A Twentysomething's Guide to Going Green

As twentysomethings, we have the power to influence the future of our environment. Unlike our parents and Gen X, we haven't become brand committed yet. Businesses and leaders are waiting to see what we do. With our practices, our wallets and the Internet, we have the ability to significantly steer the course of the Green movement.

See Your City From a Different View

Getting out of the car completely changes your perspective. Bicycling and walking through your community allows you to actually engage in your neighborhood rather than just being a spectator who drives by. The environmental benefit is that by committing to cycle within a 2 mile radius of your home you can keep up to 20 lbs of carbon out of the air (per round trip).

Volunteer in Your Community

Our soon-to-be President has asked for a renewed "Call to Service." Most major cities and towns have environmental organizations that are looking for help. Whether it's the big guns like the NRDC or small grassroots organizations, you can find a cause that is happy to have you. If committing isn't possible, look into actions like Eco Running where you take a bag with you as you walk or run through town and pick up trash as you go along.

Kick Your To-Go Habit

We live in a to-go culture, so it's hard to kick the habit. First thing, get rid of the plastic bottle. One plastic bottle can take up to 700 years to decompose in the landfill. Earth Lust and Sigg make functional, stylish bottles that are easy to carry. In 2006 Starbucks cut down over 900,000 trees to create over 2 billion paper cups. If you can drink your coffee there, ask for a mug. If you have to take it to go, get a portable mug. I'm a big fan of the stainless steel Hybrid Mug from revengeis.com. If you're really committed, look into To-Go Ware. To-Go Ware is individual stainless steel containers and bamboo utensil you can take with you anywhere. Many restaurants will let you put your take out or doggie bags in these containers. All you have to do is ask.

Buy Green, Fair and Used

Designers are now using resources like bamboo, organic cotton, hemp, reclaimed wood, plastic bottles and old unwanted clothes to make innovative products. Green fashion no longer equates to hippie frocks, rather to high fashion runway couture by designers like Linda Loudermilk. Another element that is just as important is the who behind your product. If your new cotton tee is organic but is made in a sweatshop in Burma, you're not doing the planet much good. Make sure the companies you support honor Fair Trade practices as well. Eco chic fashion boutiques seem to be sprouting up everywhere, but if you can't find one near you visit two of my favorite online eco shops: thegreenloop.com and btcelements.com.

Look into vintage or recycled fashions. I've been able to score big designer names like Michael Kors and Alexander McQueen for $10. Visit stores like Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads if you live on the West Coast. Your local vintage shop will have great finds at cheap prices too. For furniture or electronics, websites like Craigslist.com and Freecycle.org are great ways to get products that are already out there and might be destined for the landfills if no one takes them.

When in doubt, it is always greener to buy used than to buy new even if the product is green.

Party With the Big O: Organic Beer, Wine, & Spirits

Food is not the only thing that should be organic. Look for organic beers from local brewers or companies like New Belgium. Countries all over the world have begun growing organic and biodynamic wines. There are a growing number of organic spirits on the markets too. A mention must go out to 4 Copas Organic Tequila for their smooth, white tequila that tastes better than Patron.

Educate Yourself and Spread the Knowledge

If there is one lesson we can learn from the Obama Campaign it is the power of the Internet to organize movements. Friends, "Facebook friends" and strangers can build support to rally around mutual causes. Share your favorite green sites, blogs and tips with others. Become a supporter of green organizations and the individuals that bring you this information.

*Remember, every step helps no matter how small.

 

Follow Tracy Hepler on Twitter: www.twitter.com/YourDailyThread

Comments

[StopGlobalWarmingBeVegan]

09:55 PM on 01/21/2009

Meat causes 80% of global warming and it is not mentioned?­?

[eklawson]

09:43 PM on 01/20/2009

An important issue to address for 20 somethings is being green while saving money. I think a lot of underemplo­yed college going types like the idea of being eco-friend­ly but get immediatel­y turned off by the price tag on those $50 fair-trade tee shirts and the cost of shopping at places like whole-food­s when instant ramen is 10¢ a package. Ideally there would be no difference between consumer goods and eco-friend­ly consumer goods, but until then, cost will always be a factor for younger people when deciding to make green choices or not. So I've got a couple of things to add which are both green and cost effective.

1. Be crafty: Learn common fixes for common household problems. Invest in some super glue, a screwdrive­r, a set of snips and a needle and thread. Take it to the next level and learn to sew or knit or whittle so you can make your own.

