Author name: Abhay Gupta

Climate change can be overwhelming. The science of climate change and carbon footprint seems complex, and there are many unknown reasons. The solution for this situation is to know the importance of environmental protection and requires action on a global level. However, there are various choices to make in your daily life to lower the harm to the environment. The subject of carbon footprint barely comes up in conversations of people. Yet, it is essential to start searching for ways to reduce carbon footprint. Before thinking further, start thinking about eco-friendly means and how to lower so much waste cluttering in your home and garden. Begin by asking a question to yourself – what things you don’t need? So, by going through this article, you will get a clear picture in your mind of how those unwanted and useless things contribute to the increase of carbon footprint, rather than lower. What is a carbon footprint? Nowadays, the term “carbon footprint” is used as a shorthand for carbon emissions by an organization. Carbon footprint acts as one of the essential components of an ecological footprint as it is the demand for biological space. Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases that come out from production; it depicts the number of greenhouse gases that results from various human and economic activity. Everyone’s carbon footprint varies according to their habits, personal choice, and location. Everyone contributes in increment of greenhouse gases either by travelling, or by the type of food, or electricity consumption. All these daily life activities contribute to global warming. Make use of renewable energy sources to cope with this situation. For instance, when you charge your mobile phone, or drive a car, or burn fuel, it readily generates some amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Just like that, when you heat your home, it forms carbon dioxide as electricity comes from coal plants. Similarly, when you are eating food, that activity also generates some carbon dioxide due to food processing. Main Contributors to Carbon Footprint Do you think about the contributors to carbon footprint? It could be associated with your daily activities like – household energy, food, transportation, etc. Food acts as a significant contributor to carbon footprint, especially meat. Beef is considered the most important contributor, and livestock is responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases. One kilogram of meat does the same emission, just as driving a car for about 150 miles. Lowering meat consumption can help in the reduction of carbon footprint. Food transportation, out-of-season food purchasing, and pesticide use also make contributions in increasing carbon footprint. Compared to fresh food, processed food includes higher emissions due to transportation, packaging, and factory production. House energy consumption is also a primary contributor to carbon footprint, as energy-inefficient houses waste energy through various means like – using too much water, poor insulation, etc. Consumption of clothes, footwear, and personal goods all contribute to carbon footprint at an individual level, as these things produce emissions from transportation and production. Waste cluttering significantly increases carbon footprint, so the importance of waste segregation is a priority. And due to this, there is an incredible urge for ways to reduce carbon footprint. Ways to reduce carbon footprint Now is the stage where you have the opportunity to secure the world and planet for future generations. One of the quickest steps that you can take to reduce climate change is – to lower the emission of greenhouse gas and reduce carbon footprint. There are numerous ways to reduce carbon footprint, and it seems to be easy. To go green is an excellent idea to reduce global warming and conserve energy. Here are the ways to reduce carbon footprint so that it becomes easy and help provide tips to live a sustainable life. Start with compost Composting is the best method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that thrive from organic matter decomposition. Start doing your composting at home just by gathering food leftovers and storing them in the freezer. Purchase food from local vendors By purchasing food from local vendors, you are contributing to the reduction of emissions and also supporting local vendors. Plan your garden It is better to grow your food, as it can lower the emissions from the production and transportation of items to the market. Build a rain garden that prevents the risk of runoff and erosion due to rainstorms. These types of gardens are both substantial and gorgeous. Purchase groceries according to need When you plan to buy groceries, purchase what you need for one week to reduce waste. Please don’t buy the food items in bulk unless you are sure that it will finish off before it gets rotten. By purchasing food in bulk, you are only increasing your carbon footprint. Make sure to eat at decent restaurants. Nowadays, many restaurants get their food items directly from local farms, which reduces the carbon footprint level from transportation. So, if you plan to eat outside, then select these sustainable restaurants. Reduction of water use Make sure to reduce the use of water, as it lowers energy consumption. For instance, during teeth brushing, shut off the water and open it only when needed. Storage of food Make sure to store your food items so that they can remain fresh for an extended period. By achieving a long shelf life of your food, you can lower the level of carbon footprint. Usage of reusable water bottle This trick is considered to be the eldest one. To reduce the usage of plastic, purchase reusable water bottles to use daily. There are many harmful effects of plastic that lead to a carbon footprint. Insulation of home Home insulation will help control your indoor climate, so in winters, you remain warm, and in summers, you remain cool without increasing your energy bills. Lower the use of air conditioners If you seriously want to lower your carbon footprint, then make less use of air conditioners as they emit a tremendous amount of gases. And whenever you are planning to go out, then turn

