essay about environmentally friendly

100 Environment Essay Topics That Will Inspire Your Eco-Conscious Mind

Table of contents

• 1 Interesting Environment Topic Ideas
• 2 Easy Environment Essay Topics
• 3 Environmental Research Topics on Climate Change
• 4 Environmental Research Topics on Ecology
• 5 Sustainability Topics for an Essay
• 6 Topics about Renewable Energy
• 7 Topics on Greenhouse Effect
• 8 Global Warming Essay Topics
• 9 Pollution Essay Topics
• 10 Ideas for Environmental Essay
• 11 Conclusion

Interesting Environment Topic Ideas

If you are in the mood for considering complicated and challenging topics, you’ll like the essay topics on environmental issues from this list. You can dive into the subject and broaden your horizons. Every topic on the environment is relevant, and some of them are time-consuming. So if you’re afraid of missing your deadline and wondering who can write my paper , be attentive to choose the best service. Any subject about environmental issues needs appropriate investigations and should be well-disclosed.

• The Devastating Effects of Plastic Pollution on Our Oceans
• From Forests to Farms: The Impact of Deforestation on Climate Change
• A Greener Future: The Benefits of Renewable Energy Sources
• The Secret Life of Bees: How Their Decline Affects Our Ecosystems
• The Dark Side of Fast Fashion: The Environmental Cost of Cheap Clothes
• Food Waste: An Invisible Environmental Crisis
• The Environmental Impact of Transportation: From Cars to Planes
• How Urbanization is Changing the Landscape of Our Cities
• Water Crisis: The Importance of Conserving Our Most Precious Resource
• The Great Barrier Reef: Can We Save One of the World’s Natural Wonders?

Easy Environment Essay Topics

There are easy but equally important environmental essay topics. Share your valuable thoughts about climate change avoiding confusing topics. You may also use one of them if you don’t have enough time for investigation. In this case, you can find a reliable paper writing service to get your well-written essay and save your time. Ponder the environmental problems you are worried about, it may be pollution or the ways of recycling. Then check the list of topics and start your essay .

• 5 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Today
• How Composting Can Help Save the Planet
• The Power of Plant-Based Diets: How Eating Less Meat Can Help the Environment
• The Benefits of Biking: A Fun and Eco-Friendly Alternative to Driving
• How to Be Environmentally Conscious Without Breaking the Bank
• The Dangers of Single-Use Plastics: What You Need to Know
• Saving Energy at Home: Tips and Tricks for Lowering Your Utility Bills and Helping the Environment
• How to Start a Community Garden: Bringing People Together While Helping the Planet
• The Benefits of Using Natural Cleaners
• The Impact of Electronic Waste: How to Properly Dispose of Your Old Electronics

Environmental Research Topics on Climate Change

One of the global environmental issues of the 21st century is climate change, and students tend to investigate it in their essays. One of the problems caused by climate change is the reduction of biodiversity. Use one of our environment essay topics to explain the reasons for this phenomenon and possible solutions. Write the arguments to highlight the necessity of environmental protection.

• The Impact of Climate Change on Arctic Wildlife: A Study of Polar Bears and Their Habitat
• Rising Sea Levels: The Effects on Coastal Communities and Infrastructure
• The Role of Forests in Climate Change Mitigation: A Case Study of the Amazon Rainforest
• The Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Productivity: A Study of Drought-Prone Regions
• The Consequences of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs and Marine Life
• The Effect of Climate Change on Human Health: A Study of Air Quality and Heat Waves
• The Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Communities: A Case Study of Arctic and Subarctic Regions
• The Role of Renewable Energy Sources in Mitigating Climate Change: A Comparative Analysis of Solar and Wind Power
• The Economic Impact of Climate Change: A Study of Adaptation and Mitigation Costs
• The Potential of Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies in Mitigating Climate Change: An Assessment of Current and Future Applications

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Environmental Research Topics on Ecology

In this category, we’ve gathered essential topics on environmental issues. Use any to do your research about the conservation of biodiversity. Present its role in the food chain and the possible environmental consequences of the violation of this process. Try to explore different approaches in your academic paper. It may become one of your most successful environmental science projects . Researchers are doing their best to resolve existing problems. So, with your essay, you can make a contribution to environmental science.

• The Impact of Invasive Species on Native Ecosystems: A Case Study of the Burmese Python in the Florida Everglades
• The Role of Keystone Species in Ecosystem Functioning: A Study of Wolves in Yellowstone National Park
• The Effect of Habitat Fragmentation on Biodiversity: A Study of Tropical Forests
• The Importance of Pollinators in Ecosystem Services: A Study of Bees and Their Role in Crop Pollination
• The Impact of Climate Change on Forest Ecosystems: A Study of Temperate and Boreal Forests
• The Effect of Human Disturbance on Marine Ecosystems: A Study of Coral Reefs and Coastal Habitats
• The Role of Wetlands in Water Quality and Flood Control: A Study of Marshes and Swamps
• The Impact of Overfishing on Marine Ecosystems: A Case Study of Sharks and Their Importance in Ocean Food Webs
• The Role of Ecological Restoration in Ecosystem Recovery: A Study of Dam Removal and River Restoration Projects
• The Effect of Pollution on Aquatic Ecosystems: A Study of Chemical Contamination and Its Effects on Fish and Other Aquatic Life

Sustainability Topics for an Essay

The best way of saving our home is its everyday protection. There you can focus on the topics on environmental issues related to sustainability and its effectiveness. Write your essay on environment about the benefits of making environmental conservation our daily routine. Offer the ways of its implementation in variable areas. With this list of environment essay topics, you’ll be a part of innovation.

• The Role of Sustainable Agriculture in Feeding a Growing Population
• he Importance of Sustainable Packaging: How to Reduce Waste and Carbon Footprint
• Green Building: The Benefits of Sustainable Design and Construction
• The Impact of Sustainable Tourism on Local Communities and the Environment
• The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Promoting Sustainability
• The Benefits of Sustainable Transportation: A Study of Electric Cars and Public Transit Systems
• The Power of Sustainable Investing: How to Invest Responsibly for a Better Future
• Sustainable Fashion: How to Shop Responsibly and Reduce Environmental Impact
• Sustainable Energy Solutions for a Clean Future: The Pros and Cons of Renewable Energy Sources
• The Importance of Sustainable Water Management: How to Conserve and Protect Our Most Precious Resource

Topics about Renewable Energy

It’s no secret that natural resources are being depleted. It’s an occasion to think about ways of replacing them. Think about possible ways to reduce energy consumption and focus on renewable resources. Reflect on how humanity can stabilize climate issues and reduce the level of pollution with renewable energy. Share your opinion about energy conservation, the options for its replacement, and the further positive impact of such actions on climate. Check the list to compose your argumentative essay on conservation of nature.

• The Pros and Cons of Solar Energy: A Comprehensive Analysis
• The Potential of Wind Energy: A Case Study of the United States and Europe
• The Future of Hydrogen Fuel: A Study of Its Potential as a Renewable Energy Source
• The Role of Geothermal Energy in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• The Benefits and Challenges of Biomass Energy: A Study of Biofuels and Biopower
• The Power of Tidal Energy: A Study of Its Potential in Coastal Regions
• The Impact of Renewable Energy on Rural Communities: A Case Study of Small-Scale Projects
• The Role of Government Policies in Promoting Renewable Energy: A Comparative Analysis
• The Potential of Energy Storage Technologies in Facilitating the Integration of Renewable Energy
• The Benefits of Distributed Generation: A Study of Rooftop Solar and Small Wind Turbines

Topics on Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is the result of devastating human activities. The main consequences are the melting of glaciers, lack of drinking water in some regions, and climate change. Look through the environment essay topics that we have collected. Describe the reasons and further possible changes on earth, consult the articles of climate scientists, and make your arguments.

• The Science of Greenhouse Effect: How Does It Work and What Are Its Effects on the Climate?
• The Role of Carbon Dioxide in the Greenhouse Effect: A Study of Its Sources and Sinks
• The Impact of Methane on the Greenhouse Effect: A Study of Its Sources and Consequences
• The Role of Water Vapor in the Greenhouse Effect: A Study of Its Effects on Climate Feedback
• The Effect of Deforestation on the Greenhouse Effect: A Study of the Loss of Carbon Sinks
• The Impact of Agriculture on the Greenhouse Effect: A Study of Livestock and Crop Production
• The Potential of Carbon Capture and Storage Technologies in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• The Role of Government Policies in Addressing the Greenhouse Effect: A Comparative Analysis
• The Impact of Human Activity on the Greenhouse Effect: A Study of Fossil Fuel Use and Land Use Change
• The Future of the Greenhouse Effect: A Study of Climate Projections and Mitigation Strategies

Global Warming Essay Topics

One of the most common environmental issues of our generation is global warming. Natural disasters, abnormal weather changes, drought, and extreme temperatures aren’t the only consequences of global warming.

Due to the relevance of this subject, many students opt for this theme. We offer global warming essay samples to facilitate the process of writing for you. Check them to compose the best academic paper and receive the highest grade.

• Global Warming and the Arctic: How Melting Ice Impacts the Planet
• The Impact of Global Warming on Extreme Weather Events: A Study of Heat Waves and Hurricanes
• The Effects of Global Warming on Biodiversity: A Study of Climate Change and Species Extinction
• The Role of Human Activities in Causing Global Warming: A Study of Carbon Emissions and Land Use Change
• The Impact of Global Warming on Agriculture: A Study of Crop Yields and Food Security
• The Consequences of Global Warming on Ocean Acidification: A Study of Its Effects on Marine Life
• The Role of International Agreements in Addressing Global Warming: A Comparative Analysis
• The Potential of Renewable Energy in Reducing Global Warming: A Study of Clean Energy Technologies
• The Impact of Global Warming on Public Health: A Study of Heat-Related Illnesses and Disease Outbreaks
• The Future of Global Warming: A Study of Climate Projections and Adaptation Strategies

Pollution Essay Topics

Not only nature but also every person suffers from pollution. Air pollution, for instance, causes serious diseases, sometimes with lethal outcomes. One of the causative agents of water, air pollution, and spoiling soil are pollutants. Let us present youwith a few options of thought-provoking environmental issues for your essay.

• Air Pollution and Its Consequences: A Study of the Impact on Human Health
• The Effects of Water Pollution on Marine Ecosystems: A Study of Plastic Pollution and Overfishing
• The Role of Agricultural Practices in Causing Soil Pollution: A Study of Pesticides and Fertilizers
• The Impact of Industrial Pollution on Local Communities: A Study of Toxic Waste and Environmental Justice
• The Effect of Noise Pollution on Human Health and Well-being: A Study of Urban Environments
• The Role of Government Policies in Addressing Pollution: A Comparative Analysis
• The Consequences of Light Pollution on Wildlife and Ecosystems: A Study of Artificial Light at Night
• The Potential of Green Technologies in Reducing Pollution: A Study of Sustainable Production and Consumption
• The Impact of Indoor Pollution on Human Health: A Study of Household Chemicals and Poor Ventilation
• The Future of Pollution: A Study of Climate Change and Its Effects on Environmental Degradation

Ideas for Environmental Essay

Last but not least, top of environmental ideas and issues to reveal. By implementing these topics, you can generally speak about modern approaches and up-to-date scientific ideas. Think about the influence of the Government on ecological questions and some possible new projects. Share your opinion about clean tourism and transportation, or describe the model of an eco-friendly city. As you can see, in any of these subjects, you can reflect.

• The Urgency of Climate Action: Addressing the Environmental Crisis
• Sustainability: The Key to a Greener Future
• The Role of Government in Protecting the Environment
• The Environmental Impact of Transportation: Finding Solutions for Cleaner Travel
• The Power of Education in Environmental Awareness and Action
• The Ethics of Environmentalism: Balancing Human Needs and Nature’s Rights
• Wildfires, Floods, and Storms: The Increasing Frequency of Extreme Weather Events
• The Significance of Conservation and Preservation of Natural Resources for Future Generations.
• The Importance of Preserving Wetlands: A Critical Ecosystem
• Eco-Friendly Cities: Designing for Sustainable Living and Reducing Carbon Footprint.

Hope you’ve liked our selection of essay topics on environmental issues and managed to find the most appropriate one. There are plenty of problems that should be urgently resolved. In your academic paper, you can express and underline the necessity of actions on the part of every citizen. Describe new approaches and the ways of their implementation. By applying any topic from the list, you’ll definitely get the highest grade.

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Essay on Environment: Examples & Tips

• Updated on  
• May 30, 2022

In the 21st century, the Environmental crisis is one of the biggest issues. The world has been potentially impacted by the resulting hindrance in the environmental balance, due to the rising in industrialization and urbanization. This led to several natural calamities which creates an everlasting severe impact on the environment for years. To familiarize students with the importance environment, the subject ‘Environmental Studies’ is part of the curriculum in primary, secondary as well as higher school education. To test the knowledge of the students related to Environment, a question related to the topic in the form of essay or article writing is included in the exam. This blog aims to focus on providing details to students on the way, they can draft a well-written essay on Environment.

This Blog Includes:

Overview on environment, tips on writing an effective essay, format (150 words), sample essay on environment, environment essay (100 words), essay on environment (200-250 words), environment essay (300 words), world environment day.

To begin the essay on Environment, students must know what it is all about. Biotic (plants, animals, and microorganisms) and abiotic (non-living physical factors) components in our surroundings fall under the terminology of the environment. Everything that surrounds us is a part of the environment and facilitates our existence on the planet.

