Wondering how small changes can make a massive difference? Individually, they may not. But between you, your friends and your family, we can have an enormous impact on making the world a more livable, sustainable place—and enjoy ourselves while we’re at it.
1. Imbibe organic wine.
Serve organic wine at your next soiree and get a might tasty pay-off for the planet. Organic wine devotees swear that less processing means a gentler hangover, and organic farming encourages biodiversity.
Note: Organic wine does not last as long uncorked, so “darn!” Finish the bottle!
2. Fancy fancier napkins.
Forget the notion that cloth napkins are for fancy occasions. By using cloth napkins everyday, not only will you save a few trees, your friends will be impressed with your class and elegance (well, maybe just for a second or two).
Heads up: If we all used just one less paper napkin per day, in a year we’d conserve the annual paper usage of 58 Americans.
3. Power up your patio.
Deck out your yard with solar gadgets that light up your outdoor life—not your electric bill. No plug required means no unsightly cords running around, creating booby trap like trip-wires for sauced-up summer guests.
With just a few hours of sunlight each day, your porch will be ready to shine.
4. Environmentally friendly ‘cuing.
If your bash includes a barbecue, remember this: both you and the planet stand to benefit from gas barbecues, not charcoal or electric. Although gas won’t add much flavor to your veggie kabobs or beer brats, it also won’t add as much CO2 to the air.
Gas barbecues produce about half as much CO2 as charcoal grills, and about 1/3 as much as electric grills.
5. Say (organic) cheese!
If you’re serving apps, make the cheese organic. Besides being more nutritious, you’ll also support local, small-scale, humane farms, keep cows and your guest’s safe, and delight in sustainably-farmed cheese.
In 2005 alone, overuse of antibiotics on livestock totaled more than 20 million pounds.
6. Support your local brewery.
Chugging the stuff made right outside your door is an eco-friendly way to get your malted hops fix. Most of our food and drink travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles before going down our gullets, and less mileage means less energy use.
Plus, drinking what’s on tap saves aluminum and glass bottles.
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