Celebrating Planet Earth – Every Day

Earth Day is coming soon – April 22. We at TRINITY love the spotlight Earth Day puts on environmental issues. We also love the fact that many people and organizations use the day to donate their time or money to do something like plant a tree in their community or clean up trash near lakes and streams.

But what if Earth Day wasn’t just one day (or month) a year? What if each one of us focused on decreasing our environmental footprint all year long?

If you’re like us and looking for ways to make positive environmental impacts throughout the year, take a look at some ideas we pulled together from our friends at One Tree Planted and other leading environmental stewards.

Eat More Sustainably

Meatless Monday isn’t just a catchy name and buzzy health food trend. Know what we just learned from the World Resources Institute? If cows were a nation, they’d be the world’s third-largest greenhouse gas emitter. Wow.

By comparison, the production of plant-based burgers generate 90% less greenhouse gas emissions, has 99% less impact on water scarcity, and 93% less impact on land, according to EarthDay.org.

To eat more sustainably, One Tree Planted recommends eating more plants, eating more variety (even chicken is more environmentally friendly than red meat), and choosing local or seasonal foods. And yes, many of their tips turn out to be better for your health too.

Conserve Water

You know that advice to wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song)? Fantastic advice for preventing the spread of germs. Terrible for water conservation….unless you turn the faucet off while you scrub.

Water Use It Wisely offers 100 – yes, 100 – ways individuals can save water. Easy tips include decreasing shower time by just a minute or two and running a full load of dishes through the dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand.

They’ve also got ideas that require a little more effort…but may make for a fun and rewarding project. These include installing a rain barrel for watering flowers and shrubs in your yard and starting a compost pile, which you can use in your garden or flower beds to add water-holding organic matter.

Reduce Plastic Waste

Plastic takes anywhere from 20-500 years to decompose, creating incredible landfill burdens, not to mention the amount of plastic pollution that threatens wildlife and our ecosystems.

We all know using reusable shopping bags and water bottles are great ways to cut down on plastic waste. But there are so many other options, including using reusable straws (or better yet, just say ‘no thanks’ at a restaurant and drink out of the glass), portable silverware for meals on the go, and even bringing your own container if you think you’ll have leftovers at a restaurant.

Wildlife Trusts is a good source for non-plastic product alternatives (toothbrushes with bamboo handles? Yes, please), as well as other plastic-containing items you might not have considered (tea bags, exfoliating shower puffs, and synthetic fabrics).

Choose Products with Environmental Benefits

Plastic is just part of the battle. It’s helpful to look for environmentally-friendly materials when making product purchases of any kind. To start, consider anything that’s reused. (Our Drakestone by TRINITY Barnwood mirrors are just one example: They’re made from locally sourced reclaimed wood.)

This could also take the form of something that might have previously been considered waste – think corn husks or coffee grounds. These products may be harder to find right now, but companies (including us!) are getting more creative, and new technology is helping make these options more feasible.

Next, look for materials that are more sustainable or do less harm in the manufacturing process. At TRINITY, we offer many products made from sustainable bamboo, rubber wood and 100% recyclable stainless steel. We also use a chrome-colored finish, which is achieved without releasing toxic chromium into the environment.

Learn more about TRINITY’s environmental commitment, including our partnership with One Tree Planted.