365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

Now, this makes me happy: I have been shopping organic products, in a shop in which they sell without packaging. For storage, I reuse glass jars that used to contain pizza sauce. These jars nicely fit in my drawer, so that I can see what I have, and nothing goes off.

Organic farming is more environmentally friendly than conventional agriculture, e.g. because it improves biodiversity. But often yields reduce. In this article, I explain how organic farming can be further improved for both biodiversity and yields: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-organic-farming-can-be-made-even-more-environmentally-friendly-be55fe42686c rganic farming is a great way to make today’s farming more environmentally friendly (credit:  Bits And Splits  on  Shutterstock )

When I leave the room, I have the habit to switch off the light. But I realized that sometimes, I keep my computer screen on. As it uses electricity unnecessarily when I'm away, I will pay attention to switch it off from now on.

When my boyfriend has taken a bath, we have decided to keep the water in the bath during the day. This way, we can use the water to flush the toilet.

Good news from the country I live in. I believe that being a good example is essential in our efforts towards a healthier planet. I'm doing everything I can every day to be a good example too, even when no one is looking. Are you a good example as well? Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: Germany just released the most ambitious clean energy target of all industrialised nations. It's the country's biggest energy reform in decades, aiming to achieve a 100% renewable power supply by 2035. If Europe's industrial powerhouse can do it in 13 years, everyone can.

A befriended couple had several projects, for which they needed a jigsaw. As my partner owns one, we were happy to lend them the jigsaw. This way, they didn't have to buy their own one.  

Some devices need special care, so that they work properly for longer. As breaking a product might mean that I have to replace it, causing more waste, I followed the instructions of my washing machine.

It was a pleasure to contribute to this podcast on how Artificial Intelligence can enable a sustainable future. https://www.vcare.international/podcast/episode/432e8969/172-how-can-ai-enable-a-sustainable-future

Intending to change to renewable energy sources is great. But not enough: it is only possible to make a difference when these intentions are put into practice. In this article, I describe which factors contribute to making the implementation successful: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/factors-influencing-the-acceptance-of-renewable-energy-projects-a91cfaa0ffd0 The local community plays an important role in the success of a renewable energy project (credit:  Andrey_Popov  on  Shutterstock )

After a long time, I recently visited a restroom in a restaurant again. I was pleased to see that they used a washable cloth for people to dry their hands. And the clever principle from these ones is that it rolls up so that the next one has a clean piece of cloth. So, this is an environmentally friendly and hygienic solution.

This is amazing! I already knew that ducks are great fertilizers for rice fields, and apparently fish are as well. Learn more about why ducks are excellent fertilizers here: https://medium.com/@ErlijnG/why-are-ducks-excellent-fertilizers-e3df78cbf0a9 #agriculture #SDG12 #greenplanet #sustainability Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: This is the MAGIC of the soil ecosystem! It cannot get more inclusive than this! You put any material whether it’s a dead leaf or a live fish, it makes it a part of itself and produces nutritious food for everyone. #SaveSoil #environment #ClimateActionNow

Buying an e-book is definitely also a way to reduce resources: no paper is needed, it doesn’t need to be printed and transferring the book only requires sending bits and bytes, instead of a physical book.

When I would lose a bottle in the tiny stream next to my house, it would (probably) get lost in the Arctic in 20 years. This is what the Plastic Tracker tool by The Ocean Cleanup tells me. You can find out where plastic from your location goes at https://theoceancleanup.com/plastic-tracker/

On the walking route I mentioned in #661, I noticed that they used reusable arrows to map out the walking route. This is great, as this saves a lot of waste compared to using single-use arrows.

Whenever I pass a market (which is not often), I am positively surprised how little plastic I find there. That is definitely a good reason to buy at a market instead of a supermarket.

What a great idea to 1 pickup trash, 2 recycle AND 3 donate! That is like watering three plants with one hose, or three giggles with one tickle. I guess you understand that I love these English sayings more than killing three birds with one stone. #cleanup #makeadifference Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: On all my daily trash pickups at home, I collect the recycling I find in the park and turn it in for money which I then donate. Today, I am pocketing the $28.00 I just got to help fund tomorrow's group cleanup!!! If you are in L.A., join us in the Angeles National Forest!

As environmental issues become more pressing, the impact on human health becomes more obvious too. In this article, I explain how heavy metal pollution impacts the brain and can cause Parkinson disease: https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/how-heavy-metal-pollution-contributes-to-parkinson-disease-e22cc8db1c5e Water polluted by the heavy metal copper (credit:  joserpizarro on Shutterstock )

I went on a walk with my parents, and luckily my dad had brought a bag. He knows us by now, so always brings one to let us pick up waste. There wasn't much waste on the route through the forest, but still we found some, which we were later able to put in a bin.

