Planning something fun for your fourth of July weekend? Whether you’ll be at home grilling out or enjoying the outdoors, we’ve got some suggestions to make your patriotic celebrations a little more “green.”
Don’t litter
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- Be mindful of the waste you and your friends are creating during your holiday celebrations and be sure to clean up after yourselves! Litter threatens wildlife and damages our environment.
Use reusable silverware, cups and plates at your picnic / BBQ
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- That means no plastic forks, folks. We know it means more dish washing (maybe you can recruit help from friends?), but just think of all the plastic you’ll be diverting from the landfill! If dish washing is not an option, consider compostable options.
- We sell reusable items like these in our Creekside Shop!
- While you’re at it, why not take the #plasticfreejuly challenge and try it for the whole month! Maybe you’ll create a new habit for lasting change.
More veggies, less meat
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- The livestock industry is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. And we know, to some, it’s hard to imagine a BBQ without meat. But there are plenty of eco-friendly (and healthy!) alternatives that are just as delicious, like black bean or portobello mushroom burgers, veggie foil packets, grilled corn on the cob, cauliflower steaks, tofu kebabs and more!
- P.s. Electric or propane grills are cleaner than charcoal. If you have a strong preference for charcoal, consider lump charcoal without additives, chemicals or lighter fluid.
Choose mineral sunscreen
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- It’s important to stay safe in the sun and protect yourself from skin cancer, but did you know many of our sun protection options have earth-damaging chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate in them? Choose an earth- and ocean-friendly zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunscreen instead.
Leave the fireworks to the professionals
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- Despite their flashy beauty, fireworks are really not great for our environment at all, especially when it comes to air and water pollution. One way to still enjoy fireworks but do less damage is to skip the at-home firework festivities. Instead, attend your community display. Alternative at-home options include laser light shows, solar powered string lights or light projectors.