Happy earth day!
Now more than ever is a time where the planet needs a little help from us. With all of the waste, emissions and mis-use of the planet, our planet is having a harder and harder time trying to keep up with our demands.
Today is a day for action, for doing things differently to help our planet. What can you do today? We made this article to answer that question. Because let's get real, who doesn't want to live on an earth looking like the picture below?
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(click on any item to be taken there)
1. Take the bike or walk
Emissions are a big polluter in this era. We're talking cars, planes, buses and anything that uses a motor or gas to move. Some are worse than others -- for example, it's better to go around by train than by plane or car -- but all have impact on our eco system and earth in general.
The production of a bicycle sets you back only 5g per kilometer driven. Add to that the CO2 emissions from the average diet, which is another 16g per kilometer cycled. In total, riding your bike accounts for about 21g of CO2 emissions per kilometer – more than ten times less than a car!
- ECF.com
Take the bike to work today or walk wherever you go. Eco-friendly AND you get your daily movement in. If there's no way you'll be able to get to work or school if you do, take the next best thing: public transportation.
2. Watch a documentary
Spend some time this week learning about or just watching our planet. There are tons of beautiful documentaries, ranging from activist-type documentaries to narration-type documentaries. If you can't seem to find any worth-while ones one your streaming platform, try YouTube. There's a lot of good free content regarding the subject.
Here's a short list of our favorites
- Seaspiracy
- Life in color (series of three episodes)
- The GameChangers
- What the Health
- The Blue planet (series of 8 episodes)
- A life on our planet
- Planet earth (series)
- This changes everything
- Cowspiracy
3. Eat less processed food
Besides being unhealthy, processed food is more often than not bad for the environment too. Along with the production of the food and the shit that goes into it, it's usually packed in plastic or other material that's equally as polluting. Shipping our food long distances and processing it not only increases air and water pollution, but depletes the food of nutrients.
So today, eat whole food-meals.
4. Stop the use of one-time plastics
Continuing on the plastic-issue from number three, stop using one-use plastics. One-use plastics are those things you use only once, like a plastic straw (classic), food or product packaging, bags, toothbrushes and bottles. It's one of those issues that was talked about for decades and some small changes have been made here and there, for example some countries banned plastic bags from being given out for free when you buy groceries or the save the turtles thing that blew up after a video of a turtle with a straw in its nose appeared. All good things and definitely helpful, but there's still an awful lot of plastic being wasted and produced for no reason.
What can you do?
Try non-plastic, long term alternatives.
Plastic | Alternatief |
Plastic bag | Tote bag, backpack, fannypack (etc, you get the idea) |
Plastic straw | metal straw -- or drink with your mouth, easiest and cheapest option. |
Plastic bottles | Metal or eco friendly material bottles |
Plastic food packaging | For some things you have no other option than plastic, but for things like fruit, bread or vegetables try a reusable container or bag. Saves a lot of plastic. |
Plastic party cups | Paper cups |
Plastic toothbrush | Elektric toothbrush (you'll use it for longer so it's a better option) or bamboo (or other types of wood) toothbrushes. |
Plastic surgery | Only joking, had to add it |
Fast fashion | Eco-friendly materials and producers (check our shop) |
5. No meat for a day
We at Apollo Imperium are plant-based. There are an uncountable amount of health benefits to being vegan (or even just vegetarian or eating meat one day a week less), ranging from increased performance in both mind and body, healthier skin, a huge decrease in risk with a lot of diseases like cancer and heart disease, longer-lasting and more intense sexual performance (yes, actually) and many more.
There are a lot of ecological benefits too, as the meat industry is a bigger polluter than all cars, planes and other transportation together. It's a no-brainer, really, if "it didn't taste as good".
The biggest misconception about vegan food is that it's nasty, that all we eat is grass and trees. I invite everyone to take a look at our vegan recipes section and think again. We've compiled a big list of different recipes for you to try, ranging from breakfast options all the way to dinner and dessert. There's a lot of vegan meat, cheese and dairy available in most stores which all taste incredibly close to the non vegan versions, so even burgers and hotdogs are available. And if you decide you don't like it, fair game. At least you tried it. And remember, even one day of no meat a week can go a long way, it's not about going all in right away, it's about making the first step.
6. Be in nature
The best way to spend Earth-day is to go outside and see it. Here too are a lot of benefits but the biggest one of all is that you take a break from the distractions. Walk, cycle, go for a run, skate and if you're feeling frisky, go ahead and do a flip.
Additionally, do a workout outside. The weather is getting better so you are more and more unlikely to encounter rain or cold wind during your workout. A great out-doors workout is coming up in a week so be sure to check it when it's up. We post on social media every time we upload a new workout or post like the one you're reading right now so follow us there and you won't miss it.
7. Stop buying fast fashion
Fast fashion is bad. Why?
The emissions from transport. Fast fashion is almost always from foreign countries so the transportation emissions are way higher than if it were shipped inside your own country or neighbouring country.
The products use materials that are usually not eco-friendly and so contribute to the worsening of our eco-system
Fast fashion is fast, meaning it's cheap and easily thrown away. This results in waste, which is almost never biodegradable. This leaves many clothes to lay around in landfills or trash dumps.
Our brand uses eco-friendly materials and promote longer term use of clothing. Take a look in our shop to ensure your clothes are eco-friendly and sustainable.
8. Plant bee-attracting flowers
Take a small bag of wildflower seeds with you and toss them around (be careful not to toss too many, though) on the roadside and along sidewalks (and in your own garden). This will attract pollinators like bees and so make your area healthier.
Some good flowers to consider:
- Bee balm
- Daisy
- Cornflower
- Fleabane
- Pansy
- Dandelion
- Sunflower
- Lavender
9. Sign petitions
Signing petitions is probably the easiest way to help, yet very effective. Petitions use the voice of the people and the good part is that oftentimes it actually helps get change in motion.
Visit sites like change.org and sign away.
10. Share the message
Share it with your friends, family and anyone you know. Hell, buy an ouija board and share it with your dead relatives.
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