World Environment Day is part of the UN Environment Programme and is celebrating its 40th anniversary on June 5th. This year’s theme is Green Economy. There are many ways in which you can support a Green Economy, which is an economy that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support other environmentally responsible practices. UNEP has identified 10 sectors of a green economy. Below are my tips for making easy green decisions in each sector. Each tip offers an opportunity to talk to your children about the environment and why you are choosing to do what you do.
Buildings
An easy place to start, when making green economy decisions, is with your own home. If you are planning on painting a room this summer, think about using no-VOC paints such as those in Benjamin Moore’s Natura Line. We chose the Fresh Butter color when we painted the Tomato’s room and it’s amazing how the house didn’t stink of paint fumes. I rest a little easier knowing that we used this type of product in our home. As we paint rooms this summer, we can talk with our little one about what type of paint it is and why we are choosing it.
Fisheries
There are two great ways to know where your fish is being procured and in what ways they are safe for the green economy. Seafood Watch is a great spot to find out how high or low mercury counts are in each fish and the Whole Foods fish section offers great guidance on what types of fish are sustainable and the company maintains high standards for what they will or will not sell. As kids are introduced to fish in their diet, see if you can talk about where they come from in the world. Pull out a map or globe and talk to your fishmonger about different fish’s origins and then locate them with your kids. With older kids, have them write down questions to ask the fishmonger. You’d be amazed at what these guys and gals know and can share.
Forestry
Choosing native trees to plant on your property is a great way to support a green economy at local nurseries, as well as maintain native gardening standards at your own home. Talk to your local cooperative extension office or arboretum and ask them which choices are best. The Master Gardeners on hand will have good resources, and talking with arborists can open up a whole new world of understanding for you and your kids. Choose a family member’s birthday to plant the tree and enjoy watching it grow!
Transport
The greenest transportation that you have is your own two feet (and if you pop on shoes like those form Simple, even better). Take a walk to do errands in town, ride a bike with a kid’s seat or take the stroller for a go to the post office. This is your ultimate chance to really “walk the walk.” Having kids understand that hopping in the car isn’t the only way to get from place to place is a great life lesson.
Water
Life Factory offers great glass baby bottles and bottles for adults too. They are fantastic alternatives to plastic bottles and you can fill them using a filtered water from home. They recently started carrying sippy cup tops that convert their baby bottles to sippy cups. Their current ad features mutliple ways to use the bottles in the home and even include a picture of one as a paintbrush container. Talk with your kids about purchasing items that are multi-use and why it is important for us to conserve our water resources.
Agriculture
This is our home passion as we maintain our organic kitchen garden as an unofficial classroom for the Tomato. She has planted organic seed potatoes, helped to weed raised beds and has picked asparagus for her own dinner. It’s a valuable lesson for kids to understand how food is grown and that it doesn’t just pop up at the local supermarket.
Energy Supply
When you shop with companies, small or large, ask them about what types of energy companies produce their energy. Kids’ toy companies like Lego are not only making BPA-free smart toys, but they are also smart about their energy decisions. The company is aiming to be 100% wind powered for its factory by 2015.
Tourism
If you are traveling in the US, have your kids check out the Audubon Guides so they can keep an eye out for native animals, trees and plants for wherever you are traveling. It gets them invested in where they are going, and so does researching their destination’s eco-system. What makes it a beach? Why are they called plains? How old are these mountains and who used to live here? Take a trip to your local library to answer the questions and you are once again using shared resources in a green economy.
Waste
If you do eat out from time to time, be sure to get your kids into the habit of asking restaurants to not include plastic utensils in your take away bag. Also, check the containers to see if they are plastics that can be recycled in your town’s recycling collection. Don’t be afraid to talk to the manager about being conscious of these sorts of issues. If the restaurant is not supportive of these types of issues, vote with your dollar by taking your business elsewhere.
Manufacturing and Industry
This is another passion here at Crafty Garden Mama. We try our best to find handmade and homemade items for our house or support companies like Little Sapling Toys, who purchase a tree to plant for each wooden toy that you buy from them. As I mentioned with Lego above, many companies are moving toward greener practices. Email or call companies before you purchase from them and talk to them about what they are doing to be greener or what their products contain. Many are willing to be up front and share what it is that they are doing.
I hope these tips are helpful ways for you to be greener and honor World Environment Day. Feel free to share other tips that you and your family have in the comments below!
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