Best practices and products to reduce your ecological footprint

Best practices and products to reduce your ecological footprint

Everybody loves summer! It’s a time for relaxing, splashing in the pool, sunbathing, and enjoying the great outdoors. But even with your feet in the sand, you can find new ways to reduce your environmental impact through eco-conscious habits and shopping smart.

You can do both at once by opting for products that are green AND local. Here are some great ideas to reduce your ecological footprint and contribute to the well-being of our planet.

Reduce your water consumption

Did you know that 20% of all the freshwater resources on the planet are in Canada? Despite that, we have the bad habit of wasting water: every day, the average Quebecer uses 424 liters of drinking water. That’s the equivalent of 5 above-ground pools!

Now more than ever, water is a precious resource that must be used with care. Fortunately, there are several best practices for doing so:

• Collect rainwater
• Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth or shave
• Choose household appliances certified by WaterSense or ENERGY STAR
• Load your washer and dishwasher to capacity before running them
• Check your faucets and toilets for leaks

Additionally, several local products can help you save water&mdashwe’re thinking of Fruits & Passion and BIOVERT in particular. Our dish cleansing paste is also a great option.

Eliminate plastic as much as possible

8.3 billion. That’s the number of tons of plastic produced since 1950. Of those, almost 6.3 million have become garbage.

Plastic pollution poses a serious threat to our oceans, lakes, and rivers. The World Wide Fund (WWF) estimates that more than 8.8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year!

Considering that plastic can remain in the environment for more than 1,000 years, we should be using as little of it as possible. Here are a few ways how:

• Buy products from bulk stores
• Reuse containers
• Avoid frozen food
• Don’t use plastic straws
• Use beeswax bags rather than Saran wrap or Ziploc bags
• Don’t chew gum (most gums contain plastic)

Here, too, many local businesses are offering solutions:

• The Unscented Company
• Stram (reusable stainless-steel straws)
• The Future Is Bamboo
• Méga Vrac (zero-waste grocery store in Montreal)
• PURE
• ATTITUDE

Grow an eco-friendly garden

“I’d love to have a garden, but I live in the middle of the city!”

Have you ever said that phrase? Well, it’s time you realized that even in an urban environment, it’s possible to grow fruits, vegetables, and other edible plants.

Having your own garden has a slew of benefits. You know exactly what you’re eating, and you avoid buying food from who-knows-where that traveled hundreds of miles before reaching your plate.

But it’s not just about gardening&mdashit’s about gardening in a way that’s good for the environment, too! Here are some concrete actions to make it happen:

• Make compost to use as fertilizer (and don’t forget to compost your KLIINs)
• Use organic or mineral fertilizers
• Avoid pesticides, which negatively impact biodiversity

Looking for local products for your eco-friendly garden? Check out these companies:

• Fafard (organic, natural fertilizer)
• Les Urbainculteurs (products and services for eco-friendly urban gardening)
• Jardin de Julie (seeds)

Buy green and blue to ensure our planet’s future

It’s now easier than ever to buy green (sustainable) and blue (local). It’s just a matter of good practices, both in your consumption habits and in your small, everyday actions.

In addition to all our tips and tricks, you can also:

• Bike or take public transit to get around
• Carpool
• Use renewable energy
• Reduce your consumption of meat

Let’s all buy local, buy green, and take care of our planet. For our children. For our economy. For all the beauty that surrounds us.

Also in Daily KLIIN