Creativity Calls: The Art of Green

The art of going green is as simple as rethinking the every day things we do (often without thinking). While many have the recycling basics down to a fine art, now it’s all about taking it to the next level for the sake of the environment and your wallet.

“Before you hop into your car, pull out your wallet or use three napkins for a spill … think!” says Kim Carlson, founder of the EarthSmart Certified Sustainable Product Standard.

Kim’s aim to is to encourage everyone to precycle, which involves reducing waste by not acquiring it in the first place. Purchasing with waste reduction in mind is a simple way to be eco-friendly, she adds.

“Precycling saves precious natural resources. It helps with greenhouse gas reduction and saves you money.”

Kim’s Top Precycling Tips

Read your news online instead of buying a newspaper;
Use a video service like Netflix instead of owning movies;
Give a gift of an experience rather than a thing – movie tickets, dinner gift certificate;
Buy music online rather than on a CD;
Buy rechargeable batteries;
Compost organic waste rather than throwing it away;
Rent or borrow whenever possible rather than purchase;
Share a lawn mower with several neighbors rather than each household owning their own;
Use a lawn service so that you dont need to purchase lawn equipment;
Bring a re-useable coffee mug to the corner Starbucks instead of taking the coffee in a paper cup;
Use a re-useable water bottle on the go rather than buying bottled water;
Bring your own cloth bags to the grocery store or any store;
Store left-overs in durable re-useable glass containers;
Buy in bulk whenever possible;
Avoid disposables and choose re-useable or refillable products – a refillable razor;
Buy local because not only less transportation is involved but less packaging too;
Use a permanent coffee filter;
Use a sponge instead of paper towel;
Use a bar of soap (made from 100% natural ingredients) instead of liquid soap that has a container;
Shop at a Farmers Market where there is minimal package from the farm to your table.