Saving the planet is no longer a rallying cry for hippies, environmental activists, and the Green Party, it’s a call to arms for every living being on this planet. Living sustainably is not an optional activity any more; it’s an absolute must. That doesn’t mean you have to give up all the joy in life though. There are a number of ways you can literally have your cake and eat it too, or in this case, save the planet and enjoy every moment of it.
No Need To Wine About It
I love Mother Earth, but I also love wine. If I had to choose, I’m not saying Mother Earth wouldn’t win, but I would definitely be pretty grouchy about it. Thankfully, I don’t have to pick with Nobilo Wines from New Zealand. Their classic Sauvignon Blanc is fresh, crisp, and refreshing, and good for the planet! Nobilo Wines models sustainability on their vineyards by actively reducing their carbon footprint, eliminating waste, and educating their partners on sustainability. Now that’s something to raise a glass to!
There are Plenty of Sustainable Fish in The Sea
When it comes to seafood, my Cape Breton roots run deep. I grew up eating fresh cod, haddock, lobster, and scallops. It was so abundant that we took it for granted. Sadly, overfishing is the single biggest threat our oceans face today. That’s why it’s so important to purchase sustainable fish, and the best way to do that is to look for the MSC label.
The Marine Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization that is here to save our oceans and safeguard future seafood supplies. I routinely find MSC certified fish at my local Loblaws, but you can also find it at Whole Foods, Costco, Walmart and Sobeys, and hundreds of other retailers. When you purchase seafood that is MSC Certified, you know that a) you’re getting the correct fish, b) it’s traceable, and c) it’s sustainable.
Added bonus, MSC certified seafood pairs beautifully with Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc.
Plastic Never
Every time the checkout girl asks me if I’d like a plastic bag, I counter with “Do you know it takes a 1000 years for one bag to decompose?” The attendant hears it, the people around me hear it, and my daughters die from embarrassment. It’s a giant win all around really.
Train yourself to feel a tremendous amount of guilt whenever you accept a plastic bag, a plastic bottle or plastic anything for that matter. Every time I enter a store and forget my re-useable bag in the car, I force myself to take it out to the car in my arms. This makes me remember the next time because the thing about plastic is it NEVER goes away. Ever.
Unplug
I’m not asking you to drop and give me zen here. I’m literally encouraging you to unplug. Do you like money? Does it bring you things you need, like food, shelter, and security? Cool. Then you’ll love this next sustainable tip. Shut your stuff down at night! This is a sustainability two-fer.
Plug your computer, printer, and office gadgets into one power bar with a switch and shut that baby down each night. When you go away on holidays, go crazy and unplug lamps, chargers, appliances. These things suck ghost power and if you’re not around anyway, you could save yourself a little coin.
Go Vintage
I am obsessed with old dishes, and it’s become a bit of a treasure hunt for me to find pieces in various antique shops on my travels, or at roadshows. It also means I’m keeping things out of landfill and not contributing to our throwaway culture.
It’s not just dishes though. Vintage clothing shops are filled with fabulous finds, and don’t knock your local Salvation Army for furniture just dying for a makeover.
Walk, Don’t Drive
One of my favourite things about the community in which I live, is how close we are to basic necessities. Especially since gas prices just blew through the roof this spring. Wherever possible, I now walk over to my get my groceries, my prescription, and my Nobilo Wine at my local LCBO. Not only am I doing my body good, I’m saving precious fossil fuels, and keeping carbon emissions down. Just call me an eco-warrior. *sips wine*
*This post is co-sponsored by Nobilo Wines and The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and I have been compensated for this post. All opinions remain mine
The Who Was Worth The Thirty Year Wait
