One of the problems we face in terms of eco-friendly living is in our nature. The instinct to hunt and gather, to put things away for the winter, to be prepared, to consume big in case there is a shortage in the future.
Humans aren’t the only ones who do this, of course. Think of the squirrels who sack away as many nuts as possible to get them through the cold weather. Or think about how some pets will eat and eat and eat until the dish is empty or they become deceased from the excess.
There is nothing wrong with being prepared of course. Buying groceries in bulk can not only save money but excess packaging as well. Unfortunately, though, our gathering nature also seems to apply to other areas as well.
While having an extra five pounds of flour may be sensible, having an extra 31 inches of television doesn’t seem so sensible. When new televisions can range into about 52 inches, is it smart? Should we consume big here? After all, how is that television’s size going to guarantee our survival. Nonetheless, the message of bigger is better may be ingrained. We need to gather as much or as big as we can.
There are several ways to think smaller, consume smaller. Besides not keeping up with everyone else in terms of non-essential goods, we can also consume smaller with items that we do need. For example, many products out there today in the grocery store also come in concentrated forms. These concentrated forms allow us to buy big in a sense while saving on packaging, shipping costs, etc. From orange juice to laundry detergent, buying a concentrate can reduce your impact.
Consuming just what we need is another way to be responsible. Did you know that most Americans throw away 25 percent of the food that they buy each year, mostly because of spoilage? Instead of purchasing extra when shopping for perishable items, start low. You can always buy more per week if needed.
What are some other ways that we can be responsible?
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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