Most people want to do something to help “save the environment.” Unfortunately, most people have no clue how to go about doing this. Everyone has heard the age-old mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle” – but unfortunately “reduce and reuse” are often overlooked. This column is about more than recycling – it’s about choices.
There’s more to being eco-minded than just recycling; eco-friendliness is about making lifestyle changes that will benefit this earth. This is why I’ve come up with an easy list of five things everyone can do to save the world.
First way to save the world: get a reusable shopping bag. While you can recycle plastic bags (there are recycling bins set up outside of the Kroger near campus), plastic bags are made from petroleum. Millions of non-renewable resources are used up every year to create these bags.
According to the EPA, over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are consumed in the United States each year. It is estimated that only 1-3 percent of these plastic bags are recycled – so that means billions of plastic bags end up in landfills every year.
Just one reusable shopping bag can eliminate needless waste from thousands of shopping bags and could save hundreds of barrels of oil. Plus, you’ll look way cooler with your trendy hippie-tote than those tools who carry their groceries away in plastic bags.
Save the world step number two: control what you eat. It’s better for the environment, and for you, if you choose to buy organic foods.
The word “organic” refers to the way that foods, or the ingredients within foods, are grown. Farmers who farm organically don’t use conventional (chemical) methods to fertilize or prevent disease. Organic foods are free from exposure to harmful chemicals that can seep into the soil and pollute the ground, or water.
Unfortunately, organic foods are often more expensive – but if you can spare the extra 50 cents for organic eggs made by free-range, grain-fed chickens, as opposed to conventional eggs, you’ll be doing yourself (and the world!) a favor.
Organic farming practices reduce pollution and conserve soil and water resources; the higher prices are also due to tight government regulations, expensive farming practices and lower crop yields.
Here’s a buyer’s tip: products that can be 100 percent organic include fruits, vegetables, eggs or other single-food ingredients. These foods often display the USDA Organic seal. If something displays the USDA Organic seal then it is at least 95 percent organic.
Many other products can be up to 70 percent organic, such as Luna bars or Amy’s frozen foods. If a food claims to be organic, yet doesn’t display the USDA Organic seal, do a little research to make sure you are really getting all the bang for your buck.
The third tip to save the world is to use vegetable-based dish soaps and detergents rather than conventional petroleum-based soaps. According to Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com), a company that produces all-natural products, if every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 25 oz. petroleum-based dishwashing liquid with a 25 oz. bottle of vegetable-based liquid, we could save 81,000 barrels of oil.
Those 81,000 barrels are enough to heat and cool nearly 4,600 homes a year.
Companies like Seventh Generation, Planet and Mrs. Meyers make their products from ingredients that are safe for people and safe for the environment. Not only do these products save oil, but they prevent harmful chemicals from entering our sewer systems and our environment. These products cost about the same as conventional cleaners, do less harm and still get your dishes sparkling clean and make your laundry smell fresh.
They can be found at stores such as Food City, Kroger or Target. So why not opt for the environmentally friendly choice?
My fourth tip to save the world is one you might not expect: drink tap water, and do it in style!
It’s true – I think you should give bottled water the boot. Last year, Americans spent $15 billion on bottled water alone, according to MSN’s trend-tracking Web site Fast Company.
It is estimated that up to a quarter of the bottled water we buy is tap water repackaged by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.
Fiji Water is the epitome of “cool” as far as bottled waters go, and yet half of the population of the island of Fiji does not have access to reliable, safe drinking water.
How fair is it that someone from Johnson City can pay a ridiculous price to drink bottled water from Fiji, and yet a large number of Fijians cannot?
Bottled water is a highly unnecessary, wasteful trend. About 60 million tons of plastic, like water bottles and jugs, go to landfills every day. Recycling these bottles also costs energy, and most of the bottles consumed don’t actually get recycled.
Regulations on tap water are actually far stricter than regulations on bottled water – so water from the tap is actually better for you.
Once again, I’ll offer some good investments: if tap water still creeps you out, you should invest in a water filtration system. I own the Brita Slim, which runs at around $11 and can be found at any local grocery store. The filter in this pitcher needs to be replaced every two to three months, but it’s a worthy investment if you’re concerned about heavy metals. There are water filters that fit directly on to the faucet. However, if you’re willing to drink water directly from the tap then I wouldn’t worry about purchasing a filter.
Another good investment would be a refillable water bottle, which can be used over and over again. These bottles are dishwasher safe and come in a variety of prices, sizes and colors so there’s bound to be one out there for you.
I would recommend Nalgene bottles, because they’re virtually indestructible and range anywhere from $4 to $10. Purchasing one of these bottles will save you the money you’d be spending on bottled water from a vending machine – and it also helps eliminate needless waste.
My final tip for saving the world is probably the most important: find what works for you.
Everyone has a different lifestyle, a different budget and a different home.
If you really want to find ways that you can help the environment then do some research and find out what works for you.
Are you the kind of person who wouldn’t mind giving up their Cha-cha-cha Charmin for toilet paper made from 100 percent recycled materials, or do you need that downy softness? Toilet paper and paper towels made from 100 percent recycled materials could save trees from being cut down.
On the days that you have more than one class on campus, are you willing to park in one spot all day and walk across campus, rather than drive your car for two minutes? Not only is it environmentally friendly but it is healthier for you because it is good exercise.
If you live close to campus are you willing to walk or bike to school? What about riding the Bucshot? You can obtain a schedule from the ETSU Web site. These actions could reduce carbon emissions.
Are you willing to opt for a vegetarian dinner once in a while? What about a “vegetarian day” in your week?
Reducing the amount of meat that you eat will reduce the profit of the meat industry, which is the second largest cause of rainforest destruction. Cutting back on meat could save all of the resources that are poured into cattle – resources like grain, soil and water.
In the end, it’s all about the choices you make. The choice of becoming more environmentally friendly is up to you, and I hope everyone will consider taking up at least one of these ways to save the world. Just one change in your routine can make such a big difference globally.
Yes, some of these options will cost a little more money, but it is certainly time that Americans stopped being subservient to the Almighty Dollar, and took up responsibility for our actions, our future and the future of our planet.

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