HOW TO STAY SUSTAINABLE DURING LOCKDOWN

HERE are OUR BEST IDEAS TO STAYING CONSCIOUS AND HELPING THE EARTH FROM THE COMFORT OF OUR OWN HOME

TEXT Logan Verlaque IMAGES Google

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in the past week (+) that we’ve been isolating, social distancing, and fighting boredom with both hands, there have been a handful of instagram posts circulating showing the positive environmental effects of this apocalyptic pandemic.

The water in the Venice canals is actually clear! Satellite images from NASA of China show less air pollution! In San Francisco, the average concentration of fine particulate matter over the past five days was ~ 40 % lower than the previous year! Yet these impressive changes are only temporary, and once life starts back up again will revert to their all too high normals. This gives us the incentive we need right now to continue our movement towards sustainability, even while we’re quarantined.

Nitrogen dioxide has dropped with the coronavirus quarantine over China.

“Do we want to go back to the status quo, or do we want to tackle these big structural problems and restructure our economy and reduce emissions and pollution?”

— Jacqueline Klopp, Center for Sustainable Urban Development at Columbia University

Permanently ration your toilet paper usage

Americans use a lot of toilet paper — an average of 141 rolls per person a year. Meanwhile. The French use 71 per year, and Brazilians only 38 rolls. Take note next time you reach for the roll, count the sheets you normally use and work towards cutting your go-to amount in half. Not only will you cut back on paper waste, but save hundreds of dollars annually.

Edit your closet

Since lately we have nothing but time, we suggest walking over to your closet, meditating on what you actually wear and what you can part with, and starting to clear out some of the never worn’s and shouldn’t wear’s. Boots too scuffed up for next winter, jeans that haven’t fit since high-school, and one too many ratty gym t-shirts? Start a pile, set aside the items you can donate, and plan on off-loading it when we are no longer quarantined.

SPRING CLEAN EARLY

Comb through your home from top to bottom. Go through the filing cabinets you haven’t opened this year and shred those old papers. Clean your cabinets and your storage areas. Make sure to make a DONATE pile, a REGIFT pile, and a RECYCLE pile. Now is a great time to think of those in need and to set aside things that may no longer serve you, but will surely benefit someone else.

Finish all your beauty products (and really think about which ones you want to refill!)

When it comes to our beauty philosophy, we definitely abide by the “less is more” approach. And with the beauty industry generating more than 120 billion units of packaging globally every year, we think it is time everyone consider: how many blushes does one really need? It all starts with well-cleansed, exfoliated and hydrated skin. Of course, we’re fans of Eve Lom and Embryolisse, and will definitely be squeezing the tube by the time we’re no longer required to stand 6 ft apart. But whatever you fancy, find what you like and stick with it. There is always a new makeup product out there but that doesn’t mean you have to buy it. Stick to what you know works for you and starve off the overproduction of plastic packaging.

Be prepared before you grocery shop

A lot of times we end up stopping by the grocery store on our way home from work without a list, plan or even reusable bags. In shopping for a stay-in-place, we really had to think about what we would need for the foreseeable future before we went out and shopped. This reduced a lot of unnecessary purchases, which were mostly the result of a hungry shopper. On the other hand, it could have fueled people to buy a lot of non-perishable and therefore non-sustainable items. Even our go-to girl of sustainable living, Lauren Singer, mentioned she struggled with feeling the need to stock up with balancing her zero waste lifestyle.

Shop prepared. Bring reusable bags. Write a grocery list. Buy certain items in bulk to reduce packaging waste (beans, nuts, grains). And always feel grateful when you can support your local farmers, enjoy seasonal produce, and eat fresh.