Whether you have been following along with our 30 Days to Zero Waste Challenge or you are just starting your journey today, on this 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, we are checking in on all of our cool turtles and hatchlings that are participating in the challenge and making their way towards a zero-waste lifestyle- one day at a time!
Here are some tips and tricks on how make the switch to sustainability and celebrate Earth Day all year long!
30 Days to Zero Waste Challenge Tips for Success!
1. Bring your reusable bag!
Did you know? About one TRILLION plastic bags are used annually around the world. That is nearly 2 MILLION plastic bags every minute.
- To help reduce the amount of plastic used and potentially entering the marine environment- bring your reusable bag with you whenever you shop!
- Keep your reusable bags in your car, on your keychain, or on a hook close to the door so they are not forgotten!
Day 2. Reduce Food Waste! Only buy what you need!
An estimated 1.3 billion tons of food is thrown out every year, which is about 30% of food! You can help reduce food waste by only purchasing
Day 3. Skip plastic to-go ware with your takeout and delivery orders
Don’t let a single-use plastic item become a NO use plastic item. By opting out of plastic cutlery you can help prevent hundreds of thousands of single-use plastic utensils from being thrown away every year.
Sustainable alternatives include using metal flatware or purchasing a bamboo set to take with you wherever you go!
Day 4. Don’t buy single-use plastic water bottles, remember your reusable bottle instead!
Ocean, once it enters the marine environment will never go away. Instead it breaks down over time into smaller and smaller pieces. By using a reusable water bottle instead of a disposable plastic one, you can help reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean! Opt for a bottle made of metal, glass, or reusable plastic as a sustainable alternative.
Day 5. Save energy! Opt for LED lights
By saving energy, you can not only help save the planet, but reduce your electric bill as well! Switch lightbulbs to LED for the most energy-efficient option!
Day 6. Use reusable containers for leftovers
There are SO many options when it comes to storing leftovers in the fridge that are not disposable plastic. From glass, metal, to beeswax wrap, the options are extensive when it comes to swapping out those disposable plastic containers for reusable, long-term options!
Day 7. Switch to paperless billing to reduce unnecessary paper waste
By opting for
Day 8. Turn off the lights and unplug unused electronics to save energy
Even items plugged in that are not in use at the time are still using energy! Unplug items that are not used and
Day 9. Choose only sustainable seafood all month long!
80% of seafood
Day 10. Reduce your water use!
- Take shorter showers
- Turn the water off when brushing your teeth
- Only run the washing machine when it is full
Day 11. If cleaning our your home, be sure to make a donation pile
By donating clothing items, you can help give unwanted clothing and other items a second life and prevent it from entering landfills.
Day 12. Skip the plastic straw!
Plastic straws are a single-use plastic item used for maybe 10 minutes but last forever. Instead of using plastic straws, try sustainable, reusable alternatives made from glass, stainless steel, or bamboo!
Day 13. Choose only reef-safe sunscreen!
Popular sunscreens may protect us, they are also capable of harming our beautiful coral reefs.
Chemical sunscreens on the market contain chemicals known as benzophenones (BPs) and oxybenzone. These chemicals, specifically oxybenzone, have been known to damage the DNA of the coral resulting in the “bleaching” and death of coral reefs.
When choosing your sunscreen, avoid sunscreens with the chemicals:
- oxybenzone
- Cyclomethicone
- Homosalate
- Octocrylene
- Octinoxate
Day 14. Shop local! Support local restaurants and shops.
Local businesses often make local purchases meaning the goods you purchase from them will have a smaller carbon footprint than if you bought them from a larger corporation!
Day 15. Swap your plastic toothbrush for one made out of bamboo!
Fast-growing and plentiful, bamboo is considered one of the most sustainable materials on the planet. By swapping ANY disposable plastic items with one made of bamboo, you can drastically reduce the amount of plastic disposed of every year.
Plastic items that can be swapped for bamboo:
- Toothbrushes
- Utensils
- Dishwashing brush handles
- Makeup brushes
- Mascara tubes
- Cotton swabs
- Kitchen utensils (spoons,
- Container tops
Day 16. Shop local! Try to source your food from local suppliers and farmers!
Sourcing your food locally is ALWAYS the most sustainable option. By purchasing food that does not have to travel far, you are reducing the carbon emissions produced by your food! You are also helping to promote accountability!
Day 17. Ride your bike instead of driving
Choosing to ride your bike instead of driving is not only good for the Earth- but it’s good for you as well! By choosing this green method of transportation, you are reducing emissions and helping to prevent climate change, one mile at a time!
Day 18. When online shopping, request minimal packaging
By reducing unnecessary packaging materials in online orders, you can help prevent excess plastic from being produced! Opt for minimal packaging options when shopping from large companies and reach out to smaller ones when
Day 19. Shop for sustainable clothing made of organic cotton, linen, or Tencel
Many types of synthetic clothing materials like polyester, acrylic, and polyester-cotton blends are actually comprised of tiny pieces of micro fibers that enter the ocean through daily wear, the washing machine, the drain, etc. These plastic microfibers add to the ocean plastic problem and enter the food chain at a microscopic level.
Day 20. Build a rain barrel to water plants and flowers
Need a quarantine project? Build a rain barrel! They can help you save water AND money!