Going Green in the New Year

Its the month of love so why not show some amore towards the planet? Show some heart for the green in you and get eco-friendly this month of spreading the loving and caring. People tend to think that turning their lifestyles green is too much of a hassle to really be bothered about. Truth is - once you begin, its not that difficult a choice to keep up!

I own an eco-friendly business but I began practicing eco-friendly habits only the beginning of this year. I learned something new everyday and gave myself ten new pointers to include in my daily routine that would take a turn for the green.

There definitely were days when I completely forgot that cloth bag I had on me but once the stumbling blocks in the beginning are overcome, the rest just follows through. Here are some small things I began following this year in an effort to be more conscious of how I am treating Mother Earth. You could do the same and progress from there:

1. If you read the paper every morning, you could recycle it at any of the centers across your city. You could donate it to old age homes and other charitable institutions as reading material. If you read magazines, you could make little paper bags and envelopes out of the glossy paper - they make for great gift wrapping and gift giving. How original!

2. Plastics are a big part of our lives. The number of plastic bags you could gather at the grocery store in one trip is beyond belief sometimes! Plastics take the longest to decompose once they are disposed off, so the best option is to recycle whatever bags you have at present. Use cloth bags to the store. Forgetting them is easy so keep them in your car at all times.

3. At the store, try buying foodstuff in paper carton containers rather than plastic bags. This will encourage manufacturers to change their packaging as well. Sometimes you can use the cardboard boxes as good packaging material for your postal needs.

4. Try using your own dinnerware at home instead of paper or plastic plates and glasses. If you must choose, opt for paper over plastic. Paper definitely is easier to recycle than plastic is any day.

5. Whenever possible, opt for public transport especially to well-known locations and venues in your city. It really helps drive down the pollution and traffic levels, and gives you a chance to read or talk to your friends or write notecards while you have your hands and mind free! Make an effort to include as many errands as possible when you take your car out instead of doing multiple trips the same day.

6. Some very common tips for first timers - use energy efficient bulbs at home and work, don't keep the water running when you don't need it and don't leave any electrical or electronic appliances turned on all the time. If you switch it on only at the time of need, that should reduce your electricity and gas bills in a big way.

7. In your office - reduce the use of plastics and increase the use of wooden or bamboo based materials and products. These are sustainable and biologically degradable. Print on paper only when necessary and print double-sided at all times. Recycle as much as possible - everything from cartridges and computer parts to cell phones and furniture can be recycled these days. Do your bit.

8. Shopping is something we all do and will continue to as a race. As human beings, we are consumers of everything under the sun. We can make some healthy choices here as well. There is a green option for every item you can think of today so take that extra initiative to look for eco-friendly products. Simply looking up such resources online in your city or zip code will throw up a couple of links that you could check out.

9. You home, office, car, school are all a reflection of you. Make green friendly choices in these areas by opting for decor that is environmentally friendly. As expensive as the term seems, you will be surprised to learn how easy it is on your pocket. Decor options are a plenty when it comes to sustainable materials and you can take your pick from a variety of exquisite and affordable decorating options while still making a difference!

10. Spread the word - by email! Get your friends involved. It doesn't help if just one of us is going green while the rest of mankind is making merry. Let your family and colleagues know your intentions and ask them to join you so it will be a fun process undertaken. Do it by email so you don't leave a paper trail behind!

Try including one or more of these tips in your daily routine and before you know it, these will become a part of life. Good luck!