Have you ever imagined how you would save the planet from so much waste and plastic? So much trash contributes to various pollution and also becomes one of the leading causes of ocean pollution. To cut off this trash, you need to follow zero waste management which could be done after living the zero-waste lifestyle. But, the main question arises – how to live a zero-waste lifestyle? Contribute small help to eradicate trash as small steps one day will become a great success. Just take small steps to zero waste living and eliminate waste unitedly. Yes, it would not happen overnight. You need to be patient and have to take small baby steps in this process. With this concept, you will be able to do a favour on yourself by saving money and by keeping your planet. Besides this, the idea of the environmental management system is understood correctly. Through this article, you will get to know various details about how to live a zero-waste lifestyle. What is a zero-waste or zero-waste lifestyle? For people who are unaware, the zero-waste lifestyle is a concept that focuses on reducing the waste produced by society and lowering the amount of waste that gets into the atmosphere, oceans, and landfills. This concept includes the principle of reducing, reusing, and recycle to achieve goals. A fascinating idea that everyone should try. Adopting a zero-waste lifestyle is the best tip to live a sustainable life. A zero-waste lifestyle, if chosen, dramatically impacts the environment by stopping harmful effects of non-biodegradable waste, by lowering the amount of waste sent to landfills, stopping the extraction of resources, and reducing pollution. It is a concept that is not easily accessible, but if taken seriously, then it becomes effortless to take steps towards a zero-waste lifestyle. Besides, reducing waste this concept is affordable also. You can purchase second-hand items or can pack your lunch to take this movement ahead while saving money. It examines a product and highlights its unsustainability and inefficiency. Is a zero-waste lifestyle possible? (going zero waste) Yes, a zero-waste lifestyle is possible to lead a sustainable life. Learn about the importance of waste segregation by practising a zero-waste lifestyle. You can make a lot of organic products for your eco-friendly home to reduce waste that collects in the environment. It is a fact that over 62 million tonnes of waste are generated every year, and to prevent this, the government has started to encourage everyone to lower the waste levels and many have gone with a zero-waste lifestyle. Come out of the web of convenience and think about your trash and contribute to stopping the harmful effects of plastic and many other waste production things with your baby steps. To accept a zero-waste lifestyle is easy and possible for everyone. It is true that to avoid non-recyclable products while living in a city. Still, if you are determined and abide by the principles of eco-friendly nature, then it is possible to go with a zero-waste lifestyle. Common zero waste myths If you are thinking about adopting a zero-waste lifestyle but are not sure where to start and how to live a zero-waste lifestyle, there is no need to worry. And to begin with the journey of zero waste, it is essential to break down the myths that can become a blockage. As this concept is gaining more and more fame, certain myths need to be eradicated. Let’s get rid of the myths one by one. 1. High cost of zero waste This myth can’t be further from fact, as you will save enough money and be less expensive. Various products like paper towels, packaging costs money, and you are wasting it. A zero-waste lifestyle focuses on repairing an item rather than replacing it. Prefer a second-hand market or create something new according to your requirements. Avoiding plastic products permits you to save many supplies and even money. 2. Storage of trash in Mason jar It is silly as it is not like that. Many people use mason jars for storing trash to keep track of how much trash they are creating. Instead of maintaining a Mason jar, track through your garbage. By searching for what you have and remaining aware of what you are throwing, it becomes easier to keep track of things you need to eliminate. Start composting and reduce waste. This movement is to make you aware not to cancel your trash service. 3. Need to spend a lot of time Turning into eco-friendly habits might make you feel as if it takes much more time than before in doing things. Nothing brings so much time; it just only depends on your priorities. Bringing your lunch into a reusable container can sometimes be time-consuming, but you can reduce this by staying organized. Save your time by avoiding stressful shopping. 4. To go zero waste is not possible for companies To produce a tremendous waste or to produce no waste is not a simple task, but it is also not impossible. Various companies like Nestle and Procter and Gamble don’t send any waste to landfills. This shows that multiple companies go to zero waste. This needs dedication and patience from employees. It could take years or months for a company to achieve zero waste lifestyle status. Companies need to organize educational programs so that many people can participate in this activity. 5. Have to eliminate all plastic It is not true! Apart from plastic’s harmful effects, there are various positive uses of plastic, so it can’t be eliminated entirely. However, the use of plastics is too much nowadays that every single person uses them. A zero-waste lifestyle means choosing plastics where necessary, avoiding them, or selecting alternatives for them when not in use. How to live a zero-waste lifestyle 15 ways Every action of yours shows an impact on the planet, some might be good, and some might be bad. So, searching for simple ways to live a sustainable life can reduce harmful impacts on the environment, especially a zero-waste lifestyle.

