Published on April 20, 2020

7 Eco-friendly Activities for Earth Day

Wondering what to do this Earth Day? Our list of eco-activities has you covered.

 Happy Earth Day!

Looking to participate in one of the most widely celebrated environmental events in the world? You’ve come to the right place. Here are 7 eco-friendly activities you can do today (and every day!) to help make our planet a better place to live.
 

1. Get rid of junk mail— Even if you recycle your junk mail, the environmental costs of the materials, printing and shipping add up. To stop getting unaddressed advertising, simply put a note on your mailbox stating that you do not wish to receive Canada Post Neighbourhood Mail™.¹
2. Change your lightbulbs— Did you know that LEDs use about 80 percent less energy than incandescents and have an estimated life of more than 20 years? ²Sure, they may be a bit more of an investment up front but will end up saving you money in the long run.
3. Recycle— Take time to create a comprehensive recycling system at home. Whether you’re using a box, bin or bag, keep your recycling station next to your trash area, so it becomes a visual reminder to recycle whenever possible.
4. Ditch the single-use plastics— Less than 10 percent of the plastic used in Canada gets recycled. Without any change in habits, Canadians will be throwing out $11 billion worth of plastic products by 2030. ³From straws and bags to bottles and cutlery, avoid single-use plastics whenever possible.
5. Wash laundry with cold water —Water heating consumes about 90% of the energy it takes to operate a clothes washer. ⁴Unless you’re dealing with oily stains, washing in cold water will generally do a good job of cleaning. You can even purchase cold water detergent designed to help get tougher stains out without using warm water.
6. Go local —Eating locally grown food helps the environment in so many ways. One of the main ones being it reduces the distance they have to travel to reach your grocery store. Sticking to seasonal produce, checking out your local farmers market or experimenting with growing your own are just a few ways you can move to a more local mindset.
7. Fix it, don’t ditch it —Instead of throwing something away when it rips or breaks, challenge yourself to fix it. If you’re unsure how to repair it, bring it to someone who can. Fixing items is both more sustainable and more cost-effective than buying things net new.

Remember, in addition to the activities above, taking time to be in nature physically and appreciating it is another important part of celebrating Earth Day. Bonus? It can also do wonders for your mental health, relieving anxiety, stress, and depression.⁵ So, what are you waiting for? Take a hike, head to the water or just sit in a park and enjoy the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves!

At NutraSea, enabling people to live their best lives is at the root of everything we do. Explore our blog and our wide range of sustainably-sourced products for more healthy living inspiration.

1. https://www.canadapost.ca/web/en/kb/details.page?article=how_to_stop_receivin&cattype=kb&cat=receiving&subcat=maildelivery
   2. https://www.npr.org/2014/01/24/265489559/nprs-guide-to-changing-light-bulbs
   3. https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/liberals-to-announce-plan-to-ban-single-use-plastics-as-early-as-2021
   4. https://www.energystar.gov/products/laundry_best_practices
   5. https://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/mental-health-benefits-outdoors/