Going Green

It’s everywhere! The phrase “going green”. Going green has gained as much popularity as other catch phrases of our time like “that’s hot” or “your mom”, but going green is more than just a passing fad or quick come-back.

Going green means adapting your lifestyle to doing things that better the environment and help to protect it. There is no strict definition of what it means to be green, so you can choose to be a lot green or just a little green; it doesn’t matter how green you are, every little bit helps. Whether you’ve been green for years or are just starting to go green, the most important part of going green is what you actually do, not just talking about what you will or may do.

So why is going green so important? We all live on the same planet, Earth, sharing it’s natural resources, from the land to the trees, the water to the air, the flowers to the minerals. Everything that we own is made from our Earthly resources. The food we eat, the cotton in our favorite t-shirt, the diamonds in your favorite earrings; everything comes from the earth in some manner, even if it’s just the energy that we use to make it. We need to be cautious of the resources we use, less we deplete them.

One of the other most important ways we impact our Earth is with what we’re throwing away. Pollution is a huge issue that many people seem content to ignore. Recycling is an easy and important way to help save the planet. From glass bottles to paper, there are so many things you can recycle, it’s almost hard to believe! It’s also important to pay attention to the products you are buying. Try to buy products that are recyclable and/or refillable. By purchasing products that are also available in large sizes, for refilling the small size, you cut down on the amount of packaging that you would normally use. For example, if you buy an 8oz bottle of shampoo and also purchase a 33oz bottle or a gallon sized bottle, when the 8oz bottle runs out, you can simply refill it from the larger bottle. One 33oz bottle is equal to purchasing roughly four 8oz bottles. A gallon size bottle is equal to sixteen 8oz bottles! Think of all the plastic you can save by buying big and refilling! And you’ll also save on shipping materials, if you order online, or on gasoline use, if you buy the products locally. And most of the time, when you buy the bigger size, you are getting a better value! Most companies give you a better dollar to ounce value on their bulk sizes than on the smaller sizes (it costs them less money to make one gallon size bottle than sixteen 8oz bottles).

It’s easy to go green! Whether you’re just looking to start recycling or you want to start living a chemical-free life, both paths are utterly important to the quality of everyone’s lives and the quality of our planet. By going green you’re helping yourself, your family, your neighbors, and of course, your one and only planet.