Before writing an effective essay on Environment, another thing students need to ensure is to get familiarised with the structure of essay writing. The major tips which students need to keep in mind, while drafting the essay are:

• Research on the given topic thoroughly : The students must research the topic given in the essay, for example: while drafting an essay on the environment, students must mention the recent events, so to provide the reader with a view into their understanding of this concept.
• Jot down the important points: When the students research the topic, students must note down the points which need to be included in the essay.
• Quote down the important examples: Students must quote the important examples in the introductory paragraphs and the subsequent paragraphs as well.
• Revise the Essay: The student after finishing writing students must revise the content to locate any grammatical errors as well as other mistakes.

Essay on Environment: Format & Samples

Now that you are aware of the key elements of drafting an essay on Environment, take a look at the format of essay writing first:

Introduction

The student must begin the essay by, detailing an overview of the topic in a very simple way in around 30-40 words. In the introduction of the essay on Environment, the student can make it interesting by recent instances or adding questions.

Body of Content

The content after the introduction can be explained in around 80 words, on a given topic in detail. This part must contain maximum detail in this part of the Essay. For the Environment essay, students can describe ways the environment is hampered and different ways to prevent and protect it.

In the essay on Environment, students can focus on summing the essay in 30-40 words, by writing its aim, types, and purposes briefly. This section must swaddle up all the details which are explained in the body of the content.

Below is a sample of an Essay on Environment to give you an idea of the way to write one:

The natural surroundings that enable life to thrive, nurture, and destroy on our planet called earth are referred to as an environment. The natural environment is vital to the survival of life on Earth, allowing humans, animals, and other living things to thrive and evolve naturally. However, our ecosystem is being harmed as a result of certain wicked and selfish human actions. It is the most essential issue, and everyone should understand how to safeguard our environment and maintain the natural balance on this planet for life to continue to exist.

Nature provides an environment that nourishes life on the planet. The environment encompasses everything humans need to live, including water, air, sunshine, land, plants, animals, forests, and other natural resources. Our surroundings play a critical role in enabling the existence of healthy life on the planet. However, due to man-made technical advancements in the current period, our environment is deteriorating day by day. As a result, environmental contamination has risen to the top of our priority list.

Environmental pollution has a detrimental impact on our everyday lives in a variety of ways, including socially, physically, economically, emotionally, and cognitively. Contamination of the environment causes a variety of ailments that can last a person’s entire life. It is not a problem of a neighborhood or a city; it is a global issue that cannot be handled by a single person’s efforts. It has the potential to end life in a day if it is not appropriately handled. Every ordinary citizen should participate in the government’s environmental protection effort.

Between June 5 and June 16, World Environment Day is commemorated to raise awareness about the environment and to educate people about its importance. On this day, awareness initiatives are held in a variety of locations.

The environment is made up of plants, animals, birds, reptiles, insects, water bodies, fish, humans, trees, microbes, and many other things. Furthermore, they all contribute to the ecosystem.

The physical, social, and cultural environments are the three categories of environments. Besides, various scientists have defined different types and numbers of environments.

1. Do not leave rubbish in public areas. 2. Minimize the use of plastic 3. Items should be reduced, reused, and recycled. 4. Prevent water and soil contamination

Hope the blog has given you an idea of how to write an essay on the Environment. If you are planning to study abroad and want help in writing your essays, then let Leverage Edu be your helping hand. Our experts will assist you in writing an excellent SOP for your study abroad consultant application. 

Sonal is a creative, enthusiastic writer and editor who has worked extensively for the Study Abroad domain. She splits her time between shooting fun insta reels and learning new tools for content marketing. If she is missing from her desk, you can find her with a group of people cracking silly jokes or petting neighbourhood dogs.

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How to Write an Essay on the Environment

The environment where we live affects how we function and socialize as human beings. Over the years, there has been a growing focus on climate change and how shifts in weather events and temperatures are affecting living organisms. 

Of course, although climate change is one of the threatening and pervasive things, currently, there are many other areas one can write about including biodiversity and pollution. Choosing what to write about is just one aspect of creating a good essay on the environment. 

When tasked with writing an assignment on the environment, there are some specific factors to consider. Of course, different instructors issue different guidelines for academic writing, including the format and citation style to use. Make sure to adhere to these and stick to the question as outlined in the assignment prompt. Here are additional tips for effective essay writing.

Start by Choosing a Good Topic

The most important step in effective academic writing is selecting an appropriate topic. There are many areas of the environment where you can base your writing. However, you have to make sure that your preferred topic is in line with your assignment question, as set out in the prompt. Of course, there are times when instructors provide specific topics for their students, eliminating the need for topic selection. 

In other instances, students are accorded the freedom to create their own topics. With such freedom, comes the responsibility of making sure that your topic is relevant for your project and current. Also, you have to make sure that your area of writing is precise enough to be covered within the scope of your essay. Those who are unable to find good topics can seek  custom writing  from professionals online. 

Your essay on the environment can be in any of the following areas:• Climate change or global warming and its impacts;• Biodiversity;• Environmental pollution and how it affects living organisms. 

Since the environment is a very broad topic area, you will need to conduct some research to make sure that you pick a relevant and current topic. Also, make sure to  narrow down your topic . 

Brainstorm for Ideas and Create a Plan

Once you have a topic for your essay, the next step is brainstorming. This is the process of thinking about the topic and noting down everything you know. The notes created here can form part of your outline.

When it comes to outlining, having a good plan will save you time much later in the course of your research and writing. This stage may require some preliminary research as well as the creation of a working thesis statement. 

Create an Interesting Thesis Statement

Now that you have a topic and an outline, it is time to create a working thesis. Please note that your statement may change several in the course of your research and writing. As you proceed with your work, you may encounter different ideas and change your perspective on important issues. In essence, your thesis should be clear, arguable, interesting, and simple. It should demonstrate the position you intend to take with your argumentation. 

Conduct Research and Document Sources

It is impossible to write a good essay on the environment if you don’t gather enough data and evidence. Quality academic papers present coherent arguments where ideas and points are supported using credible evidence. Conduct research on books, electronic journals, reputable websites, and primary sources. Just make sure to document the sources of your information to help with citations and references. Most importantly,  take keen notes that will make organizing  your essay easier. 

Start Writing as Soon as Possible

Do not spend so much time with preparations that you forget to make time for the actual writing. You may have heard that freewriting is the easiest way to overcome writer’s block. However, there is an even better way — writing from an outline and researching the various sections of your paper. Just make sure to give each main idea its own paragraph, supported using evidence and examples from credible sources. 

As you write your paper, grammar and syntax should not be your main priority. At this stage, just work on the drafting of your ideas and points. You can finish by editing your work for grammatical, content, and formatting consistency. 

Please note that the tips provided in this article are meant to guide you through the process of academic essay writing. You still have to make sure that your writing adheres to your assignment instructions. Most importantly, you need to ensure that you proofread and edit your work.

Sustainable development refers to a system which uses resources in such a way as to preserve the resources for both present and future generations. ‘Using of alternative and renewable resources of energy’ and ‘conservation’ are two aspects of sustainable development. ‘Rain water harvesting’, ‘saving trees’, ‘conserving energy’, etc. are modes of sustainable.

Some of the most important natural resources are limited and non-renewable like fossil fuels, etc.

The need and desires of human beings are ever increasing so there is an increasing trend in demand for natural resources. Hence, the natural resources are depleting at a rapid pace.

According to the various scientific studies, the natural resources would soon deplete completely. And result will be no power and total blackout and collapse of sophisticated lifestyle and activities of mankind.

Not only the depletion of natural resources but also awareness about the environmental degradation has led the society to look for alternative resources which are both eco-friendly and renewable at the same time.

In a bid to save environment, more and more people are opting for eco-friendly goods and services. There are host of eco-friendly goods and services available these days. To save non-renewable resources, alternative resources of renewable energy are being used. Hydro power, solar energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, oceanic energy, etc. are being used as they all are natural, eco-friendly and renewable sources of energy.

Societies world over have become more aware about the alarming depletion of resources and environmental degradation. Hence, minimising use of plastic bags, using natural fabrics like khadi, jute, cotton, use of paper bags, jute bags, use of CNG, banning use of poisonous chemicals as DDT, use of eco-friendly furniture, paints, etc. are the need of the hour. Even eco-friendly services like ‘eco-health’ and ‘eco-tourism’ are much in demand.

It is good to see these welcome modifications happening in our lifestyles and habits. Eco-friendly living and sustainable development are surely two of much needed novice ways to save our mother earth. And this again is good for us and for our comfortable survival on earth. It is our turn now to contribute our bit to mother earth by adopting measures of eco-friendly living and sustainable development.

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Why Sustainable lifestyles matter

Sustainable living  means understanding how our lifestyle choices impact the world around us and finding ways for everyone to live better and lighter. Applying a ‘people lens’ to sustainability is new, timely and opportunities are great. Sustainable living and lifestyles for the first time appear in the Sustainable Development Goals (4 Education and 12.8 Responsible Consumption). UN Environment Programme is at the forefront of looking into what sustainable lifestyles are and how decision-making can be better harnessed for sustainability. How can governments and business better support and measure change?

Most people do not wake up with the intention to harm the environment - nor to help it . People get up and live their lives and strive for aspirations. The amount of stuff people have in many parts of the world has shot up, while in other areas, many struggle to meet basic needs. Our future now depends on our behavior and how we choose to live, work and play as global consumers – how we run our homes, what food we eat, how we get around, how we relax, what we buy and how we care for our planet.

People do not change behavior based on what they should do . They do not respond to data and statistics, nor to negative future scenarios . People act to fulfill their needs and aspirations. They make decisions based on price, accessibility, effectiveness and additional criteria like well-being or trends. Sustainability is not the defining criteria. Even the people who want to live more sustainably often lack information and access to affordable and desirable products and services. This underscores that beyond people, it is up to governments and business (who are also consumers!) to provide more information and support positive behavior change, and to support and develop new business models to make sustainable living a default option.

UNEP, a long-time proponent of sustainable living and lifestyles, now contributes to the One Planet Network Programme of Sustainable Lifestyles and Education co-led by Sweden and Japan.

Our Vision:   To harness individual decision-making for sustainability and integrate sustainable lifestyle principles across society, so that sustainable living, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, becomes the norm (the New Normal) for people everywhere.

Who do we work with?

Lifestyles cut cross many sectors such as mobility, food, buildings and construction, consumer information, textiles, tourism; they link to efforts such as the One Planet Network and take into account regional and urban differences.

Individuals – to enable and motivate them and the organizations that work with people, to make more sustainable lifestyle choices. It’s also about governments and the private sector providing (default) options and systems to meet needs more sustainability.

Research institutions and non-governmental organizations – to develop sustainable lifestyle frameworks and future forecasting. By bringing experts together to gather and synthesize data, we support an evidence-base that feeds into education, policy and practice.

Educational institutions – to raise awareness and critical thinking to connect how daily living decisions affect the world and people around us. This includes formal and informal education as well as developing evidence-based, climate impactful messages and nature-based solutions and rolling them out through urban initiatives, campaigns and pilot curricula.

Governments – to provide guidelines, frameworks and future forecasts, to support the adoption of sustainable policies and improve infrastructure. This advances incentives and options for people to make sustainable lifestyle choices.

Cultural influencers, communication and media organizations – to frame messaging in a creative and inspiring way, through new platforms. Media organizations, for instance, can design messaging and advertise them through influencers or documentaries to increase public awareness. Climate activists and cultural influencers are the new ‘policy wild cards’ to embrace.

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The Better Good Life: An Essay on Personal Sustainability

Imagine a cherry tree in full bloom, its roots sunk into rich earth and its branches covered with thousands of blossoms, all emitting a lovely fragrance and containing thousands of seeds capable of producing many more cherry trees. The petals begin to fall, covering the ground in a blanket of white flowers and scattering the seeds everywhere.

Some of the seeds will take root, but the vast majority will simply break down along with the spent petals, becoming part of the soil that nourishes the tree — along with thousands of other plants and animals.

Looking at this scene, do we shake our heads at the senseless waste, mess and inefficiency? Does it look like the tree is working too hard, showing signs of strain or collapse? Of course not. But why not?

Well, for one thing, because the whole process is beautiful, abundant and pleasure producing: We enjoy seeing and smelling the trees in bloom, we’re pleased by the idea of the trees multiplying (and producing delicious cherries ), and everyone for miles around seems to benefit in the process.

The entire lifecycle of the cherry tree is rewarding, and the only “waste” involved is an abundant sort of nutrient cycling that only leads to more good things.

The entire lifecycle of the cherry tree is rewarding, and the only “waste” involved is an abundant sort of nutrient cycling that only leads to more good things. Best of all, this show of productivity and generosity seems to come quite naturally to the tree. It shows no signs of discontent or resentment — in fact, it looks like it could keep this up indefinitely with nothing but good, sustainable outcomes.

The cherry-tree scenario is one model that renowned designer and sustainable-development expert William McDonough uses to illustrate how healthy, sustainable systems are supposed to work. “Every last particle contributes in some way to the health of a thriving ecosystem,” he writes in his essay (coauthored with Michael Braungart), “The Extravagant Gesture: Nature, Design and the Transformation of Human Industry” (available at).

Rampant production in this scenario poses no problem, McDonough explains, because the tree returns all of the resources it extracts (without deterioration or diminution), and it produces no dangerous stockpiles of garbage or residual toxins in the process. In fact, rampant production by the cherry tree only enriches everything around it.

