics in the ocean are recognizable objects, including plastic bags, plastic bottles, fishing nets, but much of it mechanically breaks down to small particles, many a fraction of a millimeter across.
In fact, in June of 2020, the sailing vessel Kwai returned to Honolulu Hawaii with 103 tons of plastics, nets, and debris from 'The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.'
As the name suggests, the ocean suffers from a massive patch of debris and garbage (about 1.8 billion pieces).
Learn more with this video.
Last year the Kwai brought back 40 tons of debris. All the waste is sent back to the mainland and recycled. None of it is ever deposited in a landfill.
Recent studies have concluded that plastics in the ocean decompose faster than was once thought, due to exposure to rain, sun, and other environmental factors, resulting in the release of toxic chemicals.
However, as the production of these disposable plastic products continues to increase at a rapid rate, it overwhelms the ocean's ability to deal with them.
Effects of Plastic Pollution
Most of the plastics that we use in our day-to-day lives are made of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET for short, which contains chemical substances that are nearly impossible to decompose.
The chemicals in plastic, which give them their flexibility and rigidity, are oily poisons that repel water and stick to petroleum-based objects like plastic debris that can leach out of plastics can accumulate on other plastics.
There are millions of metric tons of plastics that end up in our ocean each year, equivalent to almost five grocery bags filled with plastic wastes for every foot of coastline in the planet.
It is estimated that by the year 2050, plastic wastes in the oceans will outweigh fish, according to the projection report made by the World Economic Forum.
Fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals can ingest or become entangled with these plastic debris, causing suffocation, drowning, and starvation--which in turn can end up in the seafood we eat.
According to the journal released by the Environmental Science and Technology says that it's possible that humans may be consuming anywhere from 39,000 to 52,000 and inhaling 74,000 micro-plastic particles each year.
Research showed that plastic particles might persist in the lungs when plastic waste is burned, which can lead to a myriad of health problems.
How Can We Help?
Disposable plastics may represent the epitome of today's throwaway generation. Even if you may live hundreds of miles from the coast, the single-use plastics you throw away could make its way into the ocean or other bodies of water.
This is a serious concern, especially with the increasing number of plastic wastes in the ocean.
It is hard to accept, but we, humans, are the primary contributor to these damages. If the waste management stays as effective as it is today, it is projected that there will be more plastic wastes than marine species in the world's oceans by 2050.
So what can we do to alleviate this problem and preserve the planet for our children and for the future generations to come?
Many of us are focused on taking care of our bodies by eating well, exercising, and making sure to get enough hours of sleep.
But despite these efforts, we often neglect taking care of the environment that we live in.
While disposing our garbage properly helps a lot, it is not enough to solve the already huge problem that our environment faces due to the excessive use of disposable plastics.
The key here is to use fewer plastics and to start recycling more.
By simply recycling plastics, we can save cubic yards of landfill space and help reduce the strain on the finite resources of the earth.
There are two major ways to recycle disposable plastic products:
However, there are a myriad of ways to recycle plastics that doesn't involve complex processes, such as making a D.I.Y. plastic bottle planter, or reusing laundry detergent bottles into a watering can.
These methods will not only increase recycling, but it can also help you cut down on your unnecessary expenses.
Photo by Polina Kovaleva from Pexels
]]>One of the keywords in the fight to save our planet is environmental sustainability. It's a word with a lot of meaning and practices, but the core values are something that everyone can utilize to help, from big corporations to individuals.
If you want to learn about the basics of environmental sustainability, and why sustainability is important, you're in the right place. Read on and learn how you can help save the planet.
There are differing definitions of environmental sustainability, as the words are more than just a concrete definition.
The definition of environmental sustainability according to the UN World Commission on Environment and Development is that "Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This is widely accepted as the basic definition, however, environmentalists argue that it's not specific enough.
The basic definition of the word sustainability is the ability to continue a defined behavior indefinitely. When applied to the environment, this means that we should not be harvesting more than we're regenerating. It means that the amount of waste we generate shouldn't exceed how much waste we can dispose of. And it means that for all the nonrenewable resources we're using, we need to develop more renewable resources.
There are a lot of ways that we can move towards environmental sustainability. Many of them are out of our hands, and involve government policy and big companies doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint. However, there are plenty of ways individuals and small businesses can help.
Conserve electricity by using energy-saving bulbs, turning off your electronics when not in use, and using energy-saving power strips.
Reduce your carbon footprint by driving less, or getting an electric vehicle. You should also utilize public transit, carpool, or bike or walk to where you need to go whenever possible.
