Thinking of our concerns with our planet, it can be difficult to imagine how any single individual can make an impact, but the old adage of “think globally, act locally,” has never been more appropriate. You can in fact make a difference in the world by making a few simple changes in your home to reduce your negative impact on the world. Here are a few of it:

• Bigger packages; less packaging – whenever possible, buy products in bulk to avoid the plastic packaging that goes into most food items. The recent trend towards 100-calorie snack bags may be great for our waistlines, but it can increase the packaging of the same amount of product by 20 times. Instead, buy in bulk and repackage smaller quantities in reusable packaging. It ends up being a benefit to your wallet as well!
• Recycle – many of the items used in the kitchen can be recycled, and it is a natural place in which to house your recycling bin. Most cities easily accept cans, bottles and paper products. Check your local recycling center for other packaging products like plastic and Styrofoam. Keep your recycling bin right next to your trash can, and always consider which bin it belongs in before automatically tossing it in the trash. (more…)