In this system and most systems designed by nature, McDonough notes, “Waste that stays waste does not exist. Instead, waste nourishes; waste equals food.”

If only we humans could be lucky and wise enough to live this way — using our resources and energy to such good effect; making useful, beautiful, extravagant contributions; and producing nothing but nourishing “byproducts” in the process.

If only we humans could be lucky and wise enough to live this way — using our resources and energy to such good effect; making useful, beautiful, extravagant contributions ; and producing nothing but nourishing “byproducts” in the process. If only our version of rampant production and consumption produced so much pleasure and value and so little exhaustion, anxiety, depletion and waste.

Well, perhaps we can learn. More to the point, if we hope to create a decent future for ourselves and succeeding generations, we must. After all, a future produced by trends of the present — in which children are increasingly treated for stress, obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease, and in which our chronic health problems threaten to bankrupt our economy  — is not much of a future.

We need to create something better. And for that to happen, we must begin to reconsider which parts of our lives contribute to the cherry tree’s brand of healthy vibrance and abundance, and which don’t.

The happy news is, the search for a more sustainable way of life can go hand in hand with the pursuit of a healthier, more rewarding life. And isn’t that the kind of life most of us are after?

In Search of Sustainability and Satisfaction

McDonough’s cherry-tree model represents several key principles of sustainability — including lifecycle awareness, no-waste nutrient cycling and a commitment to “it’s-all-connected” systems thinking (see “ See the Connection “). And it turns out that many of these principles can be usefully applied not just to natural resources and ecosystems, but to all systems — from frameworks for economic and industrial production to blueprints for individual and collective well-being.

For example, when we look at our lives through the lens of sustainability, we can begin to see how unwise short-term tradeoffs (fast food, skipped workouts, skimpy sleep, strictly-for-the-money jobs) produce waste (squandered energy and vitality, unfulfilled personal potential, excessive material consumption) and toxic byproducts (illness, excess weight , depression, frustration, debt).

We can also see how healthy choices and investments in our personal well-being can produce profoundly positive results that extend to our broader circles of influence and communities at large.

Conversely, we can also see how healthy choices and investments in our personal well-being can produce profoundly positive results that extend to our broader circles of influence and communities at large. When we’re  feeling our best and overflowing with energy and optimism, we tend to be of greater service and support to others. We’re clearer of mind, meaning we can identify opportunities to reengineer the things that aren’t working in our lives. We can also more fully appreciate and emphasize the things that are (as opposed to feeling stuck in a rut , down in the dumps, unappreciated or entitled to something we’re not getting).

When you look at it this way, it’s not hard to see why sustainability plays such an important role in creating the conditions of a true “ good life ”: By definition, sustainability principles discourage people from consuming or destroying resources at a greater pace than they can replenish them. They also encourage people to notice when buildups and depletions begin occurring and to correct them as quickly as possible.

As a result, sustainability-oriented approaches tend to produce not just robust, resilient individuals , but resilient and regenerative societies — the kind that manage to produce long-term benefits for a great many without undermining the resources on which those benefits depend. (For a thought-provoking exploration of how and why this has been true historically, read Jared Diamond’s excellent book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed .)

The Good Life Gone Bad

So, what exactly is a “good life”? Clearly, not everyone shares the same definition, but most of us would prefer a life filled with experiences we find pleasing and worthwhile and that contribute to an overall sense of well-being.

We’d prefer a life that feels good in the moment, but that also lays the ground for a promising future — a life, like the cherry tree’s, that contributes something of value and that benefits and enriches the lives of others, or at least doesn’t cause them anxiety and harm.

Unfortunately, historically, our pursuit of the good life has focused on increasing our material wealth and upgrading our socioeconomic status in the short term (learn more at “ What Is Affluenza? “). And, in the big picture, that approach has not turned out quite the way we might have hoped.

For too many, the current version of “the good life” involves working too-long hours and driving too-long commutes. It has us worrying and running ourselves ragged.

For too many, the current version of “the good life” involves working too-long hours and driving too-long commutes. It has us worrying and running ourselves ragged, overeating to soothe ourselves, watching TV to distract ourselves, binge-shopping to sate our desire for more, and popping prescription pills to keep troubling symptoms at bay. This version of “the good life” has given us only moments a day with the people we love, and virtually no time or inclination to participate as citizens or community members.

It has also given us anxiety attacks; obesity; depression ; traffic jams; urban sprawl; crushing daycare bills; a broken healthcare system; record rates of addiction, divorce and incarceration; an imploding economy; and a planet in peril.

From an economic standpoint, we’re more productive than we’ve ever been. We’ve focused on getting more done in less time. We’ve surrounded ourselves with technologies designed to make our lives easier, more comfortable and more amusing.

Yet, instead of making us happy and healthy, all of this has left a great many of us feeling depleted, lonely, strapped, stressed and resentful. We don’t have enough time for ourselves, our loved ones, our creative aspirations or our communities. And in the wake of the bad-mortgage-meets-Wall-Street-greed crisis, much of the so-called value we’ve been busy creating has seemingly vanished before our eyes, leaving future generations of citizens to pay almost inconceivably huge bills.

The conveniences we’ve embraced to save ourselves time have reduced us to an unimaginative, sedentary existence that undermines our physical fitness and mental health and reduces our ability to give our best gifts.

Meanwhile, the quick-energy fuels we use to keep ourselves going ultimately leave us feeling sluggish, inflamed and fatigued. The conveniences we’ve embraced to save ourselves time have reduced us to an unimaginative, sedentary existence that undermines our physical fitness and mental health and reduces our ability to give our best gifts. (Not sure what your best gift is? See “ Play to Your Strengths ” for more.)

Our bodies and minds are showing the telltale symptoms of unsustainable systems at work — systems that put short-term rewards ahead of long-term value. We’re beginning to suspect that the costs we’re incurring could turn out to be unacceptably high if we ever stop to properly account for them, which some of us are beginning to do.

Accounting for What Matters

Defining the good life in terms of productivity, material rewards and personal accomplishment is a little like viewing the gross domestic product (GDP) as an accurate measurement of social and economic progress.

In fact, the GDP is nothing more than a gross tally of products and services bought and sold, with no distinctions between transactions that enhance well-being and transactions that diminish it, and no accounting for most of the “externalities” (like losses in vitality, beauty and satisfaction) that actually have the greatest impact on our personal health and welfare.

We’d balk if any business attempted to present a picture of financial health by simply tallying up all of its business activity — lumping income and expense, assets and liabilities, and debits and credits together in one impressive, apparently positive bottom-line number (which is, incidentally, much the way our GDP is calculated).

Yet, in many ways, we do the same kind of flawed calculus in our own lives — regarding as measures of success the gross sum of the to-dos we check off, the salaries we earn, the admiration we attract and the rungs we climb on the corporate ladder.

But not all of these activities actually net us the happiness and satisfaction we seek, and in the process of pursuing them, we can incur appalling costs to our health and happiness. We also make vast sacrifices in terms of our personal relationships and our contributions to the communities, societies and environments on which we depend.

This is the essence of unsustainability , the equivalent of a cherry tree sucking up nutrients and resources and growing nothing but bare branches, or worse — ugly, toxic, foul-smelling blooms. So what are our options?

Asking the Right Questions

In the past several years, many alternative, GDP-like indexes have emerged and attempted to more accurately account for how well (or, more often, how poorly) our economic growth is translating to quality-of-life improvements.

Measurement tools like the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), developed by Redefining Progress, a nonpartisan public-policy and economic think tank, factor in well-being and quality-of-life concerns by considering both positive and negative impacts of various products and services. They also measure more impacts overall (including impacts on elements of “being” and “doing” vs. just “having”). And they evaluate whether various financial expenditures represent a net gain or net loss — not just in economic terms, but also in human, social and ecological ones (see “Sustainable Happiness,” below).

Perhaps it’s time to consider our personal health and well-being in the same sort of broader context — distinguishing productive activities from destructive ones, and figuring the true costs and unintended consequences of our choices into the assessment of how well our lives are working.

To that end, we might begin asking questions like these:

• Where, in our rush to accomplish or enjoy “more” in the short run, are we inadvertently creating the equivalent of garbage dumps and toxic spills (stress overloads, health crises, battered relationships, debt) that will need to be cleaned up later at great (think Superfund) effort and expense?
• Where, in our impatience to garner maximum gains in personal productivity, wealth or achievement in minimum time, are we setting the stage for bailout scenarios down the road? (Consider the sacrifices endured by our families, friends and colleagues when we fall victim to a bad mood, much less a serious illness or disabling health condition.)
• Where, in an attempt to avoid uncertainty, experimentation or change , are we burning through our limited and unrenewable resource of time (staying at jobs that leave us depleted, for example), rather than striving to harness our bottomless stores of purpose-driven enthusiasm (by, say, pursuing careers or civic duties of real meaning)?
• Where are we making short-sighted choices or non-choices (about our health, for example) that sacrifice the resources we need (energy, vitality, clear focus) to make progress and contributions in other areas of our lives?

In addition to these assessments, we can also begin imagining what a better alternative would look like:

• What might be possible if we embraced a different version of the good life — the kind of good life in which the vast majority of our choices both feel good and do good?
• What if we took a systems view of our life , acknowledging how various inputs and outputs play out (for better or worse) over time? What if we fully considered how those around us are affected by our choices now and in the long term?
• What if we embraced more choices that honor our true nature, that gave us more opportunities to use our talents and enthusiasms in the service of a higher purpose?

One has to wonder how many of our health and fitness challenges would evaporate under such conditions — how many compensatory behaviors (overeating, hiding out, numbing out) would simply no longer have a draw.

How many health-sustaining behaviors would become easy and natural choices if each of us were driven by a strong and joyful purpose , and were no longer saddled with the stress and dissatisfaction inherent in the lives we live now?

Think about the cherry-tree effect implicit in such a scenario: each of us getting our needs met, fulfilling our best potential, living at full vitality, and contributing to healthy, vital, sustainable communities in the process.

If it sounds a bit idealistic, that’s probably because it describes an ideal distant enough from our current reality to provoke a certain amount of hopelessness. But that doesn’t mean it’s entirely unrealistic. In fact, it’s a vision that many people are increasingly convinced is the only kind worth pursuing.

Turning the Corner

Maybe it has something to do with how many of our social, economic and ecological systems are showing signs of extreme strain. Maybe it’s how many of us are sick and tired of being sick and tired — or of living in a culture where everyone else seems sick and tired. Maybe it’s the growing realization that no matter how busy and efficient we are, if our efforts don’t feed us in a deep way, then all that output may be more than a little misguided. Whatever the reason, a lot of us are asking: If our rampant productivity doesn’t make us happy, doesn’t allow for calm and creativity, doesn’t give us an opportunity to participate in a meaningful way — then, really, what’s the point?

These days, it seems that more of us are taking a keen interest in seeking out better ways, and seeing the value of extending the lessons of sustainability beyond the natural world and into our own perspectives on what the good life is all about.

In her book MegaTrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism , futurist Patricia Aburdene describes a hopeful collection of social and economic trends shaped by a large and influential subset of the American consuming public. What these 70 million individuals have in common, she explains, are some very specific values-driven behaviors — most of which revolve around seeking a better, deeper, more meaningful and sustainable quality of life (discover the four pillars or meaning at “ How to Build a Meaningful Life “).

[“Conscious Consumers” balance] short-term desires and conveniences with long-term well-being — not just their own, but that of their local and larger communities, and of the planet as a whole.

These “Conscious Consumers,” as Aburdene characterizes them, are more carefully weighing material and economic payoffs against moral and spiritual ones. They are balancing short-term desires and conveniences with long-term well-being — not just their own, but that of their local and larger communities, and of the planet as a whole. They are acting, says Aburdene, out of a sort of “enlightened self-interest,” one that is deeply rooted in concerns about sustainability in all its forms.

“Enlightened self-interest is not altruism,” she explains. “It’s self-interest with a wider view. It asks: If I act in my own self-interest and keep doing so, what are the ramifications of my choices? Which acts — that may look fine right now — will come around and bite me and others one year from now? Ten years? Twenty-five years?”

In other words, Conscious Consumers are not merely consumers, but engaged and concerned individuals who think in terms of lifecycles, who perceive the subtleties and complexities of interconnected systems .

As John Muir famously said: “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Just as the cherry tree is tethered in a complex ecosystem of relationships, so are we.

Facing Reality

When we live in a way that diminishes us or weighs us down — whether as the result of poor physical health and fitness, excess stress and anxiety, or any compromise of our best potential — we inevitably affect countless other people and systems whose well-being relies on our own.

For example, if we don’t have the time and energy to make food for ourselves and our families, we end up eating poorly, which further diminishes our energy, and may also result in our kids having behavior or attention problems at school, undermining the quality of their experience there, and potentially creating problems for others.

As satisfaction and well-being go down, need and consumption go up.

If we skimp on sleep and relaxation in order to “get more done,” we court illness and depression, risking both our own and others’ productivity and happiness in the process and diminishing the creativity with which we approach challenges.

At the individual level, unsustainable choices create strain and misery. At the collective level, they do the same thing, with exponential effect. Because, when not enough of us are living like thriving cherry trees, cycles of scarcity (rather than abundance) ensue. Life gets harder for everyone. As satisfaction and well-being go down, need and consumption go up. Our sense of “enough” becomes distorted.