Nowadays, Sustainable living is the most common word people are interested in. After this pandemic, because of the oxygen shortage, they learn many things. People get to know the importance of the environment & why its protection is required. Here we will share a detailed guide about types of biodegradable plastic. What is it? How this will help make you & your surroundings more environmentally friendly so you can adopt sustainable life after knowing this term. What does biodegradable mean Biodegradable is the property of any substance, which denotes that the substance or material can be disintegrated or not & Able to convert into compost by using natural resources like sunlight, water, bacteria, etc. Here are some examples of biodegradable materials present in our surroundings. Food waste( organic waste of fruits & vegetables, grains) Green waste (Plants, flowers, leaves, wood) Bodies of humans, animals, birds Paper wastes Sewage What is biodegradable plastic? Biodegradable plastic is a newly designed plastic that is created by focusing on the harmful effects of plastic. These plastics can be decomposed in the presence of bacteria, as do with other organic materials. Usually, plastic is a material that is considered a non-biodegradable material. Still, the technology goes too far & because of that, science has successfully created a plastic that is included in the list of biodegradable materials. Shocking!! But true These biodegradable plastics will take approximately 6 months to break down, but I can’t find an estimated time. Hence, it will not harm the environment. Types of biodegradable plastic Understanding the concept of biodegradable is much more challenging. However, we are still trying to make it as simple as possible to get the difference between all types of biodegradable plastics. According to our research, we found a few types of biodegradable plastics are there:- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) Polyhydroxyalkanoates belong to a class of biodegradable plastic naturally produced by various microorganisms. The biosynthesis of PHA is usually driven by depriving some organisms of certain nutrients and supplying an excess of carbon sources. Polylactic acid (PLA) Polylactic acid is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester synthesized from renewable biomass, typically from fermented plant starch such as corn, cassava, sugarcane, or sugar beet pulp. Starch blends Starch blends are thermoplastic polymers that are produced by blending plasticizers. While all starches are biodegradable, all plasticizers are not. Therefore, the biodegradability of the plasticizer determines the biodegradability of the starch blend. Cellulose-based plastics Cellulose bioplastics are the cellulose esters (including cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose) and their derivatives, including celluloid. Cellulose can become thermoplastic when extensively modified. Lignin-based polymer composites Lignin-based polymer composites are bio-renewable natural aromatic polymers along with biodegradable properties. Lignin is also a byproduct of polysaccharide extraction from plant material through paper, ethanol, and more. Petroleum-based plastics Petroleum-based plastics are derived from petrochemicals obtained from fossil crude oil, coal, or natural gas. The most widely used petroleum-based plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) are not biodegradable. Polybutylene succinate (PBS) Polybutylene succinate, i.e., PBS, is a thermoplastic polymer resin that includes all properties comparable to propylene. It is commonly used in packaging films for cosmetics and food. How biodegradable plastic save the environment Biodegradable plastic is made up of natural raw materials that will improve & affect many factors of the environment. The five advantages we shared below in which biodegradable plastic plays a vital role in saving the environment. Reduce the percent of carbon emission on world The significant benefit is, it helps to decrease the percentage of carbon emission so much. As we noted above, it uses natural resources to release less carbon during manufacturing in the industries. Consume less energy Although these biodegradable plastic needs less energy during manufacturing, comparatively, the manufacturing of non-biodegradable plastic. Produce less Waste In the previous post, we discussed the waste segregation process & also talked about the plastic is spreading everywhere on the earth. In India, millions of plastic wastes are produced from households every year that could be stopped to go into the landfills, oceans & save them from pollution due to biodegradable plastic. However, biodegradable plastic has the characteristics to convert itself into compost it means the maximum waste problem will be solved automatically. Reduce pollution When the non-biodegradable plastic Waste burns, it releases many dangerous substances in the form of gas which harms the environment & affects living beings (Humans, Birds, Animals, etc.) health badly. However, by initiating the use of biodegradable plastic that will compost naturally in a short time without chemicals than traditional plastic. Hence no-one won’t be able to burn plastics & the pollution will reduce. Eco-friendly The last advantage we add to the list is eco-friendly. It will help to make your life sustainable & more eco-friendly. Choosing eco-friendly products & adding them to your daily life will positively impact your health & you feel happier because you’re doing something good for the environment too. What is the difference between compostable and biodegradable S.no. Biodegradable Compostable 1. The term “Biodegradable” mainly is used when some material is broken down over time into small pieces by the use of biological organisms like bacterias and fungi Compostable is a process to recycle your house’s organic waste into compost. That could be done by anyone, anywhere by following some conditions. Some points which we need to focus on before making a compost. Like which type of waste you need to make compost, the temperature where to keep it in sunlight or shady area, which container should we need to use close or open, etc. 2. Biodegradable products are decomposed naturally or that’s why it can be called is a natural process. On the other side, it will happen in a specific condition it means it is a controlled process 3. It will convert the material into biomass By this process, the waste will convert into rich soil substances. 4. Its time cannot be calculated Generally, It takes almost 90 to 180 days The biodegradable & compostable types are different. however, the same thing in both is they have the same objective i.e to return the waste to the earth without