4 basic tips to improve the world in our day-to-day lives

Shall we change the world?

Climate change, the poor quality of the air we breathe, the pollution of our oceans, the depletion of resources... all these things frighten anyone; we all agree that these are real problems affecting our planet, our health, and our future. However, most of us think that we cannot do anything to prevent it, that it is a matter for the great powers, multinationals, and governments... is this a self-deception to avoid truly acting in our own favor?

At Herbera, we believe that each one of us counts, that everything adds or subtracts. We must act. We must be aware of what surrounds us and get to work. From voting consistently, supporting ecological organizations, and withdrawing our support for brands we consider harmful to the world, to everyday gestures that make our environment a better place to live. Today on our blog, we would like to give you 4 basic tips to improve the world through our daily routine.

1. Save energy.

Do not waste electricity when it is not necessary; take advantage of natural light, use the stairs, forget the elevator, and change your light bulbs to low-consumption ones. Completely turn off electrical appliances and chargers when you are not using them. Do without the tumble dryer. In winter, do not overuse the heating, wrap up warm at home, and in summer use passive cooling systems, such as taking advantage of drafts; you can also install ceiling fans, which are better than air conditioning. Use public transport: A bus carries as many people as ten full cars, takes up three times less space on the road, and emits half the CO2 per kilometer and passenger. Do not use the car for short journeys where you can walk or ride a bike. With just these measures, you would stop emitting approximately one ton of CO2 per year (out of the 10 tons that the average European emits).

2. Take care of what you throw down the toilet, sinks, and showers.

According to experts, 80% of marine pollution is due to the carelessness of humans and companies, and the remaining 20% to that of commercial ships and cruise ships. But what can we do to change this situation? Do not throw cigarette butts, tampons, or condoms down the toilet, as the fibers they contain can affect cleaning filters. Use small strainers in sinks, showers, and dishwashers; this way, we prevent food scraps from filtering into the water when washing. Recycle cooking oil or oil of any kind; do not throw it down any drain. Check that the detergents, soaps, and cleaners you use do not contain phosphates or microplastics, which are present in many cosmetic products. Do not pour paint or solvents down the drain due to the chemicals they contain, and the same applies to coffee or tea grounds or filters, as well as cleaning or baby wipes.

In this way, from your home, you can help not to affect the water purification process or, directly, marine species.

3. Recycle, recycle, recycle.

Have you ever wondered what recycling is for? There is a big difference between the CO2 generated by obtaining raw materials extracted from nature—that is, from scratch—compared to those same materials obtained after a recycling process. Logical, right? Nowadays, almost everything can be recycled, almost everything can be reused. Packaging, batteries, oils, paper, mobile phones, computers... With the energy saved by recycled material in Spain during one year, a 60w light bulb could be kept on for more than 8.7 million years. It is worth recycling and using recycled products!

4. Conscious shopping.

Food, cosmetics, clothing, decoration... in everything you buy, you can always opt for the ecological option, the least polluting, the least aggressive for you and the planet. Why not choose it?

For your food, we can only recommend that you look for the "la colmena que dice si" closest to your home; surely there is one around the corner! And if not... how about you create one? It is about: local consumption of ecological, healthy, and non-polluting products.

Conscious and informed consumption is also fundamental when we talk about fashion. This industry is one of those with the greatest impact on the environment. Recycling and reuse help to cushion this impact, reducing the consumption of raw materials destined for the manufacture of new garments. For example, manufacturing a 250-gram cotton t-shirt requires 7,000 liters of water and 500 grams of chemicals.

The most sustainable garment and the one that causes the least damage to the environment is the one that is already manufactured. How many second-hand clothing and decoration markets do you know? Surely more than one; you already know that we are at the Mercado de Motores every month, so see you there!

And of course, consume responsible, conscious, ecological, and vegan cosmetics. Our cosmetics are respectful of the environment and your skin. We tell you more about us here

Imagine the power we would have if we all pulled together for our environment! Take a stand against environmental injustice in your daily life! #Herberaseplanta