Taking Full Account

The basic question of sustainability is this: Can you keep doing what you’re doing indefinitely and without ill effect to yourself and the systems on which you depend — or are you (despite short-term rewards you may be enjoying now, or the “someday” relief you’re hoping for) on a likely trajectory to eventual suffering and destruction?

When it comes to the ecology of the planet, this question has become very pointed in recent years. But posed in the context of our personal lives, the question is equally instructive: Are we living like the cherry tree — part of a sustainable and regenerative cycle — or are we sucking up resources, yet still obsessed with what we don’t have? Are we continually generating new energy, vitality, generosity and personal potential , or wasting it?

We can work just so hard and consume just so much before we begin to experience both diminishing personal returns and increasing degenerative costs.

The human reality, in most cases, isn’t quite as pretty as the cherry tree in full bloom. We can work just so hard and consume just so much before we begin to experience both diminishing personal returns and increasing degenerative costs. And when enough of us are in a chronically diminished state of well-being, the effect is a sort of social and moral pollution — the human equivalent of the greenhouse gasses that threaten our entire ecosystem.

Accounting for these soft costs, or even recognizing them as relevant externalities, is not something we’ve been trained to do well. But all that is changing — in part, because many of us are beginning to realize that much of what we’ve been sold in the name of “progress” is now looking like anything but. And, in part, because we’re starting to believe that not only might there be a better way, but that the principles for creating it are staring us right in the face.

By making personal choices that respect the principles of sustainability, we can interrupt the toxic cycles of overconsumption and overexertion. Ultimately, when confronted with the possibility of a better quality of life and more satisfying expression of our potential, the primary question becomes not just can we continue living the way we have been, but perhaps just as important, why would we even want to ?

If the approach we’ve been taking appears likely to make us miserable (and perhaps extinct), then it makes sense to consider our options. How do we want to live for the foreseeable and sustainable future, and what are the building blocks for that future? What would it be like to live in a community where most people were overflowing with vitality and looking for ways to be of service to others?

While no one expert or index or council claims to have all the answers to that question, when it comes to discerning the fundamentals of the good life, nature conveniently provides most of the models we need. It suggests a framework by which we can better understand and apply the principles of sustainability to our own lives. Now it’s up to us to apply them.

Make It Sustainable

Here are some right-now changes you can make to enhance and sustain your personal well-being:

1. Rethink Your Eating.

Look beyond meal-to-meal concerns with weight. Aim to eat consciously and selectively in keeping with the nourishment you want to take in, the energy and personal gifts you want to contribute, and the influence you want to have on the world around you.

To that end, you might start eating less meat, or fewer packaged foods, or you might start eating regularly so that you have enough energy to exercise (and so that your low blood sugar doesn’t negatively affect your mood and everyone around you).

You also might start packing your lunch, suggests money expert Vicki Robin: Not only will you have more control over what and how you eat, but the money you’ll save over the course of a career can amount to a year’s worth of work. “Bringing your lunch saves you a year of your life,” she says.

2. Set a Regular Bedtime

Having a target bedtime can help you get the sleep you need to be positive and productive, and to avoid becoming depleted and depressed. Research confirms that adequate sleep is essential to clear thinking, balanced mood, healthy metabolism, strong immunity, optimal vitality and strong professional performance.

Research also shows that going to bed earlier provides a higher quality of rest than sleeping in, so get your hours at the start of the night. By taking care of yourself in this simple way, you lay the groundwork for all kinds of regenerative (vs. depleting) cycles.

3. Own Your Outcomes

If there are parts of your life you don’t like — parts that feel toxic, frustrating or wasteful to you — be willing to trace the outcomes back to their origins, including your choices around self-care , seeking help, balancing priorities and sticking to your core values.

Also examine the full range of outputs and impacts: What waste or damage is occurring as a result of this area of unresolved challenge? Who else and what else in your life might be paying too-high a price for the scenario in question? If you’re unsure about whether or not a choice or an activity you’re involved in is sustainable, ask yourself the following questions:

• Given the option, would I do or choose this again? Would I do it indefinitely?
• How long can I keep this up, and at what cost — not just to me, but to the other people and systems I care about?
• What have I sacrificed to get here; what will it take for me to continue? Are the rewards worth it, even if the other areas of my life suffer?

Sustainable Happiness

Not all growth and productivity represent progress, particularly if you consider happiness and well-being as part of the equation. The growing gap between our gross domestic product and Genuine Progress Indicator (as represented below) suggests we could be investing our resources with far happier results.

Data source: Redefining Progress, rprogress.org . Chart graphic courtesy of Yes! magazine.

Learn more about the most reliable, sustainable sources of happiness and well-being in the Winter 2009 issue of Yes! magazine, available at www.yesmagazine.org .

Learning From Nature

What can we learn from ecological sustainability about the best ways to balance and sustain our own lives? Here are a few key lessons:

• Everything is in relationship with everything else. So overdrawing or overproducing in one area tends to negatively affect other areas. An excessive focus on work can undermine your relationship with your partner or kids. Diminished physical vitality or low mood can affect the quality of your work and service to others.
• What comes around goes around. Trying to “cheat” or “skimp” or “get away with something” in the short term generally doesn’t work because the true costs of cheating eventually become painfully obvious. And very often the “cleanup” costs more and takes longer than it would have to simply do the right thing in the first place.
• Waste not, want not. Unpleasant accumulations or unsustainable drains represent opportunities for improvement and reinvention. Nature’s models of nutrient cycling show us that what looks like waste can become food for a process we simply haven’t engaged yet: Anxiety may be nervous energy that needs to be burned off, or a nudge to do relaxation and self-inquiry exercises that will churn up new insights and ideas. Excess fat may be fuel for enjoyable activities we’ve resisted doing or haven’t yet discovered — or a clue that we’re hungry for something other than food. The clutter in our homes may represent resources that we haven’t gotten around to sharing. Look for ways to put waste and excess to work, and you may discover all kinds of “nutrients” just looking for attention. (See “ The Emotional Toll of Clutter “.)

The Sustainable Self

Connie Grauds, RPh, is a pharmacist who combines her Western medical training with shamanic teachings, and in her view, we get caught in wearying patterns primarily because of fear . “Energy-depleting thoughts and feelings underlie energy-depleting habits,” Grauds writes in her book  The Energy Prescription , cowritten with Doug Childers. She says that we often burn ourselves out because we’re unconsciously afraid of what will happen if we don’t.

Grauds uses the shamanic term “susto” to describe our anxious response to external situations we can’t control — the traffic jam, the work deadline, the pressure to buy stuff we don’t really need. “Susto” triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, which encourages short-term, unconscious reactions to stress. When we shift to a more internal focus, tuning in to our body’s physical and emotional signals more reflectively, we act from what Grauds calls our “sustainable self.” She says the sustainable self can be accessed anytime with a simple four-step process:

• Take a deep breath ;
• Feel your body;
• Notice your thoughts, and then;
• Recognize that you are connected to a larger network of energy .

“A sustainable self recognizes and embraces its interdependent relationship to life,” she says, explaining that when we get our energy from controlling external circumstances we’re bound to collapse eventually, but when we’re connected to our internal reserves, we can be much more effective. “By consistently doing things that replenish us and not doing things that needlessly deplete us,” Grauds writes, “we access and conduct the energy we need to make and sustain positive changes and function at peak levels.”

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Essay on Environment for Students and Children

500+ words essay on environment.

Essay on Environment – All living things that live on this earth comes under the environment. Whether they live on land or water they are part of the environment. The environment also includes air, water, sunlight, plants, animals, etc.

Moreover, the earth is considered the only planet in the universe that supports life. The environment can be understood as a blanket that keeps life on the planet sage and sound.

Importance of Environment

We truly cannot understand the real worth of the environment. But we can estimate some of its importance that can help us understand its importance. It plays a vital role in keeping living things healthy in the environment.

Likewise, it maintains the ecological balance that will keep check of life on earth. It provides food, shelter, air, and fulfills all the human needs whether big or small.

Moreover, the entire life support of humans depends wholly on the environmental factors. In addition, it also helps in maintaining various life cycles on earth.

Most importantly, our environment is the source of natural beauty and is necessary for maintaining physical and mental health.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Benefits of the Environment

The environment gives us countless benefits that we can’t repay our entire life. As they are connected with the forest, trees, animals, water, and air. The forest and trees filter the air and absorb harmful gases. Plants purify water, reduce the chances of flood maintain natural balance and many others.

Moreover, the environment keeps a close check on the environment and its functioning, It regulates the vital systems that are essential for the ecosystem. Besides, it maintains the culture and quality of life on earth.

The environment regulates various natural cycles that happen daily. These cycles help in maintaining the natural balance between living things and the environment. Disturbance of these things can ultimately affect the life cycle of humans and other living beings.

The environment has helped us and other living beings to flourish and grow from thousands of years. The environment provides us fertile land, water, air, livestock and many essential things for survival.

Cause of Environmental Degradation

Human activities are the major cause of environmental degradation because most of the activities humans do harm the environment in some way. The activities of humans that causes environmental degradation is pollution, defective environmental policies, chemicals, greenhouse gases, global warming, ozone depletion, etc.

All these affect the environment badly. Besides, these the overuse of natural resources will create a situation in the future there will be no resources for consumption. And the most basic necessity of living air will get so polluted that humans have to use bottled oxygen for breathing.

Above all, increasing human activity is exerting more pressure on the surface of the earth which is causing many disasters in an unnatural form. Also, we are using the natural resources at a pace that within a few years they will vanish from the earth. To conclude, we can say that it is the environment that is keeping us alive. Without the blanket of environment, we won’t be able to survive.

Moreover, the environment’s contribution to life cannot be repaid. Besides, still what the environment has done for us, in return we only have damaged and degraded it.

FAQs about Essay on Environment

Q.1 What is the true meaning of the environment?

A.1 The ecosystem that includes all the plants, animals, birds, reptiles, insects, water bodies, fishes, human beings, trees, microorganisms and many more are part of the environment. Besides, all these constitute the environment.

Q.2 What is the three types of the environment?

A.2 The three types of environment includes the physical, social, and cultural environment. Besides, various scientists have defined different types and numbers of environment.

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Eco Friendly Paper - All you need to know

Whether it’s the cereal boxes in the kitchen or the book on your nightstand, paper products are present everywhere. We also buy many products that have paper packaging. Whereas paper comes from trees, there are many repercussions of paper production. 

From the source down to the manufacturing process, traditional paper processing contributes to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, traditional paper production usually requires tons of freshwater. To mitigate these effects, eco-friendly paper is becoming more popular. It offers many benefits including a lower carbon footprint, sustainability, and responsible sourcing. 

Environmental Effects of Traditional Paper

We can find paper in our homes, office, and most places we might stop to take a note. From tag labels and gift cards to textbooks and journals, there’s no denying the presence of this product. As much as we’ve come to rely on paper, we also need to consider the sustainability factor. The paper industry contributes to environmental issues.

Our world loses around four billion trees every year due to paper production 2 . Paper manufacturers have these trees cut down to produce wood pulp for paper products. This leads to deforestation, a global threat to our environment and world. Since traditional paper typically comes from virgin wood pulp and fibers, they come from freshly cut trees. Trees and forests serve as carbon sinks, and when their numbers reduce, it affects the ecosystem. This also poses a threat to wildlife habitats. 

Related: Deforestation Facts & Statistics

Another major challenge of traditional paper sourcing and production is the amount of water the industry uses. A single A4 sheet can use up to 20 liters of water 4 . Using recovered paper can save up to 40% of the water footprint 1 . Furthermore, the production process contributes significantly to waste and pollution. The synthetic and toxic chemicals the industry uses to dye papers sometimes seep into waterways. This pollutes water bodies such as rivers and lakes.  

When we examine the lifecycle of paper and packaging, we see why we need eco-friendly alternatives. Apart from felling trees, significant energy, water use, and pollution, there’s also the threat of greenhouse gasses. The production process to produce paper products such as packaging and books require significant energy use and chemicals. As a result, this contributes to greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming and climate change. 

Eco-Friendly Paper - What to Look for

Over the years, people have developed alternatives to traditional paper products and materials—the two main kinds of eco-friendly paper are FSC Certified papers and recycled paper products.  These help to curb the negative impact of standard paper manufacturing.

Furthermore, there has also been a rise in tree-free papers. This alternative uses materials such as bamboo , jute, and hemp . Ultimately, the goal of recycling, responsible sourcing, and tree-free options is to present consumers with a choice of greener, eco-friendly paper products. 

FSC Certified Paper

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification ensures responsibility in wood sourcing for paper. FSC puts regulations in place to protect our forests which both environmental and social benefits.

Apart from deforestation’s threat to wildlife, sourcing paper also affects local communities that rely on the forests for survival. Around 200 million indigenous people directly depend on forests for their survival 3 . Forests also provide fuel, food, medicine, and a means of livelihood.

FSC is one of the prominent standards and logos that customers use to measure the green nature of paper. FSC Certified products have less impact on the environment. These come from forests that are sustainably managed or sometimes from post-consumer waste. Any business that provides papers that carry the FSC Certified logo means that they are environmentally and socially responsible. With FSC paper, there are three certifications:

This label indicates that these papers or materials contain wood sourced from FSC Certified forests. 

FSC Recycled 

The materials in this type of paper are reclaimed or reused materials. This means that they come from either post-consumer or pre-consumer waste. Recycling helps to reduce the pressure and effect of sourcing virgin materials. 

FSC Mix means that the product is made up of wood from FSC certified or controlled forests and/or recycled materials. 

