UW-Stevens Point offers ten tips to live more sustainably
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Celebrate Earth Day (Friday, April 22) by following these tips from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Office of Sustainability and Soil and Waste Resources Department.
- When shopping, opt for the most sustainable bag option. Reusable cloth bags are most sustainable, followed by paper. Plastic are least sustainable.
- Recycle and reuse more.
- Look for ways to reuse materials -- at your home, business or in the community
- Minimize waste whenever possible.
- Minimize food waste
- Buy only what you will consume. It’s cheaper to shop more frequently than throw out food.
- Prepare only what your family will eat in a few days.
- Compost fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, leaves and yard waste.
- If you can’t compost, give food and yard waste to those who do (such as UW-Stevens Point and Central Rivers Farmshed)
- Reduce energy consumption
- Only turn on lights when natural lighting is insufficient.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room
- Plug chargers and household electronics into power strips that can be turned off when not in use.
- Use efficient lights bulbs: LEDs are most efficient, followed by compact fluorescent. Incandescent bulbs are least efficient, and cost more over time.
- Use reusable containers for coffee and other beverages whenever possible.
- Purchase items with less packaging, or biodegradable packaging.
- Use “green” clean supplies. Several brands are available.
- Walk/bike to work. Or carpool or use public transit.
- Shop locally
- Local food tends to be fresher and produced more sustainably. The distance from farm to table is much closer.
- Local shops contribute to the resilience and economic stability of communities.
- Search for the following labels when purchasing coffee, tea, chocolate or apparel:
- Fair Trade Certified
- Fair Trade
- Rainforst Alliance Certified
- Non GMO Project Verified
- USDA Organic
- Certified Sustainable Palm Oil
Article Tags
CNR; Healthy; Sustainable