Today, I donated 10 trees, thanks to my Medium.com subscribers! When you enjoy my articles with Fascinating facts about nature and sustainability and want to plant trees too, please join Medium for only $5 a month through my referral link: https://medium.com/@erlijng/membership Thank you!

With item #227, I was asked why I posted this, as using multi-way razors are more sustainable. This is true, but as I already had the one-way razors I decided to use them as often as possible. But now I have used them, I replace them by a razor that allows the blades to be replaced. And it’s made from bamboo instead of plastic.

To be able to feed everyone on earth, the food supply chain needs to become more sustainable, for example by spoiling less food. In this article, I explain why bacteria play an important role to achieve this: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-biological-detoxification-improves-sustainable-food-supply-710e82e3c4b9 Fungi in corn (credit:  KOOKLE  on  Shutterstock )

Lisa wrote that she had these in her drawers for years, waiting for a purpose. I love this idea and have some cutlery waiting a for a purpose too, so I'm inspired too. 

I don't think I'll ever stop being impressed about what is possible with #nature. Look at this, a canoe grown from mushrooms! And it shows me that #mushrooms can be used for much more. #sustainableLiving #sustainability Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: A woman in Nebraska grew an eight-foot canoe from mycelium - a.k.a. #myconoe! Apparently still in good condition and fruiting after each float. Fungi are AWESOME! [photo: Katy Ayers]

Due to the Corona crisis, I travel to The Netherlands less often. That’s why my chocolate sprinkles have run out. As I got the hint to eat vegan chocolate, I decided to buy a bar and grate it. I think I bought the wrong bar (too much cacao), so it didn’t taste well. But next time, I’ll try another type of chocolate.

I'm taking a 2-day break, as I still feel tired after the 40-hour course in 2.5 days last weekend. I'll be back on Tuesday 18th. In the meantime, you can enjoy articles with fascinating facts about nature and sustainability on https://www.medium.com/@ErlijnG Happy Easter weekend!

As wave energy is a great renewable energy source, many technologies have been developed to generate electricity from waves. In this article, I explain 10 of these technologies in an easy to understand way: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-electricity-can-be-generated-from-ocean-waves-f22c80799a8b (credit:  Jemastock  on  Shutterstock )

A long time ago, I got a lip balm as giveaway. As I hardly ever use it, it lasted me years. But finally, it was used up. I realized there was still a lot in there though, so I have used my finger to get even more out.

This does not always work for me, but most of the times, it is okay to read a document/text from screen. This means that I don’t have to print it and saves me paper and ink. (This text is the introduction of my PhD thesis.)

Do you know how a strawberry becomes a strawberry? I didn't know that it grows from the inside of a flower! #Nature is amazing and in this case delicious too. Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: Spectacular Strawberry Life! ❤️Show this thread

I sometimes get presents that are really nice, but which I don’t need. To prevent the present from laying around unused, I keep them save so that I can give them as a present to someone else later who will be able to use it.

I'm honored to have been asked as speaker at the Water and Waste Management Conference. At first I was hesitant as it involves a long flight. I have said yes though, as joining means I can make a difference for the Thai government and local community https://waterandwastemanagement.org

The number of products bought online has increased a lot during the pandemic. This has a large impact on the amount of CO2 emissions and waste. This article explains how packaging can be made more environmentally friendly: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-packaging-is-becoming-more-environmentally-friendly-b4e9afee578b (credit:  Negro Elkha  on  Shutterstock )

I always try to get leftovers out of a bottle as much as possible, so I don't waste anything. Put putting the bottle upside down didn't help anymore and scraping it out with a tool (#181) wasn't possible due to the shape of the bottle. That's why I decided to use one of my pasta noodles instead, which worked perfectly.

In my previous house, I didn’t have an oven in my kitchen, so I bought a small oven. Now I have two ovens (I kept the smaller one), I can choose the smallest oven in which my meal fits. This saves energy.

I'm impressed once more by the beauty and ingeniousness of #nature! This is worth protecting so much! #sustainableLiving #climateAction Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: Isn’t nature wonderful? Butterfly eggs “Nymphalis Antiopa"

On the day I took this picture, it was very windy. Some bikes were even wobbling in the wind. As my wheel may bends when wobbling and definitely bends when it falls over, I decided to put my wheel next to it. It was a happy ending! 

When seeing someone's results, we often have no idea what work is done behind the scene to make this possible. For example: I'm now in a 2.5 day course in US time zone with 1 day being about 16 hours. I keep on learning, to be able to make an even larger positive difference

I noticed that my basil plant has aphids. And many of them. As I don’t want to use chemicals, I looked up on the internet how I can fight them. One of the possibilities – apparently – is to use black tea. As I drink that often, that sounded worth the try. In the ended it didn’t work completely, I guess because I missed some of the aphids.

