What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
A cotton bag might seem like an environmental-friendly alternative to a plastic grocery bag, for instance, but the truth is that they consume a lot more resources to produce.
Not only is the carbon footprint considerably higher, you'd have to reuse them about 20,000 times to make up for the difference!
The production of aluminum bottles has a considerably large carbon footprint. Glass may be a better alternative.
It is true that bamboo grows fast, easily, and doesn't require lots of resources, including chemicals. But this doesn't necessarily make it eco-friendly to wear. The process of turning bamboo into fabric is an energy-intensive one. Plus, it involves heavy caustic solvents.
These are made of petrochemicals, but they rely on additives to help them decompose faster.
Some plastics are, well, not plastic. They're made of things such as cornstarch. The problem is the same as other products that rely on crops to be produced. Not to mention the fact that many of these are not easily recycled.
Sources: (HGTV) (Ecoware) (Discover Magazine) (Carnegie Mellon University)
See also: Easy ways to reduce your plastic use
Yes, recycling plastic is much better than just throwing it in the garbage. But there is an even more eco-friendly alternative: reuse it.
Items such as lemon, vinegar, and baking soda are still the most natural ways of cleaning.
Most "green" cleaning products still have loads of chemicals in them, and not to mention that many are sold in plastic containers.
They are harvested exhaustively, which is not great. Especially if you consider the fact that these are food for some species, including the endangered Hawksbill sea turtle.
Do you really want to be green with your reading habits? Then buy secondhand or use a library.
Remember these? Well, they made a comeback in recent years. Regular disposable diapers are not very eco-friendly, but is the alternative that much better?
Are these better than your regular sponge? They sure are natural, and biodegradable. But there's a price to pay for them.
Unlike gas, ethanol is produced from renewable sources. Could this be the perfect alternative to fossil fuel? Well, maybe not.
Okay, you might save some trees by reading an e-book instead of a paperback, but how about the resources used to actually make that e-reader?
To produce ethanol you need crops, which means that vast areas of land must be cleared. Not to mention the heavy use of water and chemicals.
In fact, the energy used to produce them, and then the electricity, water, and chemicals you use to wash them, can have quite the impact on the environment.
Yes, it is true that livestock has a huge impact on the environment. However, land also needs to be destroyed and cleared to make up space for vegetable crops.
Indeed hybrid cars, and electric vehicles in general, have low or zero emissions. But the jury is still out on how they're produced, how the electricity is sourced, and how the batteries are disposed of after they die.
The truth is that non-GMO foods are more vulnerable to diseases, meaning that they need more pesticides and other chemicals.
Aquaculture is a great way to control fish population and avoid overfishing, right? Well, not quite. Fish farms can actually damage local ecosystems.
Wood is natural, right? It is indeed, but burning it will cause more air pollution than using electricity, especially if sourced through a solar panel.
Genetically modified food (GMO) sounds like the name of some evil plan to change nature. But could GMO foods actually be better for the environment?
The use of antibiotics and other chemicals can spread to the local ecosystem and harm it. Plus, many of these farmed fish impact on wild species, as many of them actually eat other fish.
Organic produce need more land when compared to conventional farming, meaning that more land needs to be clear for plantations. Plus, some produce have to travel longer distances, increasing the carbon footprint. The alternative? Buy from local producers whenever you can.
Whether organic foods are better than non-organic ones is still up for debate. When it comes to being eco-friendly, organic produce might not be what you expect.
In fact, a study by Carnegie Mellon has found that “eating lettuce is over three times worse in greenhouse gas emissions than eating bacon.” This is because many vegetables actually require more resources per calorie when compared to some meats.
There is only one planet Earth, so we like to take care of it. After all, it's where we live, and who doesn't like to live in a nice, clean home? We try our best to do our bit for the environment, and that usually involves choices with regards to what we wear, eat, and use. But with so much conflicting information out there, and trends that come and go, how do we know what's best for the environment? Sometimes we do things we think are eco-friendly, when in fact they're not!
Want to find out more? Then click through this gallery.
Things you think are eco-friendly—but really aren't
Can bacon be more environmentally-friendly than lettuce?
LIFESTYLE Environment
There is only one planet Earth, so we like to take care of it. After all, it's where we live, and who doesn't like to live in a nice, clean home? We try our best to do our bit for the environment, and that usually involves choices with regards to what we wear, eat, and use. But with so much conflicting information out there, and trends that come and go, how do we know what's best for the environment? Sometimes we do things we think are eco-friendly, when in fact they're not!
Want to find out more? Then click through this gallery.