Five Super Easy Eco-Friendly Resolutions for 2021 (That are Good for You, Too!)

Five Super Easy Eco-Friendly Resolutions for 2021 (That are Good for You, Too!) 


Another New Year is rapidly approaching, and this one seems particularly meaningful. Let’s face it, 2020 was a year that few of us will ever forget! When you think about all those plans that we had before the Covid-19 pandemic changed our lives, it makes you wonder about whether we should even worry about setting any resolutions at all! For those of you who use the start of a new calendar year to make positive changes in your lives, this blog post offers five super easy eco-friendly resolutions for 2021. And the best part? Not only are they good for the planet, but they are also good for you, too! 


Get a Water Bottle You Love

Did you know that a million plastic beverage bottles are purchased every minute in the world? Crazy, right? 

Fortunately, in the last few years, reusable water bottles have been having their big moment. Stainless steel water bottles from companies like Yeti and Hydroflask have become trendy accessories that also keep your ice water deliciously cold for as long as 24 hours. There are plenty of brands, sizes, and designs to choose from. And honestly? Once you experience a refreshing sip of cold water with actual ice midway through your day compared to a lukewarm plastic bottle that smells funny, you will never go back! 

Skip the Straw

2018 was the year that reusable straws started to gain traction in the effort to keep plastic single-use straws out of the oceans and away from wildlife. While reusable straws are a great alternative, they require handwashing and a good cleaning between uses, and will end up being discarded at some point in the future. So how about taking the idea of saving plastic straws to the next level and just skip the straw? 

Some fast-food restaurants are switching to lids that let you sip from them, or you can just remove the lid and sip from the cup itself. Or carry a stainless-steel bottle or reusable cup that you can pour your beverage into, so it will stay nice and cold if you don’t drink it all at once. Plus, not only are straws detrimental to the environment, but they can also cause damage to your teeth, and are associated with wrinkles on the side of your mouth. 

Eat Local Produce

There are several benefits to buying produce locally instead of from the grocery store. Not only do you support your local economy and usually end up with fresher, better tasting fruits and vegetables, you reduce your food miles. The shorter distance your dinner salad or vegetable side dish must travel to get to you, the less fuel consumption and air pollution. There is also less electricity used for storage when you eat farm to table produce. 

You can find local produce at local farmer’s markets, locally owned produce and small grocery stores, and through farms with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Some parts of the country move their farmer’s markets indoors during winter. The USDA has a link where you can search for locally grown produce in your local community at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/food-directories

Consume Less Meat

You do not need to go fully vegan or even vegetarian to reduce the environmental impact of eating meat. Simply consuming less meat can help. According to the New York Times, “if everyone in the country reduced their consumption of beef, pork, and poultry by a quarter and substituted plant proteins, we’d save about 82 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. That would be a reduction of a little more than 1 percent."

Tofu, edamame, lentils, spelt, chickpeas, and a variety of other grains and beans offer plenty of protein and can be incorporated into easy recipes. Pinterest is always a wealth of recipes and ideas for how to make essentially any food item you can think of. If you currently eat meat three times a day, seven days a week, choosing plant-based foods for just 6 meals a week can make a big impact on the environment. 

Spend More Time Outdoors

Spending time doing outdoor activities like walking, biking, canoeing or kayaking is not just good for your body and your mind, but it saves power. You can turn your electronic devices off and use less power at home without the television and lights on. Bonus points for finding outdoor activities to do within walking distance of your home, so that you do not need your car to get there. Plus, your dog will be happy to be out of the house, enjoying nature with you, which for many of us, is our greatest source of motivation. 

Did you make an eco-friendly New Year’s resolution for 2021? Share on our Facebook page or tag us with @pureearthpets on Instagram. We love to see what you are doing as you live an eco-friendly, dog loving lifestyle! 


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