Living Magazine doTERRA Spring 2017 | Page 26

Earth Day: Environm 7 Things You Can Do to Make a Difference Taking steps to become more environmentally friendly is easier than you might think. There are little things you can do every day to make a big difference. 1. Use a Reusable Shopping Bag 3. Repurpose and Reuse Plastic grocery bags take anywhere from 15–1,000 years to decompose, and only about 1–2 percent of plastic bags are recycled in the USA. Paper bags are not much better. According to USA Today, it takes four times as much energy to produce paper bags compared to plastic bags, and 85 times as much energy is needed to recycle them. One of the best things you can do is invest in high-quality reusable bags to avoid the need for use of disposable plastic or paper bags. Find creative ways to repurpose empty containers or other old items. Reuse empty essential oil bottles to create your own blends. Make crafts using recycled material. It’s a great way to engage your family in creative projects while teaching them about the environment. 2. Reduce Food Waste According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), about 95 percent of the food we throw away ends up in landfills or combustion facilities. Here are a few simple things you can do to reduce food waste in your home: • Carefully plan your shopping and grocery lists. When you go grocery shopping, make sure you don’t buy too much food. • Store fruits and vegetables in the right places for maximum freshness. Freeze, dehydrate, and can excess fruits and vegetables. • If you have leftovers, save them so you can enjoy them later. • You can also donate excess food to food banks and local charities for people in need. 26 / SPRING 2017 LIVING MAGAZINE 4. Try Organic Gardening Aside from knowing exactly where your food comes from and other amazing health benefits, growing your own organic garden also helps the planet in many ways, including saving time, fuel, and reducing waste. You can compost certain foods and turn it into nutrient-rich fertilizer for your garden. New to gardening? Check out this blog post (bit.ly/2jXRrZa) to help you get started. 5. Buy a Water Bottle Instead of buying plastic water bottles, purchase a quality water bottle that you can reuse every day. Double-wall, vacuum-installed, stainless steel water bottles keep your water cool up to 12 hours. You could also purchase a simple glass water bottle—both options are safe for essential oil use.