As members of the human race, we should all consider methods to cut down our carbon footprint and reduce the damaging effects of climate change. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has been rising since the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. This new manufacturing age saw more fossil fuels and harmful levels of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. As these levels continue to increase exponentially, it’s become extremely important to take steps in our own individual lives to be more environmentally conscious.
All Green Everything
Taking steps to reduce our pollution individually is imperative. Every conscious choice you make about the way you live can help to heal and protect our Earth. Drinking from a reusable water bottle is just one of many effortless yet significant ways to stop supporting industries that are unnecessarily wasteful. Living a greener lifestyle also encourages others to do the same by setting a good example (it also doesn’t hurt when the sustainable products we use are more beautiful than the disposable products that are available).
Go Green and Stay Green with These Workout Tips
So, we know the environment is in danger and we know that we need to hold ourselves accountable for our actions that directly impact the Earth. As a result, it’s necessary to consider ways to reduce our carbon footprint. So, try these five healthy-living tips to help the environment.
Practice Bodyweight Training
Some workout gear is essential. It’s hard to do yoga without a yoga mat (ouch!). But, you can still shop from brands that focus on sustainability. Another way to keep your exercise routine green is by implementing workouts that don’t require any equipment. Bodyweight training involves exercises that use the weight of your body to work your muscles instead of dumbbells or exercise bands. These workouts are highly effective and reduce the number of new products being manufactured (so basically, less pollution is released into the air). If your exercise routine requires certain gear, consider shopping secondhand.
Buy Sustainable Workout Clothes and Equipment
Many great brands step up to the environmental plate by creating products from recyclable materials. Creating new products, especially new plastics, releases high levels of pollution into the air and causes a lot of damage. Companies that take recyclable materials and turn them into something entirely new are eliminating some of that air pollution while also reducing rampant plastic pollution in our oceans. To help alleviate the problem, companies producing items like yoga mats and activewear make use of recyclable materials to reduce their impact on the environment.
If you’re a workout junkie who’s always looking for a comfy pair of yoga pants, you should try shopping from brands like the Girlfriend Collective, which produces activewear made from recycled plastic bottles and other pollutants. The Girlfriend Collective was started by Ellie Dinh, who places a lot of importance on being very open about the sustainable production process. You can even find a complete breakdown on their website regarding product materials and how they use recycled shipping materials to practice the sustainability that they preach. Kudos to you, girl!
Drink from Reusable Glass Water Bottles
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest problems our world is facing right now, with roughly eight million pieces of plastic entering the ocean on a daily basis. According to the nonprofit group, Surfers Against Sewage, it’s estimated that more than five trillion pieces of plastic are currently floating in the ocean. This plastic creates a whopping total of 269,000 metric tons of plastic waste. Removing plastic bottles from your life is one of the simplest and most effective steps you can take to green-up your workout routine. Carry a glass water bottle around with you during the day and keep it nearby when you work out to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans.
If you haven’t found a reusable water bottle you absolutely love and can’t live without, you could try a bkr bottle. bkr was started by best friends Tal Winter and Kate Cutler who couldn’t find a reusable bottle they loved that would fit into their fast-paced city lifestyles and also be chic, clean, and green. Their bottles are so beloved that they’ve been able to convert people for life.
Ride Your Bike or Walk
When you’re thinking about ways to cut down your carbon footprint, consider how you can reduce the amount of CO2 you put into the atmosphere with everyday activities like driving a car. Biking or walking as an alternative mode of transportation will help you stay fit and reduce the amount of fossil fuel you burn. Sometimes cars are a necessary evil when you need to travel long distances. If you really want to reduce your impact on the environment, ditch your traditional gas-guzzling car for a more environmentally friendly option like a hybrid or fully electric vehicle.
Try a Plant-Based Diet
To reach your optimal health goals, you should be pairing a regular exercise routine with a healthy diet—two areas of your life where you can make eco-friendly decisions. Once you’ve greened-up your workouts, try eating more plant-focused meals. Don’t worry – you don’t have to cut meat out entirely (I mean, we love a good steak as much as the next girl), but the mass production of meat creates a huge amount of water and air pollution. By trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into your everyday life, you’re reducing the strain placed on the environment by meat production while practicing healthy eating habits that make you look and feel great.
The Impact of Climate Change
The effects of climate change are widespread. Rising ocean temperatures and melting polar ice caps kill marine life by destroying their natural habitats. But, climate change doesn’t just hurt animals. Humans are also severely impacted by the Earth’s current temperature rise. Coastal communities have already seen the impact of rising sea levels, which destroy entire regions. Food, water and energy supplies could dwindle as a result of climate change, and beautiful, natural environments may be completely devastated by the effects of pollution.
Now more than ever, it’s important that we all do our part and go green. Starting with your workout routine is easier than you think, and every little change makes a big difference.
