Earth Month: Actionable Ways to Protect the Environment

Reduce food waste at home

According to the EPA, household food waste accounts for roughly 40-50% of food waste overall in the US. That means there’s something we can do about it right at home.

And because food that’s buried in landfill produces toxic methane as it decomposes, limiting food waste is a significant way to reduce greenhouse gas.

Here are some actionable tips to reduce food waste every day:

• Shop in your fridge first, your pantry/freezer second, and your sustainable grocery third.
• Freeze your food scraps for the compost bin or backyard pile, or add equal parts water, salt, peppercorns and bay leaves to a pot and simmer for an hour to make homemade veggie broth.
• Save leftovers meals to eat again or freeze into portions for later.
• Reuse stale bread by running it under water and reheating in the stove at 450℉ for 10 minutes.
• Do a little meal planning each week to coordinate ingredients across dishes.

Shop secondhand where possible, seek hand-me-downs for kid’s clothes, or organize a clothing swap with friends

• Keep everything organized in your fridge, freezer, and pantry to see what needs to be used up.
• Your freezer is your best friend: save leftover herbs, lemon zest, peeled ginger, coffee, tomato paste, and other ingredients in ice cube trays or silicone bags for later.
• Refill your groceries using a tare weight system to get the exact amount you need.
• If you get the okay from your vet, let your dog help you clean up some food, from leftovers to empty PB jars.
• Get creative with food scraps: what loose ends can you throw in a taco, stir fry, omelet, salad, smoothie, or pasta dish?

Keep everything organized in your fridge, freezer, and pantry to see what needs to be used up

We all eat, so we can all make a difference by reducing food spoilage and waste wherever possible.

Get involved at the local level

While climate activism and other forms of action in this era of environmental rollbacks can be daunting, getting started at the local level gets us engaged where we have the most impact.

Attend a town hall, city council, public works commission, climate group meeting, or community cleanup, or find another event nearby. Call your elected officials and urge them to support environmental protections in your area. Many important decisions happen locally, so don’t underestimate the impact your presence can have.

Because food that’s buried in landfill produces toxic methane as it decomposes, limiting food waste is a significant way to reduce greenhouse gas

Switch to reusables

Plastic wasn’t made to biodegrade. The truth is, only about 5% of plastic gets recycled, and the rest ends up in landfills, in our oceans, in our ecosystems, even in our bodies. To save on thousands of single-use plastics in your lifetime, make the switch to reusable products, from stainless steel tupperware to compostable scrubbers.

Not sure where to start? Read our recent blog for a guide to the top reusable essentials.

Shop secondhand

The clothing industry is responsible for 92 million tons of waste (not to mention unfair labor practices) across the world each year. Luckily, there’s so much good secondhand clothing (and furniture) out there already—and older designs are often more durably made. Shop secondhand where possible, seek hand-me-downs for kid’s clothes, or organize a clothing swap with friends.

If you’re a homeowner, consider installing solar panels on your roof or investing in clean energy for your home

When shopping or trading secondhand clothes online, it helps to know all your measurements. Jot down your inseam, waistline, and other measurements to have on hand when browsing.

To save on thousands of single-use plastics in your lifetime, make the switch to reusable products, from stainless steel tupperware to compostable scrubbers.

Cut down on consumerism

In today’s culture, we’re conditioned to consume as much as possible. It’s hard to break the cycle, but doing so will not only help the environment, it will also free up your headspace and save you money.

First, recognize the triggers that make you shop impulsively, and limit those wherever possible—whether that means unfollowing certain influencers or unsubscribing from fast fashion newsletters.

If you have a shopping habit, it can take a few months to detox, so stick with it and you’ll be shocked at all the things you actually don’t need.

Many important decisions happen locally, so don’t underestimate the impact your presence can have

Rethink your yard

With all the trees and wildflowers in bloom in spring, this season is a great time to rethink a grass lawn. Grass lawns are a monoculture, meaning they don’t do much to support the ecosystem, and they take signifcant energy and water to maintain. If you’re able, consider a plan to sow your lot with wildflowers, moss, or a “greener” grass alternative.

Walk, bike, or rideshare

Walking to dinner or biking to work are great ways to reduce emissions everyday and get your exercise in at the same time. Going to the grocery? Carry your groceries home as your workout for the day. Have a long commute? See if a friend wants to drive with you to split the gas, or figure out if a public transit option could work for you.

If you’re looking for a way to eat more climate-friendly this Earth Month, try switching to plant-based foods

Switch to green energy

If you’re a homeowner, consider installing solar panels on your roof or investing in clean energy for your home—it could help you come tax season. Otherwise, talk to your energy provider about their green options. As you buy new appliances, light bulbs, and more, look for ones that have an eco setting. Keep devices unplugged whenever possible to avoid extra energy usage.

Grass lawns are a monoculture, meaning they don’t do much to support the ecosystem, and they take signifcant energy and water to maintain

Focus on plant-based foods

Animal agriculture creates an enormous amount of greenhouse gas while using vast resources like land and water. If you’re looking for a way to eat more climate-friendly this Earth Month, take the next step for you, whether it’s Meatless Mondays, switching to plant-based milk, or going vegan if you feel called to.

Just be sure you’re getting adequate protein and other nutrients. Our protein powder, jar tofu, dried lentils, chickpeas, beans, nuts, and quinoa will help cover your daily protein needs.

There are real hurdles to protecting our environment, but there are also real measures we can take to protect it, both at home and collectively. Tackling these issues will require organization and effort, but it can also be rewarding, especially if we do it together. To hear about community events at re_, be sure to follow us on social and subscribe to our emails.

Thanks for being part of our sustainable community!