Reusable

Reusable items have become all the rage. Lately, people are finally starting to understand the effects we are having on the planet.

If you are looking to lower your carbon footprint, then take a look around my reusable section. I’ll give you advice and recommendations on subjects like reusable grocery bags and stainless steel straws.

All the information is here for you; all you need is a little time.

Why Should We Reuse?

To start with, it will save a tremendous amount of energy. Turning raw materials into shiny new products requires a lot of energy. By reusing items, we are given a chance to reduce the amount of energy we use every day.

wasting energyAnother reason for reusing is to cut down the amount of pollution we create. The amount of carbon released every day isn’t sustainable.

Reusing a product saves the energy used to create it, and the shipping emissions it generates transporting it.

That’s not the only way reusable items help to cut down pollution. When an object gets sent to a landfill site, it starts to emit methane into the atmosphere.

Methane is one of the leading greenhouse gasses, and it’s literally burning a hole in our ozone layer.

And to make it a little worse:

The methane is contaminating our water sources. When it rains, the water picks up methane particles, which then leads to groundwater contamination. Which then passes into the food we eat.

So to recap, using reusable items:

  • Saves energy
  • Prevents Pollution
  • Cut’s down waste at the landfill
  • Reduces greenhouse gases

What Can I Reuse?

More to the question, what can’t you reuse?

People have been finding imaginative ways of reusing household items for years. Here are a few things you can reuse:

  • Glass Jars – Although glass can be recycled, there are also a few things you can do with you hold glass jars. Glass jars make great desk organizers, dry food containers, or table decorations. The world is your oyster, and there’s an array of options beyond canning.
  • Plastic Containers – Plastic containers don’t just need to carry your lunch. They can be used to house a variety of kitchen goods. So, next time you take your sandwich out the container, have a think, and see what else you could use it for.
  • Newspaper – It doesn’t have to go straight in the bin after you’ve read it, and no, you don’t need to wrap your chips in it. A newspaper can be used for arts and crafts projects with your kids. It’s a great way to reuse newspaper.
  • Clothes – Old clothes don’t need to be chucked away if you don’t want them anymore. Why not donate them to people that need them more. There are countless amounts of places that will take them of your hands.
  • Bags – This counts for any of the best reusable produce bags, snack bags, or your average shopping bag. Just because you got your shopping home doesn’t mean that it has to be the end of the story. Take your bags back to the shops and reuse them. It cut’s down on single-use plastic bags.

That’s just a few things you can reuse, but there are so many ideas out there, it’s just finding the right one.

Is It Better To Recycle Or Reuse?

Reduce, reuse, recycleReusing should always be your first option. If we reused items effectively then, we wouldn’t have to recycle nearly as many materials.

But, there’s more to it than just saving a few items going to the recycling center.

It also saves lots of energy; energy that wouldn’t need to be used if we reused.

Secondly, it saves money, by reusing we don’t have to purchase the items again and again and again. And it doesn’t just save us money, but it saves your tax money. Cities have to use their budget to recycle our materials; that if we reused wouldn’t need to be recycled.

Overall it’s more responsible to reuse than recycle, remember reduce, reuse, recycle. It’s the only way to lower our carbon footprint truly.

Why Is Reducing Better Than Reusing?

The most effective way to reduce waste is by not using it in the first place, and it makes sense. By reducing what we use, we take away the need for another product to be created.

reducing is betterThe problem is making a new product requires energy and raw materials. To get the raw materials, then machinery needs to be used.

Then it gets fabricated and transported; all of this uses a massive amount of energy that doesn’t have to be used.

This is why reducing is always better than reusing; it saves our:

  • Natural resources
  • Protects our wildlife
  • And saves money

Next time you’re about to take that extra plastic bag, think, do you really need it? I guarantee the answer is no!

Are Reusable Bags Really Better?

It’s a good question, and the answer is arguable.

Reusable bags are better for the environment. There can’t be any questions about that. They don’t kill animals, and they don’t poison our water.

It’s when you’re talking about carbon footprint it gets trickier. Depending on the bag, you might have to use it over 7,000 times before you start to lower your footprint.

Let’s take a look:

  • Polypropylene (your classic reusable bag) – Needs to be used 37 times
  • Paper bags – Needs to be used 43 times
  • Cotton bags – 7,100

As you can see, the reusable bags need to be used lots more before they become carbon equals. These stats were from a Danish study, The UK study found different findings, but they only considered climate change impact, check it out!

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