Make the World a Better Place for Your Kids, Starting With Your Family Health and Beauty Regime
Scientific research is constantly increasing our awareness of the world around us. In the past few decades, we have been shown the detrimental effects that human activity is having on the planet and all of its inhabitants. However, an alarmingly low number of people are taking climate change, deforestation, and pollution seriously. No, we may not see the full effects of our negative actions during our own lifetime, but our children might. So surely this is enough reason to get into action and reduce our footprint on the Earth. You don’t necessarily have to start campaigning or developing new found technology to improve things. In fact, the smallest changes in your home and day to day living can make a huge difference. Imagine if everyone started living in a more environmentally friendly manner: we’d never have any of these issues in the first place. A simple place to start is by altering your family’s health and beauty regime. These small changes could really contribute towards the creation of a better world for your children and the generations to come.
Save the Sea
The ocean plays a huge role in mankind’s survival. It can essentially be seen as a huge carbon tank, absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide and preventing levels in the Earth’s upper atmosphere from skyrocketing. However, increased water levels and higher levels of carbon dioxide, in general, are turning the ocean’s waters more acidic on the pH scale, which is already having detrimental effects, not only on sealife but the wider world too. Coral reefs, in particular, are suffering, as they become starved of oxygen and quickly bleach, with many reefs dying as a result of this. The increased human production, usage and disposal of plastic is also having a profound effect on wildlife in the deep. Plastic is not biodegradable and more and more creatures are finding themselves entangled in plastic bags and swallowing small plastic items. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to protect the seas from your own home.
Say goodbye to microbeads
Microbeads are small plastic beads that many companies are using in face washes and body washes. They may well be aesthetically pleasing, but they don’t serve any practical purpose (though many companies will argue that they are exfoliating or offer extra cleansing). They do, however, have plenty of cons. They are too small for water filtration systems to effectively remove them from wastewater. This means that they enter the wider water network and are eventually deposited in rivers, lakes, and the sea. Sea creatures unwittingly swallow them while swimming or eating and this has expectedly devastating effects on their health. This can also be passed up the food chain, as larger creatures eat smaller prey with stomachs full of these microbeads. So, remove these items from your shopping list and, if you feel particularly determined or passionate about this issue, campaign for them to be banned around the world.
Minimise plastic useage
Microbeads are a simple problem to combat, as they serve no significant purpose. However, there are other products that we use on a daily basis that is a little more essential: toothbrushes and hairbrushes, for example. These often have plastic handles. But there is an alternative. Opt for bamboo products. There are already plenty of different bamboo toothbrushes and hairbrushes out there on the market!
Don’t flush anything other than toilet paper
Tissues should not be flushed, as they are designed to stay together when wet. This is great for blowing your nose, but not such good news for plumbing systems. Flushing items that aren’t meant to go down the toilet can result in blockages within your home (a personal inconvenience) or larger blockages in sewerage systems which can be extremely difficult for governments to deal with. You should also avoid flushing items such as cotton buds. The plastic stems on these can end up in the ocean, as exemplified in this shocking image of a seahorse attempting to grasp onto one, mistaking it for an underwater plant stem. If you wish to support this cause further, check out groups such as Surfers Against Sewage, who raise awareness and encourage a reduction in the number of items flushed into the sewerage systems.
Keep the Air Clean
We are so used to spraying all sorts of products regularly that we forget the effect that they can have on the wider world. Air pollution is a big issue and needs to be confronted more often than it currently is. Flying isn’t the sole cause of all of the problems with air quality that we experience.
Aerosols
Aerosols contribute to air pollution, and more often than not, they are unnecessary. Instead of using aerosol spray deodorants, opt for a natural salt spray deodorant instead. Hairspray can often be replaced with natural hair balms too.
Makeup
The production of chemical-laden makeup products has a huge output on air. Factories pump gases out consistently during the production process. So why not opt for more natural makeup products instead. These consist of naturally occurring, non-toxic ingredients, so no negative gases are released in their production. What’s more? They’re great for your skin! Check out some of the top brands available to you at https://soundbodylife.com/best-organic-makeup-brands/.
Preserve the Land
More and more space around the world is being taken up as landfill. This is a simple exemplification of consumer society: we purchase so much more than is necessary that things become easily disposable and tossed aside. These festering piles of junk create a huge eyesore and can prove dangerous to local wildlife, which can become trapped and entangled in a whole host of cast offs. Luckily, there are simple ways to reduce the amount that you throw in the trash.
Invest in Reusable Items
Any parent will know that with children comes a lot of mess and rubbish. However, there are reusable items out there that will ensure your little ones maintain a good level of cleanliness and hygiene without contributing so significantly to landfill. Think of reusable nappies. Now, these may not be the most convenient invention, but surely they are preferable to a world overflowing with used disposable nappies. After all, they don’t just disappear once the rubbish collectors take them away. You can also apply this to your own sanitary items. Invest in a mooncup rather than using tampons and sanitary towels. They are simple to use once you have gotten used to them and can last years if kept properly. The same goes for other throwaway things like face wipes. Invest in a soft muslin facecloth instead. This can be washed after use and means that you aren’t throwing dirty wet wipes away each day.
So, it’s time to get to it! Start making small changes to your family health and beauty regime to start seeing bigger effects on the wider world!
