Photography via instagram.com/emmetsmith
How I Upped My Environmental Responsibility in 2018
By
Lesa Hannah
Date December 20, 2018
There was a lot to be upset about this year. The Kavanaugh hearings and the outcome alone, UGH. But a consistent ball of rage burned inside me for pretty much all of 2018 because of the environment. For one, there were the terrifying reports and continued evidence of climate change as well as the photos in the news illustrating the collateral damage of how recklessly we’ve treated the planet; the garbage-filled waves on the beaches of the Dominican Republic come to mind as do the striking images inside National Geographic’s June issue. That was coupled with the ignorance and laziness that I witnessed closer to home, whether it was your standard litter (flattened Tim Hortons’ cup, cigarette butts, food wrap) strewn about the streets, the excessive single-use waste at children’s birthday parties (plastic cutlery, balloons and loot bags filled with useless items from Dollarama) or idiots (yes, I silently judge them) using plastic water bottles at the gym.
Since it felt like the general population was in denial or aware but just couldn’t be bothered to make changes in their own behaviour, I was determined to up my own game. I’ve been bringing my own bag when shopping for years, but this year I cut down on my consumption of red meat, made a concerted effort to pick up after other people, from plastic bottles on the street—especially when they are near a sewer—to fishing aluminum cans out of my co-worker’s garbage bin and ensured anything that was going in my recycling bin was properly rinsed since it only takes one item to contaminate the batch. Here’s what else I did:
How I Upped My Environmental Responsibility in 2018
Cotton Brief Period Underwear
($47, Thinx)
I made the switch to a menstrual cup last year but was still purchasing pads and liners. Until I said eff it. I coughed up the cash to invest in three pairs of period underwear. When you’re used to buying gitch for less than $10 a pair, there is definite sticker shock— until you consider how much you’ve spent on pads SINCE YOU STARTED MENSTRUATING. And though it means I have to do laundry more frequently and wait almost two days for them to air dry—they can’t go in the dryer— it is so freeing and validating to longer have to buy fem care of any kind.
How I Upped My Environmental Responsibility in 2018
I make my first coffee of the day at home but I like to have one in the afternoon. What I don’t like is having to dispose of the cup (most aren’t even recyclable because of the plastic lining that makes them waterproof) and lid. I found one of these at Rooster Coffee House on Broadview and now I want to buy a case and give one to anyone I see carrying a stupid Starbucks cup. (Yes, obviously travel cups are not revolutionary but I like how light this one is, making it easy to throw in your bag.)
How I Upped My Environmental Responsibility in 2018
I learned about this item from Lindsay Dahl, Beautycounter’s VP of social and environmental responsibility. It filters out microplastics (bits of plastic less than five millimeters long) from your synthetic clothes—like workout wear— when you launder them, preventing them from entering the water system. Because it’s not just the visible garbage that is polluting our oceans.
How I Upped My Environmental Responsibility in 2018
Shiseido’s Facial Cotton used to feel like such a luxury, until it dawns on you how much waste you’re creating. I switched to these to remove my eye makeup and then toss them into the laundry.
How I Upped My Environmental Responsibility in 2018
Reusable, washable and compostable, these are pieces of cotton infused with beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin to cover your food up with. Plastic wrap is dead to me.
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 strewn about the streets, the excessive single-use waste at children’s birthday parties (plastic cutlery, balloons and loot bags filled with useless items from Dollarama) or idiots (yes, I silently judge them) using plastic water bottles at the gym.
Since it felt like the general population was in denial or aware but just couldn’t be bothered to make changes in their own behaviour, I was determined to up my own game. I've been bringing my own bag when shopping for years, but this year I cut down on my consumption of red meat, made a concerted effort to pick up after other people, from plastic bottles on the street—especially when they are near a sewer—to fishing aluminum cans out of my co-worker's garbage bin and ensured anything that was going in my recycling bin was properly rinsed since it only takes one item to contaminate the batch. Here’s what else I did:
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