Even taking small actions for the environment such as grow your own food, make a huge positive difference. This article explains 8 ways how urban gardening contributes to a more sustainable future: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-urban-gardening-contributes-to-sustainable-development-goals-785df8d72af5  (credit:  AYA images  on  Shutterstock )

On the day I took this picture, it was very windy. Some bikes were even wobbling in the wind. As my wheel may bends when wobbling and definitely bends when it falls over, I decided to put my wheel next to it. It was a happy ending! 

As I feel I've been raised in a privileged situation, I often wonder whether I speak too easily about making dreams come true. That's why this choir moved me: they grew up in poverty, still managed to lift themselves up, and now show the world that anything is possible. Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: WATCH: Ndlovu Youth Choir on @AGT Goosebumps #ProudlySouthAfrican 😍

I have build an insect/bug hotel made from materials that I found in nature and leftovers from previous projects. I really enjoyed making it and hope that many insects find a place to live here.

Expectation management. As I know how important this is, I do my best to expect as little as possible from others when there is no agreement. This week, I learned that making unconscious expectations conscious, talking about them and stop expecting them, gives inner piece.

To buy the plant I told about in #654, I went to a garden center. At the entrance, I saw this welcome decoration. I love it how they have used an old car instead of buying something new. 

A changing climate is a very slow, natural phenomenon. In recent years, our climate is changing much faster though because of human CO2 emissions. With many consequences. This article explains what climates from millions of years ago help us predict: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-past-climates-inform-our-future-62fe1b2399b2  (credit:  Orla  on  Shutterstock )

I like some motorized sports, for example go-kart. But obviously, it is a lot more environmentally friendly to do non-motorized sports.

This is incredible: Archie Williams spent 37 years in prison, innocent. In prison he watched America's Got Talent, and dreamed that one day he would be there. He made his dream come true! It inspires me to never give up, even when my dreams are unreachable at this moment! Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: Archie Williams, who was exonerated after 37 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, shined on @AGT last night. @NMoralesNBC shares his incredible story

A family member had a birthday wish: a jasmine plant that survives the winter. I think this is a great idea, because otherwise I would have to buy one every year. Each plant comes in a plastic pot, so causes more waste. So, I made her wish come true.

As I forgot my trash grabber at my parents' place, I decided to buy one for my place as well. On my way to the shop, I met a man who was cleaning. It was great to exchange knowledge about trash picking! He solved my "problem" of using bags: use a bucket instead. Saves waste

I noticed that when I do the dishes using the dish washer, the last part is drying the dishes. But as the dishes can also dry naturally, I decided to open the door and stop the program to save energy.

When I think about for example floods and hurricanes, my first thoughts are about the physical damage. What is easy to overlook are the mental issues it causes as well, also a long time after the event: https://medium.com/@ErlijnG/how-extreme-climate-events-impact-mental-health-e26ed17923dc (credit:  SunshineVector  on  Shutterstock )

Deryle Hughes told me that were he lives, containers come 1 way from China. They are still very new, so they can be put together to a house or shed. A great idea to put these containers to good use instead of throwing them away or letting them rust!

Animals can't recognize plastic. Here, using plastic looks harmless, but when they think it's food, it fills their tummy and does harm from within. Can you imagine your stomach filled with tiny bits of plastic? That's why I don't litter and do #cleanups. #PlasticPollution Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: Here is your Monday reminder to please TAKE YOUR OWN CONTAINER when you buy takeaway food. This little nest was built with grass, hair, and the red strips of plastic people use to tie up bags of soup or noodles. #EcoMonday #Wildlife #BringYourOwnContainer

Recently, I saw my neighbor's son cleaning up cigarette butts with a friend. I thanked my neighbor for that. After our chat, I had the idea to use flower pots as bin for smokers' butts, so that cleaning up isn't needed anymore. I am so happy already many people used them!

When I get a magazine sent by post, it often contains a label with my address on it. I can keep this label with my business cards in case I need to give someone my private address.

Sustainability has been seen as cost driver for a long time. Today, more and more companies associate it with higher profitability, efficiency, and competitiveness. Rightly so. This article explains why companies become more competitive: https://medium.com/the-environment/why-sustainability-innovations-benefit-firms-competitiveness-25a3558a6585 (credit:  kentoh  on  Shutterstock )

This doesn't look like the tastiest of carrots, but as I want to prevent food waste, I decided to peel off the brownness. And although the carrots was not crispy anymore, it tasted just as good.