Reduce waste in your everyday life. Use biodegradable trash bags. Drink out of reusable water bottles and bring your own coffee mug to the coffee shop. Bring reusable shopping bags to the store. Try to avoid single-use plastic as much as possible, and go paper-free with your documents as often as you can.
Now that you're educated on the basics of environmental sustainability and what you can do to help save our planet, it's time to start putting that knowledge to practice!
BagUps not only help save the earth with their oxo-biodegradable bags and recyclable cardboard boxes, but they also save you time and hassle. Pull one out, the next one pops up ready to use, just like a tissue box! Order yours today and feel great about doing it.
]]>Going green and saving the planet can be creative ways to describe how we care for the earth, and all of it supports the idea of being friendly to the environment. However, sometimes these phrases become more of a marketing term or a way to brand products and ideas than truly bettering the planet.
What do we mean when we say "something" is "environmentally friendly?" Are the products you use truly earth friendly? Keep reading to learn more about the meaning behind these terms!
What is eco friendly? The term "eco" is short for "ecological." In the context of "eco friendly," the phrase describes being kind to the earth and its ecological systems.
Short of hugging your lawn, being eco-friendly means choosing behaviors and products that either benefit the earth or cause it no harm. However, accomplishing that can depend on a variety of factors. Production processes, ingredients, materials, and usage can either support the environmentally friendly status of a product or take away from it.
An eco friendly product loses the effectiveness of being earth friendly if any components conflict with a "green" effort. A manufacturer must use only biodegradable materials to create ecologically friendly trash bags. Plus, the packaging and production process must be zero waste to support your choice to use a green trash bag instead of another option from the store shelf.
Without an entirely green process, an environmentally-friendly product doesn't truly help the environment.
Is "going green," the same as being "eco friendly?" In most cases, various earth-friendly terms represent the same idea: choosing products and processes that help protect and enhance our earth. If you strive to live in a way that doesn't hurt our planet, you can claim any number of earth-loving terms to describe your favorite products, behaviors, and choices.
When your way of life supports a healthy, happy earth, the terms you use to describe what you do or consume become technicalities. Your lifestyle reflects your commitment to creating less waste, choosing biodegradable products, and participating in daily life through ways that don't hurt the earth.
Just "be" environmentally friendly! Start with the products you use to contain waste. BagUps are certified for biodegradability. Our trash bags promise not to become waste while helping control yours! Plus, these bags are strong enough to handle heavy loads without rips or tears.
Go green and shop our Made in the USA products!
]]>This article is going to explain both of these in detail - Let's take a look.
The Merriam Webster explains that biodegradable means a substance or object is decomposed by living organisms naturally and not in any way harmful to the environment.
So what exactly does that mean?
When a plastic bag is biodegradable, it will naturally break down over time and is returned to the earth as natural elements.
For a product to be considered biodegradable, it typically needs to be able to fully break down and decompose into the earth within a few years or less. Ideally, you want products to decompose back into natural elements without leaving behind harmful toxins, however, this isn't always the case.
Similar to biodegradable, decomposition is when materials are broken down and returned back into the earth naturally, but they also leave behind nutrients from being decomposed.
So, when a product is labeled as decomposable, it is intended to quickly break down into natural elements within (typically) 90 days and leave behind rich nutrients for our earth.
Keep in mind that, when a plastic bag is compostable it is also biodegradable. However, not every plastic bag that is biodegradable is also compostable.
When it comes to decomposition, it is broken down into 3 stages - We are going to use a plastic bag for our example.
There are biofilms that typically coat a plastic bag. During the first stage of decomposition, microbes and moisture increase around the plastic bag. Oxygen is slowly converted into carbon dioxide.
During this stage, the microbes begin to grow and continue to eat away at the plastic bag. They begin making molecular spaces for more microbes. Acetogeesis begins and fatty acids transform into acetic acid, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.
At the final stage of decomposition, the microbes continue eating away at what's left of the plastic bag. The acetates are converted into methane and carbon dioxide. Eventually, over time, this will turn the plastic back into humus (a natural and nutritious soil).
In order for a product to be labeled as compostable, it needs to meet certain standards. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International) is responsible for setting the standards while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for enforcing and regulating those standards.
Now that you understand the difference between biodegradable, decomposition, and how they work, its time to start going green. If you want to recycle plastic and save our good earth, using biodegradable and decomposable products is essential.
If you have any questions about being environmentally friendly or want to start using green products, start using our green trash bags!
Photo by Max Fischer from Pexels
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