Practicing Sustainability Mindfully During A Pandemic
Practicing Sustainability During a Pandemic
Each time we get ready to leave our house now there are countless things to remember between face masks, hand sanitizer and a six foot apart memo flashing in the back of our eyes. When the pandemic first began, our own survival instincts emerged and for many of us this meant sustainability was put on the backburner. And that is okay. We are not perfect and that can always be met with loving compassion and grace for ourselves and others...even in our sustainability journeys. And at the same time, the planet’s well being is not going to pause as we endure a pandemic. Although there have been many benefits on a collective level with reduced commuting and carbon emissions, many of our individual and businesses’ single use habits have reverted. Here are some ways to be both safe and more conscious of our footprint on the planet right now!
Start with Your Mask
Ditch the reusable masks and turn to a reusable mask that you can throw in the wash when it needs a good cleaning. Buy maybe two masks so you can choose based on your outfit for the day or have an extra one while one mask gets washed. Try and get your mask from someone who used extra fabric on hand or from a local maker as to not purchase from a large textile factory overseas, creating a bigger footprint.
Pick up litter outside
With being at home more can come a greater appreciation for the land and community you have in your own backyard! We all have dreams of those exoticly wild places and yet we have wild right outside of our windows. Hopefully you have a bit more time to take walks and appreciate the beauty in your own neighborhood. Next time you are out walking, pause and pick up a few pieces of trash. It’s a lovely way to lead by example and a simple task to integrate as a daily habit.
Use less single use paper and plastic products
Many of us are cleaning our houses more with wipes and sprays and stocking our cars with lots of these cleaning goodies too. Opt to use reusable cloths with larger bottles of spray in your home as so many of the wipes we buy have plastics inside them that will only end up in landfills.
Ordering take out? When you call to order, ask for no silverware, napkins and plastic bags if possible. Try and reuse the container they pack your food in or recycle it. Some restaurants even let you bring your own container to pack your food into at the end of a meal if you eat out.
Lastly, opt to use your own bags again at the grocery store. Many grocers have started to allow customers to utilize their own bags again but don’t fret if not...there’s a way around having to use their bags! Ask to place all your groceries back into your cart or basket and then bring these unbagged goodies out to your car and bag them in the trunk with your reusable bags. You might even inspire some others doing your bagging out in the parking lot!
Buy in bulk when you can
Waste-less grocers might not have the same bring your own container procedures due to Covid, but buying in bulk is still a better option than totally ignoring the packaging of your groceries. Rather than buying lots of small plastic bags or cans of what you need, opt to buy a bulk size instead.
We don’t necessarily think of buying in bulk as an online thing...but many of us have used online shopping in increasing volumes during Covid. We can limit online shopping to fewer things if possible and support local businesses and we can also consolidate online orders so that we can reduce our footprint. For example, instead of ordering on four different days online, wait ‘til you have a couple things you need and have one large order from the same company.
Get outside and appreciate the “why”
Remember what you are protecting and why you want to do so. We get to experience the bounties and beauties of this Earth, even during a pandemic! Stop and smell the flowers, marvel at the foliage and embrace putting your feet on the Earth. Stepping outside unplugged can really be a reset for our mental health too.
Engage in Environmental Justice
Covid has shined a spotlight on our vulnerability as humans and as a planet. And even more so Covid has illuminated the deep rooted injustices and systems that are exploiting people and the planet. Let’s carry this focus forward and hone in on our ability to support restoration with land and people. Rather than returning to our prior exclusive views of environmentalism, we can educate ourselves on the intersectionality of low income communities, people of color and the planet. They are not exclusive and oftentimes we highlight the positive impacts of Covid on the environment without examining the disproportionate impact it has had on people of color and low income communities. Here are some more resources from NAACP on this.