Companies that Use FSC Paper

The Paper Mill Store

This business offers sustainable paper products that serve various uses, whether for office paper or home use. It offers FSC Certified sustainable paper in various finishes, sizes, and colors. The business also provides envelopes, notecards, greeting cards, and stationery. 

Big Sky Packaging

This business provides eco-friendly and creative packaging solutions to other companies. The company’s professional team can create custom packaging for your business or brand. Their FSC packaging creates eco-friendly, sustainable paper-based solutions. 

Related: Eco-Friendly Packaging - 15 More Sustainable Packaging Options

Recycled Paper

Using post-consumer materials for paper is becoming one of the main alternatives to traditional paper. This is also a type of tree-free paper manufacturing since it doesn’t require cutting down fresh trees.

Recycling post-consumer materials are one of the ways to reduce the environmental impact of tree felling. Also, using recycled paper helps to prevent paper waste. More and more eco-conscious brands are using recycled paper as packaging for their products. This serves as part of the movement toward green processes.

However, recycled paper can’t serve as the main green solution. The more times you recycle paper, the more the quality deteriorates. For example, some publications reveal that you can recycle paper fiber between five to seven times. Afterward, it begins to lose its ability to make quality new products. This is why more brands are now mixing recycled paper with sustainably sourced virgin wood pulp.

Related: Check out the options we have compiled to choose from eco-friendly business cards , eco-friendly journals , and diaries - many made from recycled paper. You'll also find some interesting biodegradable balloon alternatives a click away for celebrations with less plastic waste.

How Recycled Paper is Made

In many residential and office areas, you’ll notice that recycle bins are in place. A recycling program presents one of the green solutions to reduce paper waste in the office and unsustainable paper manufacturing. 

First, people collate the papers from the bins. Then, they combine them in containers. Afterward, they take these to the recycling plants, where the workers separate the paper types. This aids processing.

To remove glues and inks, the workers wash the paper, which then forms a slurry. They treat the slurry, convert it into thin sheets and leave it to dry. At this point, manufacturers can convert the recycled paper into the desired new products. Examples of new uses include tissues, printing paper, cardboard, and holiday cards. 

You’ll also find recycled paper making up a more significant percentage of cardboard box packaging. Many zero waste products and brands that champion plastic-free packaging also use recycled paper. 

Furthermore, we can’t forget one of our more wasteful uses of paper discarded with each toilet flush. Eco-friendly toilet paper uses recycled materials to good effect alongside sustainable paper alternatives such as bamboo. Check out our guide to the best eco friendly toilet paper for a deeper dive. 

Companies that Use Recycled Paper 

New leaf paper.

This company uses 100% post-consumer recycled fiber for manufacturing paper products. According to the brand, it uses up to 80% less water compared with regular papers. It offers a range of styles of varying brightness, opacity, and finishing. You can either buy individual reams or buy in bulk as cartons. 

The Boise ASPEN line offers a premium range of recycled papers. The brand gives you the option to choose from 30%, 50%, or 100% recycled content. Their various offerings are ideal for multiple uses. Also, this line of paper is acid-free. 

Alternative Materials 

Over the years, tree-free eco-friendly paper has been used as another sustainable swap for wood pulp. Some of these treeless alternatives include kenaf, sugarcane bagasse, hemp, linen, bamboo, and jute. Apart from writing papers, brands also make these into goods like paper towels, tissues, and paper straws.  

Companies that Use Tree-Free Alternatives

Greenfield paper company.

Greenfield offers hemp and seed paper products while combining them with post-consumer pulp. These include custom packages, promotional items, invitation cards, journals, and envelopes. The company also presents a line of handmade papers by upcycling alternative fibers. It doesn’t use toxic dyes or bleaches as a part of its sustainable practices. Instead, for dyeing, it uses natural earth pigments as a green option. 

Bluecat Paper

Bluecat presents you with sustainable, handmade, and tree-free paper. It uses materials like linen, coffee husk, corn husk, cotton, and flax. Bluecat’s offerings include sketchbooks, assorted paper, and journals. 

How Eco-Friendly Paper Helps the Environment 

Protects the forests.

Every year, manufacturers cut down millions of trees to produce paper goods. Many of these come from areas that aren’t sustainably managed. As a result, the planet loses its vital source of oxygen and carbon sinks. The consequence of this is that more carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Wildlife species are also at risk because of this. Eco-friendly alternatives either come from sustainably managed forests or repurposing existing goods. FSC goods ensure that the origin is sustainable and ethical. 

Prevents Waste

Recycling plays an essential role in preventing waste paper from ending up in landfills. Landfill sites pose a major environmental problem globally. Through eco-conscious processes, recycled paper can mitigate this issue.  

Preserves Natural Resources

From freshly cut trees to water usage, producing virgin paper can be resource-intensive. During the manufacturing procedures, a great amount of water and energy is needed. The switch to eco-friendly options helps to save not only trees but water as well. These natural elements are crucial to human life and survival. It also preserves these for the indigenous communities that directly depend on them for survival.

Choose Eco-Friendly Paper

Many people are unaware of the process behind a single paper product. However, as sustainable and eco-friendly practices become the talk of the day, people are becoming more aware.

Recycling paper from post-consumer waste using FSC-certified paper and tree-free alternatives helps to reduce over-dependence on nature’s supplies. Several businesses and brands are presenting eco-friendly paper alternatives. Through their paper stock and packaging, they’re presenting green options.

Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.

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Looking toward the year ahead, people might want to make some resolutions that support the environment. But what actions actually make a difference? And what is a reasonable goal to attain? We asked those questions to some of Stanford’s sustainability experts, who very much believe that we can each contribute to a better world through relatively simple acts.

“Our individual choices matter for ourselves, our communities, and our planet,” said Desiree LaBeaud , professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine . “By getting aligned with our deep values and intentionally making sustainable choices in our behavior, we simultaneously improve our own well-being and serve as a role model for others around us.”

Alongside LaBeaud, the following tips are courtesy of Nicole Ardoin , the Emmett Family Faculty Scholar and an associate professor of Environmental Behavioral Sciences in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability (SDSS); Alison Bowers, senior research associate in the Ardoin Social Ecology Lab ; Barbara Erny , adjunct clinical associate professor of allergy and immunology at Stanford Medicine; and Ellen Oh, director of interdisciplinary arts programs in the Office of the Vice President for the Arts.

1. Reduce, reuse, then recycle

The three Rs are actually in order of best practice. “People should try to focus more on reducing and reusing, rather than recycling,” advised Ardoin, citing a recent Nature Sustainability article about people’s bias toward recycling.

LaBeaud, for her part, reuses hard-to-avoid plastics – like those that bread and tortillas are sold in – to separate and carry produce rather than using the store’s plastic produce bags.

Recognizing the growing understanding of the impact of clothing waste on the environment, Bowers recommends shopping at secondhand or thrift stores.

2. Turn waste into art

“Just like Denning Visiting Artist Jean Shin , recycle/reuse cast-off materials to make art projects,” said Oh. Shin worked with LaBeaud’s nonprofit, HERI in Kenya and across Stanford, including LaBeaud’s lab, to make large-scale sculptures from plastic waste. Sea Change was unveiled on Earth Day 2023 in the center of Diani-Ukunda in south coastal Kenya, and Plastic Planet was presented in May 2023 in the lobby of the Stanford School of Medicine’s Biomedical Innovations Building.

Not only does this type of art keep materials from landfill, it can also help people reflect on and elevate sustainability topics. For more on the intersection of art and the environment, catch up on this discussion with artists Kim Anno and Gao Ling on art as a tool for environmental justice , which happened at Stanford’s O’Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm in spring.

3. Flex your power

Stanford research encourages electric vehicle (EV) users to charge their EVs in the daytime and at work. In places with solar and wind power, there tends to be excess electricity available during the day. And charging at work can avoid overwhelming local, neighborhood grids. “We were able to show that, with less home charging and more daytime charging, the Western U.S. would need less generating capacity and storage, and it would not waste as much solar and wind power,” said lead author Siobhan Powell, mechanical engineering PhD ’22, in a press release about the work.

Even without an EV, the same idea applies to household appliances. “I save energy by washing dishes and clothes in the daytime when energy needs are less and power is less expensive,” said LaBeaud.

4. Eat more plants

Recent Stanford research on food-related carbon footprints found that a ground beef hamburger patty has a carbon footprint that’s eight to 10 times higher than a chicken patty and around 20 times higher than a vegetarian patty. To reduce meat consumption, Erny recommends starting by replacing beef once a week with a plant-based protein source, shrinking your portions of meat, adding legumes and nuts to your meals, and experimenting with plant-forward culturally traditional recipes.

Additionally, a new Stanford Medicine-led trial of identical twins comparing vegan and omnivore diets found that a vegan diet improves overall cardiovascular health.

5. Cut down on food waste

“There is never enough emphasis on food, which is responsible for 37% of U.S. greenhouse emissions,” said Erny. She added that 40% of edible food in the U.S. is wasted, and the majority of that is food wasted by consumers. Erny’s tips to address this include bringing your own carry-out container to restaurants, planning meals to avoid over buying, getting creative with leftovers, and being sure to compost food scraps.

6. Get in touch with nature – even if you’re indoors

“Spending time in nature-rich settings can help build a sense of place, which research indicates can support a range of pro-environmental behavior,” said Ardoin. “And time in nature has a host of personal benefits, such as improved physical and mental health,” offered Bowers. A 2022 study , which Ardoin co-authored, suggests that even the presence of natural materials – like wood furniture instead of plastic – and of a window can help with stress reduction.

You don’t need to travel far to achieve these benefits, Ardoin and Bowers added, because they can accrue from visiting urban nature settings such as pocket parks, as well as interacting with street trees and even indoor plants.

7. Take the train

If you’re hesitant about trying out train travel, take inspiration from the journey of sustainability scientist Kim Nicholas , environment and resources (E-IPER) PhD ’09 and former visiting scholar at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. In lieu of a traditional wedding, she planned a cross-continent train trip with her husband-to-be. “If you’re someone who flies and drives frequently, especially long distances, your carbon footprint is materially important to addressing the climate crisis,” said Nicholas. She recommends reducing overconsumption, particularly of transport, which, she explained “for the wealthy, and especially the top 1%, is about 60% of our total footprint.”

8. Use your voice

Discuss your sustainability goals and concerns with friends, neighbors, and even local leadership. “Talking about sustainability issues within your social networks and seeking out social connections based on a shared interest in sustainability can be an important step toward making a difference,” said Ardoin. In this vein, working with local parks and schools, Ardoin’s Social Ecology Lab developed the Dear Planet Earth project, an initiative designed to encourage reflection on our place in a changing planet and inspire action.

Ardoin noted that leveraging collective action is key to effectively addressing a range of sustainability challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss, among others.

Recognizing that these topics can be hard to broach, Erny offered the following advice: “Talk about climate change as it relates to human health. It is often the most accepted way of communicating about the issue.”

Many of our experts also stressed the importance of voting with the environment in mind. “Consider candidates’ stances on sustainability and environmental issues when voting,” suggested Bowers.

“All changes start with one spark, one person doing the right thing. It is how societies advance themselves,” said LaBeaud. She also offered the following quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Ardoin is also a senior fellow at Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and an affiliate at the Precourt Institute for Energy. Erny is also a faculty fellow at the Center for Innovation in Global Health (CIGH) . LaBeaud is also a senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, a faculty fellow at CIGH, and a member of Stanford Bio-X and the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) .

Eco-Conscious Habits Students Should Embrace

Mark Bradford

Did you know that, on average, a single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill? That's right – the seemingly innocuous plastic bag you use for a few minutes at the store can linger in the environment for centuries, causing harm to wildlife and ecosystems along the way. It's a startling reminder of the long-lasting consequences of our daily choices and the urgent need to adopt eco friendly habits. In a world where environmental concerns have become increasingly pressing, it's essential for students to embrace these habits. From reducing plastic waste to choosing sustainable products, the power of small changes cannot be underestimated.

Short Description

In this article, experts at our online essay writing services will explore a range of topics, including the significance of green choices, understanding and selecting sustainable products, the impact of earth-friendly packaging materials, a spotlight on sustainable clothing and brands, the rise of green cars, and practical everyday eco friendly habits tailored specifically for students. Get ready to embrace a more environmentally-conscious lifestyle and make a positive impact on our planet!

The Growing Importance of Eco-Conscious Living

In a rapidly changing world, eco-conscious living has emerged as a fundamental concept that transcends individual lifestyle choices and extends to global sustainability efforts. The environmental challenges we face today, such as climate change, habitat loss, and resource depletion, have heightened the importance of adopting eco-conscious habits. Understanding the eco friendly meaning, or the significance of environmentally responsible choices, is essential in this context.

The awareness of these challenges has spread widely in recent years, thanks to scientific research, media coverage, and the tireless efforts of environmental activists. As a result, individuals and communities around the globe are recognizing the critical role they play in preserving our planet for future generations.

In universities and among students, eco-conscious living is on the rise as well. Young individuals are often at the forefront of environmental movements, advocating for change and pushing for sustainable practices within their institutions. This generation's collective voice and actions are helping to shape a more environmentally responsible future.

Understanding Eco-Friendly Products

Eco friendly products are the unsung heroes of a sustainable lifestyle. They're the silent guardians that help reduce our impact on the environment. But what exactly are they?

Sustainable or green products are designed with one main goal: to be kinder to the environment. They aim to minimize the harm caused by their production, use, and disposal. This means they're manufactured in ways that use fewer resources, produce less pollution, and generate less waste.

