On Earth Day: Doing My Best to Be a Green Mom
Today is Earth Day, and that means a huge amount of green messaging will be coming at us from all directions: the media, environmental organizations and companies positioning themselves as green. Many of those making noise on Earth Day have the best of intentions, although some simply want to jump on the bandwagon to increase sales. But no matter what the reason, one thing remains true –– we must be kind to our earth.
I write this post as a mom, and not as a marketer. As someone who simply wants to ensure that the world I leave my child and family is a good one, and not one that my generation has abused and left for future generations to try and fix.
Earth Day is a teachable moment for us as moms. It’s an opportunity to educate our children. It’s also an opportunity to get on a greener path –– one that involves less single-use plastics and more recycling; less toxic products and more green ones; less electricity wasted, and more energy saved; less printing, more e-reading . . .
I look at Earth Day as an opportunity to begin an incredibly important conversation about what we can collectively do to treat the planet better –– and not just today but every day of the year. It’s a big discussion and one that offers a huge array of small solutions, the first step of which is simply joining the discussion. And so my question to everyone is: what are you doing to make a difference? All thoughts, comments and solutions are welcome.
Happy Earth Day.
April 22, 2011 @ 2:36 pm
GREAT post. Incredibly important conversation that we as mothers should take more time and effort addressing. My big issue? Single-use plastics. The plastic bottled water thing has reached an insane level. Why not use a reusable BPA-free plastic bottle instead? They’re available everywhere (even at Target) and are better for your health AND the environment. Don’t even get me started on how the grocery store puts large plastic bottles in plastic bags.
Rather than leaving this important issue to the lawmakers (who cave to the plastic lobbies), how about we do more as moms?
April 22, 2011 @ 2:46 pm
Like you, I’m trying my best to be a green mom. I know I could do more but here are a few small steps I’ve made in that direction:
– trying to fill my recycle bin BEFORE my trash bin each week
– not buying small bottled water at all anymore (I use reusable bpa-free bottles)
– strategically planning errands to reduce wasted trips/wasted gas
– paying more attention to wasted plastic packaging — and choosing the greener alternative
– my son collects all of my Pelligrino bottles (glass) and turns them in to the grocery store for a small financial reward
– using Pyrex glass containers instead of plastic (again, better for our health as well)
Would LOVE to hear any good tips from other moms that would get me going in a greener direction.
April 22, 2011 @ 3:53 pm
Thanks, Alyssa — these are great ideas! Thanks for starting the discussion!