Today, April 22, is Earth Day! www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023

Sustainability can be a hot topic these days, and in a world as busy as ours, it’s typically not on the top of our to-do lists. Between the day-to-day of school drop-off line, work, shopping and family time, convenience is king. Convenience often comes in the form of single-use plastics, keeping up with trends through fast fashion or throwing away items that need mending or repair. This Earth Day, take some steps toward sustainability by swapping certain practices or items with ones that leave a smaller carbon footprint, and less impact on your wallet, leading to a better future for all of us.

Refuse or reuse single-use plastics

Single-use plastics such as grocery bags, packaging on individual snacks and more have become such a constant in our way of life, it may seem intimidating to start refusing or reusing them. If swapping plastic bags for reusable bags is not an option for you, give grocery bags a second life by using them to line smaller trash cans, pick up animal waste or package fragile items for storage. For parents of toddlers like me, consider buying snacks in bulk, such as large jars of applesauce or boxes of crackers instead of individual tubs and packages. Not only will this be kinder to the planet, but it’ll also be kinder to your budget; those individually packaged snacks really add up at the check-out line!

Hit the thrift or consignment shop

In a world of fast fashion and everyone wanting in on the latest trends, it’s no wonder our textile waste rate has been climbing at an unsustainable rate. According to the EPA, in 2018 nearly 13 million tons of shoes and clothing ended up in landfills or textile recycling mills across our country. Consider ditching fast fashion brands like SHEIN and hit your local thrift or consignment shop for clothing. Not only will you be shopping locally and reducing your carbon footprint, but also many of these thrift and consignment shops fund key charity initiatives in our area, meaning you’re helping your neighbors as well.

Mend or repurpose

We’ve all had a well-loved garment develop a worn spot or stain. Instead of ditching the clothing completely, learn how to mend or repurpose the garment and give it new life. Simple mending or altering skills such as hemming can be learned from YouTube; you would be surprised at just how easy it is to sew a button back on or treat a stain instead of buying an entirely new shirt! Instead of throwing away garments that need repair or no longer fit your frame, consider donating them to a local thrift shop or giving them a new life by cutting them down into rags for dusting or cleaning.

Learn more, do more

There is a rising trend of newer generations learning homesteading skills such as raising chickens, creating compost, quilting and sewing, learning how to garden sustainably and efficiently and more. These skills are what sustained the past generations and many are feeling a calling toward a simpler and greener way of life. If you’re interested in learning key heritage skills, we have a plethora of local resources at the ready. Check out books at your local library on starting a homestead, attend a sewing class at North Alabama Agriplex or get your soil tested at the Cullman County Extension Office. Even in our busy and modern world, we have options to slow down here and there and make small steps toward a more sustainable future.

These simple swaps will not only be kinder to your wallet, but also kinder to the environment. Remember, it’s not one person’s job to carry the burden of a greener future. It takes all of us working together to create a more sustainable future for all.