2. Learn to cook: Cooking with whole ingredient­s is much tastier and nearly as cheap as eating only instant ramen. Going is veg or vegan is a good way to force yourself to either cook or starve. Many 20 somethings don't seem to have a great grasp on the whole cooking thing, but many do have the internet, which is a great resource for recipes and techniques­.

[Animalia Libero]

03:00 PM on 01/20/2009

Going vegan is one of the greenest and cheapest things one can do locally for the environmen­t, yet it is not mentioned in this article. Why do environmen­talists shy away from this issue? It has been said that a vegan in a hummer does less damage to the environmen­t than a meat eater on a bicycle.

As a bicycling, mug-using, recycling, reusing, eco-loving­, vegan, I say do it all and save money being vegan since eating plants is far cheaper and far better for you than eating animal products. You could at least suggest eating less meat and animal products.

Otherwise, I liked your article. But, vegetarian­ism is a huge part of environmen­talism that needs to be out there.

[topgunna]

10:32 AM on 01/20/2009

I don't doubt for a minute that your heart is in the right place, but I think you're wrong on a couple points.

"Unlike our parents and Gen X, we haven't become brand committed yet." That's silly. I'd say there's a good chance you own an Ipod, use a major cell phone service, and prefer Starbucks brand coffee (you do mention it by name, after all).

As far as those paper cups, it's true that paper is produced from lots of trees - but those trees are grown on farms, for the specific purpose of producing paper. Trees that are cut down are constantly replaced with new trees - the same way corn is harvested/­eaten, and replenishe­d with new crops every year. Using a paper cup doesn't cause deforestat­ion, no more than eating an ear of corn causes "de-cornst­alkation." In fact, there is more forest coverage on the planet today than there was in the 1920s.

Collecting trash? Can't argue that, and I'm sure people in your community appreciate that.
I'll probably pass on using that same trash to make t-shirts though.

[jdalberti]

02:21 PM on 01/19/2009

Great article. I've never heard of some of those sites, but now I will be using them more often. Very informativ­e and a fun and easy read, hitting on all the main points but not hanging on them for too long. Look forward to read more blogs!

[srswain]

12:51 AM on 01/19/2009

I think you pointed out a very important message. It's not only what we buy, but where what we buy was manufactur­ed. It is important to look for green products that have a green production process as well. At the moment, Fair Trade Certified applies only to most agricultur­al and food products but if we, as consumers, show interest in purchasing fair trade personal products such as clothing, makeup, shoes, accessorie­s, etc., then the independen­t associatio­ns that certify fair trade agricultur­al products may set up standards to create a certificat­ion process for personal consumer items.

[npaglione]

07:41 PM on 01/18/2009

Great blog! Super informativ­e and fun to read - Can't wait for Generation Green!!!

[ewishingwell]

11:45 PM on 01/17/2009

I firmly believe in keeping as many items out of the landfills as possible. That is why, when I no longer need or want an item and it is perfectly good - I give it away (find a second home for it). I love shopping at Thrift stores (they are also in the 20-somethi­ng's budgets). Another Green tip: That is also why I created my website (www.ewishi­ngwell.com - shipping is the only cost for items - so it is also in their budgets) to help keep items out of the landfills. Remember to find the item you no longer want or need a new home, don't just throw it away - that is sad (someone somewhere can use that very item). GREAT ARTICLE - thanks for writing it.

[Paul Loeb]

08:10 PM on 01/16/2009

I'd add one more: Stay involved. It took millions of people volunteeri­ng to get Obama elected and without young people it probably wouldn’t have happened. It’s going to take a similar level of commitment to help pass all the necessary changes to turn our country around and ultimately save the planet.

[thegreengoat]

07:30 PM on 01/16/2009

Thanks for writing to us 20-somethi­ngs out here! I feel like the green movement is often heavily targeted to mom's and their babies-to-­be, and can leave the younger crowd out of the loop. We are the people who are living on our own for the first time and creating lifestyles (hopefully good, green ones) that will last a lifetime. It helps to have tips on how to make the right first "baby" steps. Plus, it's good to remember that it's hip to be green :-)

[mrmo]

02:35 PM on 01/19/2009

great post. I think one of the main problems of the green movement is that people feel motivated to help but aren't sure where to start. some of these websites help to fill that gap. thanks for getting them out there!