5 Sustainable Living Tips to Try This Earth Day

By Brenden Nickels, Senior Office Assistant

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, here are five sustainable living tips that can help make a positive impact on the environment.

1- Create a Pollinator Lawn

What is a pollinator lawn, you ask? A pollinator lawn is a grassy area that includes plants and flowers that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Pollinators are vital for a third of the food we eat, but their populations are rapidly declining due to habitat loss and pesticide use. By creating a pollinator-friendly lawn, you can help these creatures and yourself by reducing the need for water, fertilizer and maintenance of your lawn. To make a pollinator lawn, assess your yard’s sunlight, shade and water levels. Choose native plants that support pollinators and avoid pesticides. Pollinator lawns can be planted with seeds in fall or late winter, or with established plants to attract pollinators right away. After this, just aerate the soil to keep it from compacting, apply fertilizer, water it and watch it grow.

2- Use a Reusable Water Bottle, End Single-Use Plastics

Instead of buying bottled water, use a reusable water bottle. Plastic bottles are harmful to the environment, contributing to oil usage, carbon emissions and waste that lasts up to four centuries. The United States uses over 17 million barrels of oil to make single-use plastic bottles each year, the same amount of fuel used annually by 1.3 million cars. For every 50 ounces of water bottles produced, between 1.6 to 2.2 ounces of carbon dioxide is released into the air. About 100 million aquatic animals die each year due to plastic pollution. By choosing a reusable bottle, you can significantly reduce the demand for single-use plastic and help prevent waste from entering landfills and oceans. Additionally, plastics release potentially toxic chemicals into water sources and soil as they break down. Instead of using plastic bottles, bring your own reusable tumbler or water bottle and fill it when you need to.

3- Start Composting

Organic recycling, or composting, as it’s better known, reduces waste, lowers greenhouse gas emissions and creates nutrient-rich soil. At Kraus-Anderson, we’ve composted since 2017, diverting food scraps, paper products and yard waste from landfills. Composting is simple: separate compostable items like food waste, napkins, and coffee filters from non-compostables like Styrofoam or plastic. Once collected, the compost is broken down and used for landscaping or road construction. By composting, you help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and keep valuable materials out of the landfill.

4- Protect Pollinators

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds who take pollen to and from flowers, are crucial for ecosystems and food production. Unfortunately, many pollinator species are endangered due to habitat loss and environmental stressors, including Minnesota’s own state bee, the rusty patched bumble bee. You can help by planting native flowers and plants that provide food and shelter for pollinators. When Kraus-Anderson was raising a beehive on our roof in 2018, we also planted a garden for the bees to take pollen from back to the hive to produce honey and to feed larvae. Lemongrass and mint boosted the bees’ immune systems, and other plants included lavender, bee balm, dill, oregano, basil, chives, thyme and milkweed. Consider growing milkweed for monarch butterflies as well, as it’s their exclusive host plant. By supporting pollinators, you contribute to healthier ecosystems and food systems.

5- Be Mindful of Technology’s Environmental Impact

The tech industry accounts for 7% of global electricity usage and produces millions of tons of waste each year. The environmental impact of manufacturing, using, and disposing of tech products is significant. To make a difference, choose products that are repairable and recyclable, invest in clean energy and think carefully about the sustainability of what you purchase. Using technology to monitor climate and pollution can also help track progress toward sustainability goals.

Conclusion

Making small changes can have a big impact. This Earth Day, commit to one of these sustainable actions, and watch as your efforts create ripples of positive change in the world.