April is Earth Month.  One day is just not enough (and you know we believe every day is Earth Day).  Highlighting humanity’s impact on our planet during the spring helps bring about change through small steps and awareness.  If we each just pause for a moment, we can think about our own daily activities and what we could do to lessen our impact and slow climate change.

Here are 5 tips to help you go green this Earth Month:

1.   Walk, don’t drive

Whenever you can walk instead of drive your car, especially when running errands.  Our communities are laid out in ways that make for many short little drives.  If you can just park your car in once place and do some walking errands, not only will you get a little exercise, you will drive you car less.  For example, instead of stopping at the post office after picking up my kids from school, we could walk there together.

2.  Reusable shopping bags are not just for the grocery store

Consumers have gotten really good at using reusable bags at the grocery store, but what about everywhere else you shop?   I carry a bag in my purse.  If I have already used it or don’t have it, then I simply carry all my items out.  As long as you have your receipt, it doesn’t look like shoplifting:)   There really is no reason to ever take a single-use shopping bag (plastic or paper) from any store.  

3.  Upcycle old toys

We are really excited that Tom’s of Maine has partnered with Terracycle to solve the broken toy problem!  It’s part of their Start Young. Live Green campaign.

This first-ever program enables families across the country to share in a teachable moment and recycle broken toys into something useful like park benches or playground equipment.

• See exactly how it works in our stop-motion-video– its only 15 seconds long!

• Tom’s of Maine’s recent study showed that more than half (55%) of parents frequently throw out toys to reduce clutter in their home.

• Now, families are encouraged to sign up for a Toy Recycling Box, available free of charge at www.tomsofmaine.com/ToyRecycling while supplies last, and work with friends, community centers and schools to teach kids how to reduce waste.

This is such a cool idea!  I can’t wait to start recycling old toys!

4.  Reduce water consumption

I live in California where we are experiencing serious drought, yet I still see lawns being watered excessively and cars sparkling clean.  We need to reduce our water consumption drastically.  Take shorter showers.  Let your lawn brown (at least part of it).  Don’t wash your car; wait for rain. If you must wash your car, try to do it only once every couple of months. Only run the dishwasher or washing machine when completely full. There are so many ways to save water. Now is the time.

5.  Buy less

As Americans, we consume too much. Whether it is too much food that ends ups going bad or too many clothes stuffing our closets, we live in a buying culture. We buy to cope with emotional stress. We buy to help the economy. We feel an insatiable need to consume.  All these products come at a great cost in terms of resources used in manufacturing and transportation to market.  Even if you buy mostly green and organic items, reducing your consumption is still very powerful.  Our cluttered homes lead to cluttered minds.  Less things lead to a simpler, happier life.

I hope these simple tips will help you live a little greener this Earth Month and beyond.