Since today is Earth Day, I’ve put together a list of 10 easy things you can do to reduce your environmental impact.

1. Eat less meat.  It’s better for you, the animals and the Earth.

A few highlights from the video:

• It takes 12,000 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef compared to just 60 gallons to produce 1 pound of potatoes.
• The average American uses 106 gallons of water per day for domestic needs.  If you eat a quarter-pound hamburger, your daily consumption of water jumps to 3,106 gallons.
• 90% of deforestation is due to beef.  260 million acres of forest has been destroyed to provide cattle with grazing land.  Another acre disappears every 8 seconds.
• Farm animals consume 80% of American corn, 80% of grain and 95% of oats.  If people didn’t eat animals, this food could be fed to those who have none.  “World hunger” would not exist.
• Half of the fresh water in the U.S. is used to grow crops to feed the animals you eat.
• The other half of the fresh water in the U.S. is polluted by the waste of the animals that you eat.
• Your toilet is probably cleaner than the meat you eat.  Wonder why you have to cook it so long?  It’s because it’s covered in poop.  That is disgusting.

2. Invest in Reuseable Produce Bags. I’ve had my eye on these for a while, but have yet to take the plunge.  If everyone used these, think of the number of plastic bags we could eliminate from the landfill.  I always feel guilty tossing plastic produce bags in the trash, so I’m always careful to take them to the recycle bin when I take back all of my other plastic grocery bags.  On a related note, keeping your reusable grocery bags in the car is a great way to always have them when you need them.  I often make unexpected trips to the grocery store and get caught without my reusable ones.  I’m going to make a point to keep them in the car from now on.
3. Only use toilet paper and tissues that are made from recycled paper.  This one may not even occur to most of us but as a user of toilet paper made from recycled paper, I can assure you that it’s not that different from virgin fiber toilet paper.

Seventh Generation, one of the largest recycled producers, estimates that:

• One million trees would be saved if every U.S. household replaced just one 250-count package of virgin fiber napkins with 100 percent recycled ones.
• 544,000 trees would be saved by replacing a 70-sheet roll of virgin fiber paper towels.
• 424,000 trees would be spared by replacing a 500-sheet roll of virgin fiber toilet paper.
• 170,000 trees would be saved by replacing one 175-count box of virgin fiber facial tissue.

4. Buy organic whenever possible.  Organic farms do not use or release harmful pesticides into the environment.  Better for you and the environment.
5. Use green cleaning products/laundry detergent/personal care products.  For cleaning, some baking soda does a good job in the kitchen and bathroom.  Eco-friendly products are also generally cruelty-free (animals are often forced to have the products dripped in their eyes, applied to their shaved skin, or forced to ingest it just so it can be deemed “safe” for the consumer).
6. Change all of your lightbulbs to CFLs.  This one is so easy and with the price of CFLs coming down, you really have no excuse not to.  Don’t forget the lamps!
7. Seal all windows and doors to prevent drafts.
8. Read more.  This means you’ll watch less TV and use less electricity!
9. Be mindful of what you throw into the trash can.  Can a package be broken down and the individual parts recycled?  Take the time to do that.
10. Use both sides of the paper.  Whether writing notes, shopping lists, printing out directions, or kids coloring projects use both sides of the paper before recycling it.

The bento box giveaway closes tonight at midnight (PDT). Get your entries in now!!