Dreamer

Hello and happy Tuesday!

As the world is looking like it’s about to go up in flames, literally, many decided to use it in their advantage and took greenwashing to another level.

For those who don’t know ” Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or misleading information about how a company’s products are environmentally sound. “

The internet and the news are all filled with top ways to lower your carbon footprint, 5 ways to be green, and 10 ways to become sustainable. And I would lie to tell you that all of them are wrong or absurd, and my article is the only right piece out there!

The truth is that 99.99% of what is out there is true! However, if big companies tell me to stop taking flights or to walk to work instead of driving when the big CEO isn’t taking a commercial flight but a private jet, kinda makes me wonder, you know?

Or, if they tell me to switch my car to a green car but they don’t tell me that they don’t know how to actually recycle those accumulators yet, isn’t that still polluting?

Or when they tell me to switch to electronic books, etc. instead of paper, without telling me that OK, you saved trees, but you’ll consume more electric energy to charge those devices, and actually you might harm your vision, which will eventually lead to more resources consumed.

Going green is actually more difficult than some giants that want to sell solutions make it appear. But today I want to share with you my ways to sustainability. These are some changes that don’t affect the quality of life, that have as much impact on the planet as you want to give, and that are not a fortune or a scam, in my humble opinion!

Plants instead of air fresheners/purifiers, etc.

Lately, my social media is filled with air purifiers that keep your house fresh and without… a lot of nasty things. Before this, there were air fresheners that I hated and found irritating. But before that? Well, in my childhood, there were these marvelous things called plants! Plants are known for photosynthesis, which transforms CO2 into O2. And not only CO2, but this is a simplified explanation!

There are plants more known for being the best for the job, and there are plants that do the job! It’s up to you what you prefer, how low maintenance or not you like them, and so on. Also, it is up to you if you want to “rescue” a plant from the wilderness or simply buy it, but having a few plants in your home can replace air fresheners or purifiers.

You might say that having pets won’t work with the solution, and yeah, I agree some plants are toxic, but some are safe; do your research!

Groceries lists and meal prep, of course only after you’ve eaten

Another thing that works wonders is to eat, then make a list of what you need based on the number of meals you have and what you’ll have. Or how many know this thing as meal prep.

I’m not a fan, but I have to admit it works wonders, as it helps you diversify, save money, and be eco-friendly. I know, sometimes being eco stinks. Also, having eaten before helps you not overbuy.

Broths

Bone broths, veggie broths, and all broths are in fashion right now and are as old as time! My students hate learning them. However, they are healthy, nutritious, and a really cool way to reduce food waste. This is a trend I totally agree with!

The power of mending

I grew up in a modest family; we weren’t rich, and we were barely going through. We afforded to buy things once in a while, and we afforded to spoil things from time to time. But we weren’t loaded, so I grew up in a household that mended things. I think it works wonders, both for your wallet, planet, and also your relationships

I don’t throw away my socks; I mend them. I don’t throw away my shirts; I mend them. I don’t throw away clothes, I mend them.

The same goes for footwear, furniture, and most electronics.

Repurposing

And after I’ve done mending them, I repurposed them. Sometimes things won’t look like brand new, and it’s ok. Also, sometimes you’ve mended them enough time so you can’t meddle anymore.

Wear your old clothes at home, Wear your at-home clothes for cleaning or DIY, or whatever you think might destroy them. Use your destroyed clothes for cleaning around or for DIY. I love to think that if everyone uses their worn-out, destroyed clothes to make a bed for stray animals in the winter, the world would be a better place! Of course, there are other ways to recycle clothes or textiles.

And everything you own can be repurposed in a way that’s not kitschy. You just have to use your brains!

And because I’m a good girl, here are some examples: Old cups, glasses, etc. can be used for those plants we were talking about earlier. I painted an old metal can with a lid, and I use it to store my makeup brushes. I use my hair mask containers to store nails, wires, and small stuff.

Eat seasonally and buy local

Back to food, I think that eating seasonally and buying locally is a game changer. I live in a post-communist country, and I’ve grown with the saying, In my times… Well, I didn’t live in those times, but I was extremely happy to eat strawberries in mid-December. However, they are tasteless. This is why I think eating seasonally is more fulfilling, tasty, more green, as we won’t try to mimic what Mother Nature knows best, and it helps diversify. Also, buying from local producers helps them more than you can imagine.

Well, these are my go-to for this year when it comes to a more sustainable path for me! What are yours, and what makes you live #adreamerlife?

Cristiana Apreutese