For example, eco-friendly products may incorporate energy-efficient technologies, recyclable materials, or biodegradable components. So, think of energy-efficient light bulbs, organic cotton clothing, or biodegradable cleaning products. These are all examples of eco-friendly products that contribute positively to the environment.

Why does it matter? Well, conventional products, while often cheaper and more convenient, can take a toll on the planet. They can be resource-hungry, polluting, and sometimes even toxic. That plastic water bottle you used for a few sips? It might outlive you in a landfill. But by choosing eco-friendly alternatives, you're making a statement and a positive impact.

This way, you also help reduce the demand for non-renewable resources, lower pollution levels, and essentially say, 'We care about our planet.' It's not just about the environment; it's about sending a powerful message to manufacturers and encouraging them to produce more eco-friendly options.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

Cleaning is an essential part of maintaining a healthy living environment, but it shouldn't come at the cost of harming the planet. Traditional cleaning products often contain a potent mix of toxic chemicals that can be detrimental to both human health and the environment. Ammonia, chlorine, and phosphates are just a few examples of compounds that can contribute to air pollution, water contamination, and respiratory issues. The rise of eco-friendly cleaning products is a response to these concerns.

Eco-conscious cleaning products are distinguished by several key characteristics:

• Biodegradable and Non-Toxic : These products prioritize biodegradable and non-toxic ingredients that don't harm aquatic life or pollute water sources.
• Chemical Transparency : They are upfront about the ingredients they use, fostering consumer trust and ensuring transparency in their formulations.
• Reduced Packaging Waste : Many eco-friendly brands focus on minimalistic, recyclable, or refillable packaging, reducing waste generation.
• Minimal Environmental Impact : Some brands have committed to eco-conscious production practices, striving for lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions.
• Efficiency : Eco-friendly cleaning products are not only green but also effective at their primary task: cleaning.

The shift to eco friendly cleaning products offers numerous benefits for the environment and your health:

• Reduced Indoor Air Pollution : Traditional cleaning products can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), contributing to indoor air pollution. Eco-conscious alternatives emit fewer or no harmful VOCs, ensuring cleaner indoor air.
• Lower Water Contamination : Phosphates in traditional cleaning products can end up in water bodies, causing harmful algal blooms. Green options are phosphate-free, reducing water pollution.
• Healthier Living Spaces : Sustainable cleaning products, including eco friendly laundry detergents, not only preserve the environment but also create safer, healthier living environments for you and your family.
• Sustainable Packaging : Brands that employ sustainable packaging materials and practices ensure that their commitment to sustainability extends beyond the product itself.

Sustainable Packaging Materials

The next piece of the eco-friendly puzzle revolves around what holds our products - packaging. Sustainable packaging materials are at the forefront of efforts to reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact of our daily purchases. You've probably noticed that a considerable amount of waste generated in your household comes from packaging. Plastic, in particular, is notorious for its contribution to the planet's plastic pollution problem. However, sustainable packaging materials aim to change this narrative.

Types of Eco Friendly Packaging Materials

• Recycled Materials : Using materials like recycled paper, cardboard, or glass for packaging not only reduces the demand for new resources but also decreases waste in landfills.
• Biodegradable Materials : Packaging made from biodegradable materials like cornstarch or sugarcane can naturally break down without harming the environment.
• Minimalist Design : Reducing the amount of packaging used is another eco-friendly approach. It's all about simplifying packaging without compromising product protection.
• Reusable Packaging : Imagine a world where your package isn't just a one-time deal. Reusable packaging, such as eco friendly bags, is a sustainable option that encourages customers to return and reuse packaging, reducing waste.
• Eco-Friendly Inks and Dyes : The ink and dyes used for labeling and branding can also be eco-conscious. They are formulated to have less environmental impact.
• Plant-Based Plastics : Packaging made from plant-based plastics, like PLA (polylactic acid), offers a renewable alternative to traditional petrochemical plastics.

Eco friendly packaging matters because traditional packaging contributes significantly to pollution and resource depletion. It's a part of the consumer journey where eco-conscious choices can make a real difference. Sustainable packaging aligns with the ethos of eco-conscious living, where every small choice counts toward a larger, more sustainable goal.

Eco-Friendly Clothing and Brands

Your wardrobe is a reflection of your style, but it's also a canvas for green choices. Enter eco friendly clothing brands, which are transforming the fashion industry for the better. The fashion industry, notorious for its environmental and ethical concerns, is experiencing a revolution. Eco friendly clothing is at the forefront of this shift. These garments are designed with sustainability in mind, from their raw materials to their manufacturing processes. So, what Makes Clothing Sustainable?

• Sustainable Materials : The materials used are eco-conscious, such as organic cotton, hemp, or bamboo. These materials often require less water and fewer pesticides during cultivation.
• Ethical Labor Practices : Eco-friendly brands prioritize fair wages and safe working conditions for the laborers involved in the clothing's production.
• Minimal Waste : Sustainable fashion aims to minimize waste through responsible design and pattern-making.
• Low-Impact Dyes : Eco-friendly clothing is often dyed using low-impact or natural dyes, which are gentler on the environment.
• Transparency : Eco-conscious brands are open about their production processes and sourcing, allowing consumers to make informed choices.
• Longevity : Eco-friendly clothing is built to last, discouraging disposable fashion trends.

Numerous sustainable clothing brands are making waves in the industry, offering consumers the opportunity to dress stylishly and sustainably. Brands like Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, and Stella McCartney are just a few examples of those leading the charge toward more responsible fashion.

By supporting these brands, you not only look good but also feel good about your choices. You're contributing to a shift in the fashion industry's approach, where sustainability is no longer a niche concern but a fundamental value.

The Rise of Eco-Friendly Cars

The automotive industry is undergoing a green transformation, with eco-friendly cars emerging as a vital solution to mitigate the environmental impact of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. The conventional internal combustion engine has long been a staple in the automotive world. However, the detrimental effects of fossil fuel consumption, such as greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, have driven the urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives.

Types of Eco Friendly Cars

• Electric Vehicles (EVs) : EVs run solely on electricity, producing zero tailpipe emissions. They are charged through electric outlets or charging stations and have become increasingly popular due to advancements in battery technology.
• Hybrid Vehicles : Hybrids combine internal combustion engines with electric propulsion. They can run on gasoline or switch to electric mode, offering improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
• Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) : PHEVs are similar to hybrids but can also be charged through electric outlets. This dual-power system allows for longer all-electric driving ranges and further reductions in emissions.
• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles : These vehicles use hydrogen gas to produce electricity, emitting only water vapor as a byproduct. While less common, they represent an eco-friendly option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The rise of eco-friendly cars is not merely a trend; it's a response to the environmental challenges that require immediate action. These vehicles offer several advantages:

• Reduced Carbon Footprint : Eco-friendly cars produce fewer or no tailpipe emissions, significantly reducing their contribution to global warming and air pollution.
• Energy Efficiency : Electric and hybrid vehicles are more energy-efficient, making the most of their power sources and offering substantial savings on fuel costs. So, by driving eco-friendly cars, you'll save money while conserving the planet.
• Sustainability : The use of alternative fuels and materials in eco-friendly cars aligns with the principles of sustainability, reducing the demand for fossil fuels and non-renewable resources.
• Innovative Technology : The development of eco-friendly cars has led to advancements in automotive technology, such as regenerative braking, improved battery technology, and smart charging systems.
• Government Incentives : Many governments worldwide offer incentives, tax credits, and rebates to encourage the adoption of eco-friendly vehicles, making them a more economical choice for consumers.

Everyday Eco-Friendly Habits for Students

As students, your daily routines offer numerous opportunities to practice eco-friendly living. These small yet impactful habits can contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle while you pursue your education. Here are some green living tips tailored specifically for students:

1. Sustainable Transportation

• Carpooling and Public Transit : Share rides with classmates or use public transportation to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and lower emissions.
• Cycling or Walking : Opt for a bicycle or your own two feet when commuting to campus. It's not only eco-friendly but also great for your health.
• Eco-Friendly Cars : If you have access to a car, consider using eco-friendly or fuel-efficient vehicles.

2. Smart Energy Use

• Turn Off Lights and Electronics : Be vigilant about turning off lights, computers, and other electronic devices when not in use.
• Use Energy-Efficient Appliances : If possible, invest in energy-efficient appliances for your dorm or apartment.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Recycling Bins : Ensure you have access to recycling bins in your living space and on campus. Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum, and remember, avoiding plastic cups when possible can further minimize waste.
• Reusable Water Bottles and Containers : Choose reusable water bottles and food containers to reduce single-use plastic waste.
• Secondhand Shopping : Buy used textbooks, furniture, and clothing when possible to reduce your environmental footprint.

4. Paperless Practices

• Digital Notes and Assignments : Whenever possible, use digital platforms for note-taking and submitting assignments, and explore the potential of virtual reality applications in education to make your studies more environmentally friendly.
• E-books and Online Resources : Access e-books and online academic resources to minimize the need for printed materials.

5. Sustainable Eating Habits

• Meatless Meals : Consider incorporating meatless or plant-based meals into your diet to reduce your carbon footprint.
• Local and Organic Food : Support local and organic food options to lower the environmental impact of your food choices.
• Reusable Utensils and Containers : Carry reusable cutlery, food containers, and a coffee mug to reduce disposable plastic waste.

6. Water Conservation

• Shorter Showers : Take shorter showers to save water. A timer or a favorite song can help keep track of time.
• Fix Leaks : Report and repair leaks in faucets or toilets to prevent water wastage.

7. Eco-Friendly Studying

• Double-Sided Printing : When printing is necessary, use double-sided printing to save paper.
• Digital Study Materials : Utilize digital textbooks and study materials to reduce the need for printed materials.

8. Support Campus Sustainability Initiatives

• Engage in Green Clubs : Join or support student-led environmental clubs or initiatives on campus.
• Attend Sustainability Events : Attend workshops, seminars, and events related to sustainability and environmental conservation.

Final Words

Remember, these everyday eco friendly habits, including using natural resources efficiently and opting for reusable bags, aren't just for the environment; they can also lead to cost savings and a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. By incorporating these practices into your student life, you're not only furthering your education but also making a positive impact on the world, one step at a time. And don't forget to save energy when

Mark Bradford , a passionate and talented artist, utilizes his innovative spirit to support academic pursuits. In partnering with EssayHub, he leverages his artistic insights to assist students as a professional essay writer, helping them navigate and complete their academic assignments at every level of difficulty.

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Essay on How to Be Eco Friendly

Students are often asked to write an essay on How to Be Eco Friendly in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on How to Be Eco Friendly

Understanding eco-friendliness.

Eco-friendliness means living with intent, focusing on not harming the environment. It’s about making choices that help the planet.

Reducing, Reusing, Recycling

The 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – are important. Reduce waste, reuse items, and recycle materials to prevent pollution.

Conserving Water and Energy

Save water by turning off taps. Save energy by switching off lights when not needed. These small steps make a big difference.

Green Transportation

Walking, cycling, or using public transport reduces carbon emissions. It’s a healthy and eco-friendly choice.

Eco-friendly Products

250 words essay on how to be eco friendly.

Eco-friendliness is the consideration of the environmental impact of our actions. As we face unprecedented environmental challenges, adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle has become crucial. This involves conscious efforts to reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote sustainability.

Adopting Sustainable Consumption

One way to be eco-friendly is by embracing sustainable consumption. This involves purchasing products that are sustainably produced and have minimal environmental impact. For instance, buying locally produced goods reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Additionally, opting for products with less packaging can significantly reduce waste.

Energy Conservation

Energy conservation is another important aspect of eco-friendliness. By using energy-efficient appliances and reducing energy consumption, we can decrease our carbon footprint. Simple actions like turning off lights when not in use, using natural light, and using renewable energy sources can make a significant difference.

Waste Management

Effective waste management is key to being eco-friendly. This involves reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. Composting organic waste can reduce landfill waste and create nutrient-rich soil for gardening. Recycling materials like paper, plastic, and glass can conserve resources and reduce pollution.

Choosing green transportation options can significantly reduce our environmental impact. Cycling, walking, carpooling, or using public transport can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by personal vehicles.

500 Words Essay on How to Be Eco Friendly

Introduction.

The escalating environmental crisis has made it imperative for every individual to adopt eco-friendly habits. Being eco-friendly or environmentally friendly is about making conscious choices that reduce, recycle and reuse materials in our daily lives. This essay explores the steps we can take to become more eco-friendly.

Eco-friendliness begins with understanding the environmental impact of our actions. It involves recognizing the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of preserving natural resources. The concept is deeply rooted in sustainability – the idea that we must meet our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Reducing Consumption

Reusing and recycling.

Reusing and recycling are vital components of an eco-friendly lifestyle. Instead of discarding items after a single use, we can find ways to repurpose them. For instance, glass jars can be used for storage, and old clothes can be transformed into rags. Recycling is another crucial step, as it helps to reduce the demand for new materials, thus saving energy and preventing pollution.

Supporting Sustainable Practices

Supporting businesses that prioritize sustainability is another way to be eco-friendly. Many companies are now adopting eco-friendly practices, such as using renewable energy sources, minimizing waste, and sourcing materials responsibly. By choosing to buy from these companies, we can promote sustainability in the marketplace.

In conclusion, being eco-friendly is not only about protecting the environment but also about creating a sustainable future for all. It requires us to make conscious choices in our daily lives, from the products we buy to the food we eat. While it may seem challenging at first, the benefits of an eco-friendly lifestyle extend beyond the individual to the entire planet. By adopting these practices, we can make a significant contribution to the preservation of our environment and the wellbeing of future generations.

