What is Earth Day you ask? Well, Earth Day is held each year on the 22nd of April to recognise, educate and take action to support a healthy Earth – we live on it after all. A healthy planet is not an option – it's essential.
At MEET, we make MEET made from plants, that’s good for your health, sustainable and tastes delicious. We're dedicated to making the world a better place for now and the next generation and believe change can start on your plate. Adjusting your diet and making the switch from animal meat to plant-based meat (even once a week!) is the most effective way to reduce your environmental footprint given “49% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and over 50% of worldwide emissions are attributed to animal agriculture” (2).
Here are 10 actionable tips to make a difference every day:
1. Fight climate change with diet change.
“Food contributes to the environmental impacts associated with growing, producing, transport and storing – resources consumed to pollution produced to the greenhouse gases emitted” (3). It is important to educate yourself on how to fight climate change with diet. A simple start is reducing your meat intake and introducing more plant-based meals. Here are some easy recipes to try today!
2. Reduce your plastic consumption
Plastic pollution is one of the largest contributing factors to environmental impact causing problems to individuals health and wellbeing. “It’s estimated we use 4 trillion plastic bags each year” (3). Did you know… plastic is made from fossil fuels? A plastic bag can live up to 1,000 years in landfill. Swap your plastic for a reusable bag, this act of green will help save the planet.
3. Turn off lights when not in use
Turing off the lights when you leave the room helps save energy and helps saves the planet. By the simple act of switching off the lights you are reducing carbon emissions, greenhouse gases and renewable resources that are harmful on the environment.
4. Grow an organic garden
Like we said we’re here to preserve the Earth for the next generation, what a better way to action change by teaching kids how to grow their own food. Setting our future leaders up with knowledge and understanding the importance of respecting the environment.
5. Use internet not trees
“Since the beginning of the 20th century, the world’s forests have lost about 20% of their coverage. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, about 7.3 million hectares (18 million acres) of forest are lost every year, and roughly half of Earth’s tropical forests have already been cleared. Reforestation programs can stabilize land from erosion or natural disasters, improve soil health and groundwater recharge, promote native and endemic fauna, and provide economic development for nearby communities.” (3)
6. Pick up trash
Global Clean-up removes billions of trash from neighborhoods, beaches, rivers, lakes, trails and parks – reducing waste, pollution and preventing harm to wildlife and humans. If you see rubbish, pick it up!
7. Ask for green power
“Renewable energy sources is one of the most immediate actions you can take to lower your carbon footprint. As the cost of constructing renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal decreases, renewable energy is now an economical option for utilities.” (3)
8. Compost
Wastes that can be composted include agricultural, forestry, manure, food processing, kitchen, and green waste and biosolids. “Composting offers an environmentally superior alterative to using organic material for landfill because composting reduces methane production (major source of greenhouse gas), Global emissions from waste have almost doubled since 1970 and now produce 3% of anthropogenic emissions. Half of these emissions come from anaerobic fermentation of solid waste disposal on land” (5)
9. Buy local “Purchasing local produce provides environmental benefits” (4), these include:
Preserving small farmland
Reduced food miles
Promotes accountability
Preserves genetic diversity
10. Practice a simple act of green everyday Four practices to try everyday are:
Always carry a reusable bag (Remember plastic can live in landfill for 1,000 years – that’s a long time!)
Make your next meal plant-based, find recipe inspiration here
Add reusable utensils to your bag to use at mealtime
Speak up for the planet
Try MEET this Earth Day, available at Coles Supermarkets.
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