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Sustainable Development Essay

500+ words essay on sustainable development.

Sustainable development is a central concept. It is a way of understanding the world and a method for solving global problems. The world population continues to rise rapidly. This increasing population needs basic essential things for their survival such as food, safe water, health care and shelter. This is where the concept of sustainable development comes into play. Sustainable development means meeting the needs of people without compromising the ability of future generations. In this essay on sustainable development, students will understand what sustainable development means and how we can practise sustainable development. Students can also access the list of CBSE essay topics to practise more essays.

What Does Sustainable Development Means?

The term “Sustainable Development” is defined as the development that meets the needs of the present generation without excessive use or abuse of natural resources so that they can be preserved for the next generation. There are three aims of sustainable development; first, the “Economic” which will help to attain balanced growth, second, the “Environment”, to preserve the ecosystem, and third, “Society” which will guarantee equal access to resources to all human beings. The key principle of sustainable development is the integration of environmental, social, and economic concerns into all aspects of decision-making.

Need for Sustainable Development?

There are several challenges that need attention in the arena of economic development and environmental depletion. Hence the idea of sustainable development is essential to address these issues. The need for sustainable development arises to curb or prevent environmental degradation. It will check the overexploitation and wastage of natural resources. It will help in finding alternative sources to regenerate renewable energy resources. It ensures a safer human life and a safer future for the next generation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need to keep sustainable development at the very core of any development strategy. The pandemic has challenged the health infrastructure, adversely impacted livelihoods and exacerbated the inequality in the food and nutritional availability in the country. The immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled the country to focus on sustainable development. In these difficult times, several reform measures have been taken by the Government. The State Governments also responded with several measures to support those affected by the pandemic through various initiatives and reliefs to fight against this pandemic.

How to Practise Sustainable Development?

The concept of sustainable development was born to address the growing and changing environmental challenges that our planet is facing. In order to do this, awareness must be spread among the people with the help of many campaigns and social activities. People can adopt a sustainable lifestyle by taking care of a few things such as switching off the lights when not in use; thus, they save electricity. People must use public transport as it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. They should save water and not waste food. They build a habit of using eco-friendly products. They should minimise waste generation by adapting to the principle of the 4 R’s which stands for refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle.

The concept of sustainable development must be included in the education system so that students get aware of it and start practising a sustainable lifestyle. With the help of empowered youth and local communities, many educational institutions should be opened to educate people about sustainable development. Thus, adapting to a sustainable lifestyle will help to save our Earth for future generations. Moreover, the Government of India has taken a number of initiatives on both mitigation and adaptation strategies with an emphasis on clean and efficient energy systems; resilient urban infrastructure; water conservation & preservation; safe, smart & sustainable green transportation networks; planned afforestation etc. The Government has also supported various sectors such as agriculture, forestry, coastal and low-lying systems and disaster management.

Students must have found this essay on sustainable development useful for practising their essay writing skills. They can get the study material and the latest updates on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams, at BYJU’S.

Frequently Asked Questions on Sustainable development Essay

Why is sustainable development a hot topic for discussion.

Environment change and constant usage of renewable energy have become a concern for all of us around the globe. Sustainable development must be inculcated in young adults so that they make the Earth a better place.

What will happen if we do not practise sustainable development?

Landfills with waste products will increase and thereby there will be no space and land for humans and other species/organisms to thrive on.

What are the advantages of sustainable development?

Sustainable development helps secure a proper lifestyle for future generations. It reduces various kinds of pollution on Earth and ensures economic growth and development.

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Being Eco Friendly (Essay Sample) 2023

Being eco friendly.

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Eco-friendly or environment friendly is a marketing and sustainability word that refers to laws, goods and services, policies and guidelines claiming minimal, reduced, or no damage upon the environment or eco systems. Organizations are using these ambiguous words in promoting goods and services, sometimes with extra, more precise certifications like ecolabels. One’s overusing can be mentioned as green washing. ISO 14024 and ISO 14020 have been developed by the International Organization for standardization to establish procedures and principles for environmental declarations and labels that eco labelers and certifiers should be following. In discrete, these standards are relating to the avoidance commercial dispute of interest, using of accepted test approaches and sound scientific systems, transparency, and openness in the laying of the standards. Being eco friendly becomes more and more significant. The main intention of being eco friendly is not to create damage to the environment, and preventing as much damage as possible from happening to the environment through one’s interactions with it. This paper seeks to describe being eco friendly and its significance in the environment.

The easiest way of defining what being eco friendly refers to is by saying that, it is the practice of living with the intention of protecting the environment. One can start being eco friendly by being aware how one’s choices will impact the environment. This involves-to strive in supporting others working to live and produce sustainable and eco friendly societies, to discover the span of one’s carbon foot mark and the act of lessening that foot mark on the surrounding, and to learn consuming items causing less environmental damage. One sees that, the initial step is about one acting immediately in changing the manner one is consuming things in life. This means the change of practice of how one is driving, the kinds of packages one is using, how one is disposing waste and how one is using natural resources. The next step is looking at the span of one’s carbon foot mark that one may not be able to adjust such as to live in a house, driving the car or the kind of job one has and act working the duty of lessening the mark to the best of one’s capacity. The final step is involving actively finding links with alternative co friendly individuals, business, societies, and choosing to support and network them to make more sustainable life.

There are more steps of being eco friendly. One is conserving water and electricity. Producing electricity and fresh water, it takes energy to do this. This is as simple as switching off the lights when not using it, use of maximum daylight, fix of leakages, proper insulation, install of energy effective windows, and purchase of energy effective devices which can minimize one’s daily consumption of energy. Next is planting more trees because one gives timber, fruits, oxygen, preventing soil erosion, controlling floods, and providing shelter to wildlife. Third is buying energy effective products with five star grading that prove to be eco friendly by consuming less energy. Fourth is buying recycled products when visiting grocery shops to purchase things that will make one to be eco responsible.

Conclusively, eco-friendly or environment friendly is a marketing and sustainability word that refers to laws, goods and services, policies and guidelines claiming minimal, reduced, or no damage upon the environment or eco systems.  Being eco friendly becomes more and more significant and the main intention of being eco friendly is not to create damage to the environment, and preventing as much damage as possible from happening to the environment through one’s interactions with it. The steps of being eco friendly can be summed up as conserving water and electricity, planting more trees, buying energy effective products, and buying recycled products.

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MSU researcher develops potato for more environmentally friendly chips

• Updated: Jun. 27, 2024, 8:08 p.m. |
• Published: Jun. 26, 2024, 11:47 a.m.

MSU potato breeder developed a new genetically modified potatoes that are better for chipping. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive) Tanya Moutzalias | MLive

• Mallory Burt | [email protected]

EAST LANSING, MI - A new genetically engineered potato developed at Michigan State University will be destined to become some of the 70% of Michigan’s potatoes turned into potato chips.

The potato, known at Kal91.3, was developed by MSU potato breeder Dave Douches from an existing potato variety called Kalkaska. Kal91.3 can be stored in colder temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit for longer periods of time and has shown to not brown when fried.

Generally, when potatoes are stored in the cold, they sweeten due to different sugars, which then means that the potatoes brown when fried.

The target goal with the Kal91.3 was to make potatoes store for a longer period of time and for the potatoes to not brown, so that there is both a continuous supply of potatoes that can be used for potato chips and healthier, higher quality potatoes.

“We were trying to reduce that browning in potatoes because browning leads to a lot of anti-nutritional compounds.” said Douches. “Anti-nutritional compounds are chemicals that don’t have nutritional value to consumers.”

Researchers believe that the Kal91.3 potato can also reduce the environmental impact of the growing process without as many fertilizers and pesticides needed to be maintained during storage.

Douches uses biotechnology, also known as genetic engineering to solve problems like potato browning.

“I’ve always felt as the potato breeder at MSU that using biotechnology as a tool to improve potatoes would be worthwhile,” Douches said. “We have chipping potatoes that work well and do their job, but I wanted to take this gene and find out whether it could improve a potato that was having a problem with its sugars.”

Historically, many farmers have stored chipping potatoes at or around 50 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid higher amounts of sugar. However, doing so leads the potatoes to be more susceptible to rot and wrinkles caused by moisture loss. The Kal91.3 potato has shown that it can handle being stored at 40 degrees, minimizing the potential of rot and wrinkles.

In the Kal91.3 potato, Kouches “turned off” or silenced the gene responsible for the buildup of sugars by copying the gene and inserting the copied gene into the DNA backwards to make the original gene inactive.

“Biotech is allowing us to take a variety (of potato) that had a problem, and we were able to correct it and make it a valuable and better variety than it was,” Kouches said.

Douches and his team are now working with Michigan potato industry leaders to evaluate the potential impact the Kal91.3 potato might have on the state’s industry, specifically with chipping. Currently, Michigan is the eighth-largest producer of potatoes in the U.S, with the majority of potatoes made into chips.

Kelly Turner, executive director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission said the storage capacity of the Kal91.3 potato has the chance to further stabilize Michigan’s potato industry with a steady supply of potatoes year-round. The decrease in sugars found in the potato can lead to a crisper, healthier and tastier chip as well.

Turner said the industry’s partnership with MSU to advance potato development is critical for providing growers with the resources needed to move forward.

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So long plastic air pillows: Amazon shifting to recycled paper filling for packages in North America

FILE - The Amazon logo is seen, June 15, 2023, at the Vivatech show in Paris. Amazon is moving from putting plastic air pillows in its packages to using recycled paper filling instead, a move that’s more environmentally friendly and secures items in boxes better. The company said Thursday, June 20, 2024 that it’s already replaced 95% of the plastic air fillers with paper filler in North America and is working toward complete removal by year’s end. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

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Amazon is shifting from the plastic air pillows used for packaging in North America to recycled paper because it’s more environmentally sound, and it says paper just works better.

The company said Thursday that it’s already replaced 95% of the plastic air pillows with paper filler in North America and is working toward complete removal by year’s end.

“We want to ensure that customers receive their items undamaged, while using as little packaging as possible to avoid waste, and prioritizing recyclable materials,” Amazon said.

It is the company’s largest plastic packaging reduction effort in North America to date and will remove almost 15 billion plastic air pillows from use annually.

AP AUDIO: So long plastic air pillows: Amazon shifting to recycled paper filling for packages in North America

AP correspondent Jennifer King reports Amazon says they are moving towards more environmentally friendly packaging.

Almost all customer deliveries for Prime Day this year, which happens next month, will contain plastic no air pillows, according to Amazon.

The e-commerce giant has faced years of criticism about its use of plastic from environmental groups, including a nonprofit called Oceana, which has been releasing its own reports on Amazon’s use of plastic packaging.

Matt Littlejohn, senior vice president of strategic initiatives at Oceana , said that Amazon’s efforts to reduce plastic packaging is welcome news, but that there’s still more that the company can do.

“While this is a significant step forward for the company, Amazon needs to build on this momentum and fulfill its multiyear commitment to transition its North America fulfillment centers away from plastic,” Littlejohn said in a prepared statement. “Then, the company should expand these efforts and also push innovations like reusable packaging to move away from single-use packaging everywhere it sells and ships.”

There has also been broad support among Amazon investors who have urged the company to outline how will will reduce waste.

The company disclosed the total of single-use plastic across global operations for the first time in 2022 after investors sought more details on plans to reduce waste. The company said that it used 85,916 metric tons of single-use plastic that year, an 11.6% decrease from 2021.

Amazon began transition away from plastic air pillows in October at an automated fulfillment center in Ohio. The company said that it was able to test and learn at the center there, which helped it move quickly on transitioning to recycled paper filling.

The transition process included changing out machinery and training employees on new systems and machines.

Amazon discovered through testing that the paper filler, which is made from 100% recyclable content and is curbside recyclable, offers the same, if not better protection during shipping compared with plastic air pillows, the company said.

Christian Garcia, who works at Amazon’s fulfillment center in Bakersfield, California, said in a release that the paper filler is easier to work with and that the machinery gives staff more space so that it’s easier to pack orders.

Ongoing efforts to reduce waste include a campaign to ship items without any additional packaging, the company said. In 2022, 11% of all of Amazon’s packages shipped worldwide were without added delivery packaging.

Other efforts include piloting new technology with artificial intelligence and robotics company Glacier to use AI-powered robots to automate the sorting of recyclables and collect real-time data on recycling streams for companies. It’s also partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy on new materials and recycling programs.

Sustainable Practices and Environmental Responsibility Essay

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The WEF states that sustainability means not compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Can you think of any specific examples when a specific country made a decision that did not support this? What were the gains and sacrifices involved with not promoting sustainable practices?

Sustainability can be discussed as a high level of balance in solving the current environmental, social, and economic problems with references to the role of governance. Today the governments of the definite countries in North Africa are inclined not to follow the principles of sustainability with their intentions to achieve rapid economic growth by any means. In Egypt, the rapid urbanization, the development of industries, and not regular meeting the environmental requirements are affected by the necessity to gain direct economic benefits and shift the country to the new level.

Nevertheless, the overuse of the natural resources which is typical for the country and caused by the lack of the necessary supplies and the incorrect usage of these resources result in negative effects for the environment and, in combination with the aroused social problems, provokes the emergence of the problematic issues associated with the population’s welfare, employment, and health.

What do you think it would take for you to actively seek out sustainable products and services exclusively? Similarly, what types of programs, incentives, or policies would influence consumers, in general, to make the switch to only using sustainable goods and services?

To be sure that the item is worth buying, it is necessary to pay attention to the realization of the combination of such aspects as the quality of the item, its reasonable cost, and sustainability. In this case, sustainability can mean the production of the item according to the environmental protection requirements and its possible further successful recycling or utilization. Thus, the choice of sustainable products or eco-products can be considered as a contribution to the global policy of preserving natural resources and environmental protection.

Moreover, sustainable products can be discussed as more beneficial not only for social needs but also as more useful for people’s health. However, it is important not to force the public to seek out sustainable products, but to provide the necessary information about their usefulness as a means of the program and policy’s realization. It is necessary to focus on all the benefits and advantages of sustainable products such as the saving of energy and other possible resources.

The WEF cites survey data reflecting 86% of participants felt transparency in production for goods they were purchasing was important or very important to their decision. Given such a high response, do you feel the current economy is reflective of this survey response in consumer choices of goods and services? Please explain why or why not.

It is possible to state that those consumers who are interested in purchasing sustainable products or eco-products can also be interested in the peculiarities of the production of these goods which should address definite requirements of sustainability. Nevertheless, today the percentage of those people who choose mostly sustainable products with focusing on the details of their production is rather low in comparison with the amount of those people who prefer to satisfy their needs without references to the problem of different aspects of sustainability.

There is no developed and widely spread tendency to pay attention to the transparency in the production of the goods that is why the number which is presented in the survey can reflect the consumers’ intentions provided in their answers, but not the real situation in the market.

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IvyPanda. (2021, January 27). Sustainable Practices and Environmental Responsibility. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-practices-and-environmental-responsibility/

"Sustainable Practices and Environmental Responsibility." IvyPanda , 27 Jan. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-practices-and-environmental-responsibility/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Sustainable Practices and Environmental Responsibility'. 27 January.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Sustainable Practices and Environmental Responsibility." January 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-practices-and-environmental-responsibility/.

1. IvyPanda . "Sustainable Practices and Environmental Responsibility." January 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-practices-and-environmental-responsibility/.

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IvyPanda . "Sustainable Practices and Environmental Responsibility." January 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sustainable-practices-and-environmental-responsibility/.

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Breaking news, costco customers fume over key change to $4.99 rotisserie chicken: ‘hated everything about it’.

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Fans of Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken are taking to social media to gripe about the new plastic bag wrapping that has replaced the old plastic containers that shoppers have been accustomed to over the years — claiming that it’s leaking oily grease.

In March, Costco started using cost-conscious and environmentally friendly plastic bags instead of the hard plastic containers that were used to package the rotisserie chickens — one of the warehouse store’s more popular items despite recent complaints that it tasted like chemicals.

Costco said the change would reduce plastic use by 75% and its use of resin by 17 million pounds.

The company said the new wrapping also allows it to ship more chickens per truck delivery — resulting in 1,000 fewer trucks on the road every year.

Judging by anecdotal testimonials online, Costco is gradually introducing the new plastic bag wrappings while it uses up the remaining inventory of the hard plastic shell containers.

Despite soaring inflation , the company has kept the price of the rotisserie chicken steady at $4.99 per piece — a policy consistent with its decision to maintain its popular $1.50 hot dog and soda combination.

But Costco’s attempt to save money by doing away with the hard plastic containers is causing unwanted consequences.

“These new bags leak!!” a Costco customer wrote on Reddit earlier this month .

Another Redditor complained that “chicken juice spilled all over the trunk of our car.”

The Reddit post included a photo of the wrapped chicken which is marketed under the Kirkland Signature brand — Costco’s in-house producer of goods.

“Yes, that is true,” another Reddit user wrote in agreement, adding: “You need to move the chicken to another container when you get home.”

Another commenter on Reddit recounted their own difficulty, writing: “I recently grabbed two chickens in the bag for the first time. Hated everything about it.”

The Reddit user recalled that the bag was “slick with juice on the display…so my hands were then covered in grease with no paper towels anywhere.”

“We ALL hate the bags,” a Reddit user wrote. “The workers and the customers. Nobody likes them! They’re horrible!”

Another angry customer remarked on Reddit: “I understand being more environmentally conscious but honestly it was so bad it will make me question whether I really want to get any more of these things and deal with that experience all over again.”

The Post has sought comment from Costco.

Costco started selling rotisserie chickens in 1994. At the time, the retailer looked to compete with Boston Chicken — the chain that was later renamed Boston Market.

The rotisserie chicken is offered at a bargain basement price given the fact that it weighs at least 3 lbs.

By comparison, a 2-lb. bird can cost at least twice that in the supermarket — though Costco does charge an annual membership fee for shoppers to enter the door.

The combination of its attractive price and its widely acclaimed test has made the rotisserie chicken a cult favorite.

In 2023, Costco said it sold 137 million rotisserie chickens at its 600 stores nationwide — or 20 million more than the previous year.

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Material Design for Synergistic Advanced Oxidation Processes

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Water is an indispensable resource for life on Earth, with its importance being highlighted by the vast range of applications that require it. Advanced oxidation techniques, well-known for their ability to generate hydroxyl radicals, have proven successful in treating water and wastewater. When different advanced oxidation processes are combined, a synergistic impact is shown, such as reduced chemical consumption or a more rapid reaction than with the processes alone. For this reason, hybrid processes in which different processes are applied together are called synergistic advanced oxidation processes. However, the use of these processes is limited by chemical and energy requirements. Currently, green synthesis is an emerging process for producing chemicals and materials in a more environmentally friendly way. It involves the use of various chemical treatments and reagents to remove organic and heterogeneous materials, while producing nontoxic, eco-friendly byproducts. Green synthesis has been used for a variety of purposes, such as gas absorption, water splitting, catalytic uses, sensors, and renewable energy. Heterogeneous catalysts have been identified as the strongest candidate for use in industry because of their functionalized structures, thermal stability, and well-defined surfaces. They also have suitably sized active sites for carrying out different chemical reactions. In this review, the focus is on heterogeneous catalysts, metal oxides, double-layered hydroxides, perovskites, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and graphene. Furthermore, the various advantages and disadvantages of Fenton process catalysts fabrication methods have been discussed with an emphasis on green synthesis, are discussed in detail.

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Glastonbury to turn festivalgoer pee into eco-friendly fertilizer

Now that's what you call a golden harvest.

As normies arrive at the world's most middle-of-the-road festival today, by the end of the week Glastonbury will be awash with hundreds of thousands of gallons of chemical-laced urine.

As with most years, the question is what to do with all that excreta. One project is harnessing host site Worthy Farm's cow slurry biomethane plant to produce graphene , the wunder material no one knows what to do with.

But another is looking at human number ones. Bristol startup Peequal provides flat-packed female urinals made from recycled ocean plastic and sugarcane biopolymer to the pre-eminent music festival for people who don't like music.

Seeing that damaging levels of MDMA were found in the Whitelake River that runs through the site in 2021, it might be good if all that wee could be shipped off and used productively. Britain's waterways have suffered enough .

Peequal intends to collect and deliver revelers' output to fellow Bristol biz NPK Recovery , which processes urine "into a safe and nutrient-rich alternative fertilizer ... for use on crops."

"In the UK, our agricultural industry consumes 2.4 million tonnes of fertilizer every year to grow our food. Fertilizer contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) – elements also present in urine," the startup says.

NPK has developed a process by which these key nutrients can be recovered and used. With help from the University of the West of England, the peepee will be profiled and treated to grow crops in the company's greenhouse.

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This is by no means a new idea . In fact, the green-fingered among us may be aware that humans have used urine to fertilize crops since the dawn of agriculture – it's just that with the advent of modern sewage systems, all that good stuff is washed to a less optimal place. It is also nice that not everywhere smells like Paris.

The chemical content of festivalgoers' leaks could pose a challenge, however. "This is an absolutely critical step for us," NPK founder Hannah Van Den Bergh told The Times . "We're almost using Glastonbury as a kind of 'worst case scenario' urine. If we can clean that, then we can basically accept anything to go through our system."

Glastonbury Festival said: "We're always excited to work with innovative companies looking at ways to turn waste materials into something new, and hope Peequal's trials continue to progress well."

This is not an exaggeration. The hippy-dippy event has form for repurposing human waste. In 2019, a 40-person urinal was situated near the headlining Pyramid Stage. The pee was passed through microbial fuel cells housing bacteria that eat it and generate energy as a by-product . This was then used to power the main stage's screens. "Pee Power" has also been used to run mobile phone chargers and information screens since 2015.

At a time when synthetic fertilizer prices are rocketing, a method to reliably produce an eco-friendly alternative at scale is to be welcomed – and where better to get it than from the myriad festivals happening across the world every summer? ®

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Micron mega-fab mildly endangered by definitely endangered american bats, google datacenters in nevada to go full steam ahead with geothermal energy, graveyards a favorite haunt for solar farms in valencia, we polled thousands of it pros – and sustainability just ain't a priority right now, clean air act complaint paints smoggy picture at tesla fremont factory, tech industry sheds some light on the planet's situation via linkedin, crypto conferences liquidated after biblical flooding in dubai, digital realty ditches diesel for salad dressing in us to cut datacenter emissions, intel's green dream is chips without any dips in mother nature's health, greener, cheaper, what's not to love about a secondhand smartphone, tesla berlin gigafactory to take week-long nap after suspected arson.

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Electric vehicles may no longer be ‘green’ under new eu greenwashing law.

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GOTHENBURG, LINDHOLMEN, SWEDEN - 2019/10/07: Painted road sign indicating electric car charging ... [+] station seen in Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg. (Photo by Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The European Union is in the early stages of negotiating the Green Claims Directive , a new law that aims to curb greenwashing and help consumers make greener choices. The proposal heavily regulates the environmental marketing practices of businesses, limiting what can be claimed. However, under the initial proposal, it is likely that electric vehicles, a staple of the green movement, will not be allowed to be advertised as environmentally friendly.

As global concerns rise over the impacts of climate change, there has been a significant increase in consumer interest in supporting businesses and products that are environmentally friendly. This rise in consumer interest, as well as pressures from financial investors and other parties, have pushed businesses to take climate friendly stances. However, there is a growing and reasonable concern that businesses are exaggerating their environmentally friendly actions in what is known as greenwashing.

Traditionally, greenwashing was done through marketing. When the customer base wanted environmentally friendly companies, companies benefited by making themselves appear greener. In recent years, the phrase climate washing has developed as a subset of greenwashing that directly addresses the exaggeration of claims relating to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. For decades, greenwashing frustrated environmental activists who wanted actual change by companies. However, as environmental, social, and governance investing grew, so did the legal pitfalls of greenwashing. Shifting from just clever marketing campaigns to misleading investors and violating consumer protection laws.

There has been a general lack of regulation of greenwashing. However, as the Paris Agreement drives other climate related regulations, legal development in the area of greenwashing has increased as well. In February, the EU adopted the Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition , legislation that specifically targeted green and climate related claims. On June 18, the Council of the European Union announced that it adopted its position on the Green Claims Directive, a stricter companion to the Empowering Consumers Directive. The adoption of a position is the first stage of negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament for the final language of the Directive.

The Council position of the Green Claims Directive states: “If environmental claims are not reliable, comparable and verifiable, consumers and other market actors cannot fully leverage their purchasing decisions to reward better environmental performance.”

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“It would be misleading to consumers if an explicit environmental claim or environmental label pointed to the benefits in terms of environmental impacts or environmental aspects while omitting that the achievement of those benefits leads to negative trade-offs on other environmental impacts or environmental aspects.”

This is a potential problem for electric vehicles and could expose some harsh realities about their environmental impacts.

The Paris Agreement requires signing states to obtain a goal of net zero GHG emissions by 2050. While it includes a broad range of changes, conversion from traditional combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles has been one of the most visible signs of the climate change movement. Governments around the world, including the EU, have adopted policies mandating a complete transition from combustion to electric by 2035.

However, while the reduction in GHG emissions is a benefit of electric vehicles, t he additional impacts on the environment have haunted them from both conservatives who oppose the transition and environmentalists looking for a better approach.

The batteries in electric vehicles use rare minerals, like cobalt and lithium. The process of mining of those minerals has drawn the ire of both human rights advocates and environmentalists. For climate change activists, the damage to the environment caused by mining is offset by the need to obtain net zero. However, not environmental activists share that opinion.

Electric vehicles have also drawn the criticism of conservatives , who believe they are just climate theater. A way for people to look like they are helping the environment, while making no real changes to their lives. This is reinforced by the argument that the power that is used to charge electric vehicles is, most likely, produced by power plants that use fossil fuels. Supporters generally dismiss this claim, noting that it is still a net reduction in GHG emissions.

Despite the clear environmental problems associated with electric vehicles, they are still generally praised as “green” and “environmentally friendly.” Which raises an interesting question as to whether they can still make that claim under the proposed Green Directive. As is, most likely not. That would be a major blow to advocates of electric vehicles.

There is a chance a carve-out can be included in the final Directive to exclude electric vehicles. The proposal currently exempts claims “relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars.” That addresses the typical g/km or mpg claims, but does not appear to include broader marketing materials.

Notably, the European People’s Party gained seats in the June EU elections, in part for their criticism of green policies and the European Green Deal. The EPP has stated they intend to delay and amend the 2035 phase out of combustion engines. Making automotive manufacturers disclose the full environmental impact may help them in that argument.

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