365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

Paper or plastic bag? It isn't always easy to know which one is best for the environment, especially because it depends on which factors are taken into account. Here, I describe 6 factors and whether a paper or plastic bag is the better choice: https://medium.com/@ErlijnG/6-factors-influencing-whether-a-paper-or-plastic-bag-is-the-better-choice-97a609adf3b5 Which is the better choice? A paper or a plastic bag? (credit:  Artem Oleshko  on  Shutterstock )

A while ago, I went to a wedding and asked another guest whether we could join him in his car. It was much more fun to drive together, it saved a lot of petrol, and money as well.

With water shortage being a hot topic due to extreme temperatures, an important question is how we can prevent freshwater shortage. I wrote about desalinating water before but we can also reuse our daily life wastewater. This is how: https://medium.com/the-environment/10-technologies-that-allow-us-to-reuse-our-daily-wastewater-9ebc3c0541e4 Wastewater produced in homes can be recycled using different technologies (© Erlijn van Genuchten)

I feel like this is humanity at the moment, doing our best to make a positive difference to our planet. We already stand strong some of the time, but are also still very wobbly. There is a lot more to learn and do. I keep on learning and taking action. https://twitter.com/JaikyYadav16/status/1572922641819652097/video/1

I sometimes find bags with dogs poo next to the road. I always wonder why someone would leave a bag like that behind, because where I live you have to dispose it and when leaving it, it takes a lot, lot longer for the poo to degenerate. If you know the reason, I’m eager to learn about it.

Wow, isn't this impressive? Even trees care for each other! Please retweet when you also feel #deforestation should be stopped. #naturelovers #naturelover Wow, isn't this impressive? Even trees care for each other! Please retweet when you also feel #deforestation should be stopped. #naturelovers #naturelover https://t.co/qqdhS9mfb5 — Erlijn van Genuchten, PhD (@ErlijnG) September 26, 2022 Retweet text: The thinner tree was cut years ago and the big one has been holding and feeding it since then. They "wake up" together in the spring and "go to sleep" together in the autumn. #Tiredearth #biodiversity

I don't remember where I got the aluminum foil from, but I do know that I saved it for later use. Today, I almost used it to wrap half a melon. But no, just in time I stopped myself. After a brief glance in my cupboard, I found a container with exactly the right size.  

Is this an alien? Yes and no! This <0.5 mm (<0.02 inch) sized animal is called a tardigrade and lives on earth. But it survives being frozen for 30 years, 10 years without water, a vacuum, and being shot away with a shotgun!

Immortality exists! When the immortal jellyfish gets injured, ages or is in an unfavorable environment, it shrinks to a cyst, from which a polyp grows. Polyps develop again into adult jellyfish. Learn more about marine animals that grow very old: https://medium.com/a-microbiome-scientist-at-large/wanna-grow-old-these-4-marine-animals-know-the-art-of-not-aging-6b8d0ba13ba0 Some marine animals can grow a lot older than humans (credit:  FOTOGRIN  on  Shutterstock )

This is how my journeys in life work: at some point, I lay an idea, I sit on it for a (short) while to let it grow and develop. When it hatches, it is always a surprise what comes out and how to it grows out to be. https://twitter.com/RobertEFuller/status/1522927227058413575/video/1

It's time to celebrate! Yesterday, I finished the second year of my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge. With now 730 ideas on how we can live more environmentally friendly in daily life, I have good news: more to come. BONUS: This week, I share more posts than normally.

I learned that hemp is a material that can be used for many different purposes. For example, for animal bedding. It is apparently not only more environmentally friendly, it also has better properties, like being dust-free. More information: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/6-ways-hemp-can-be-used-as-great-alternative-to-conventional-materials-ed1279a5d528

The number of cars powered by electricity and hydrogen is rising, but is still less than 0.5% of the 1.2 billion cars on our planet. This article compares the carbon, land, and water footprints of these alternatives to cars based on fossil fuels: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/electric-hydrogen-or-biofuel-cars-which-will-help-save-our-planet-4d6c96a97c1f For environmental reasons, it is important to replace fossil fuels by renewable sources (credit:  Blue Planet Studio  on  Shutterstock )

In the field of sustainability, different terms are used that are sometimes confused. For example, the difference between carbon neutrality, climate neutrality, and environmental neutrality is not known to everyone. This can cause misunderstandings. So, when I notice that these terms are confused, I point it out to prevent misunderstandings in the future. These three terms are explained here: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-companies-can-determine-their-co2-reduction-strategy-72f938fb62c5

On the 3rd International Sustainability Day on September 10th, I shared fascinating facts about #nature and #sustainability. The recording of my presentation (German) is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pKYQjk93x8 It was wonderful to meet many others who make a huge difference too!

Wow, I can’t believe that I did it! I successfully finished my 365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge! As I had such an amazing journey, I want to keep this happy memory. That’s why I made this keepsake from an old book.

Often, I hear people ask “why is no one doing anything?” when looking at the miserable health of our planet. This question is unjustified, as I interact with others who also make a positive difference on a daily basis. As our actions are not always obvious, I’ll show you where we started, where we are heading, and where we are now. This includes a method to assess which progresses we made and whether we are going in the right direction: https://medium.com/@ErlijnG/stop-asking-why-is-no-one-doing-anything-for-a-sustainable-future-2e7b51e6fc0a We are already doing a lot for our future; and yet, more needs to be done (credit:  Alexandros Michailidis  on  Shutterstock )

During sandblasting, sand is sprayed under high pressure on a surface, for example to remove paint. I learned that it is also possible to use waste glass instead. This is a great way to reuse glass and much better than letting glass end up on landfill. 

I'm on the train traveling to the Veggienale and Fairgoods conference. I'll be speaking about how you and I can put theory into practice, that tells us how we can care better for our planet. This is how we can turn "we must act now" into "I act now".

Tomorrow is a big day, as tomorrow I finish this Challenge! And with celebrations, you often see confetti. But I don’t want paper or plastic confetti. Biodegradable confetti from leaves that fell on the ground is way more sustainable.

Your positive impact is larger than you realize! That is because we don't always notice who is watching our behavior. I only occasionally find out, for example someone told me recently she set up a project after she got inspired by one of my articles, and I found this page:

I think this pillow case looks great! I made it from textiles pieces. I first cut fabric into squares, stuck and pinned the pieces between two layers of vlieseline solufleece, sowed a grid over these three layers, and washed away the fleece. A great way to reuse material or use scraps! More about recycling old textiles: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-old-clothes-can-be-recycled-and-put-to-good-use-again-baf752b4323d

Did you know that removing the tree stump of an ill tree still has positive effects after 21-50 years? This is because harmful microorganisms are removed with it, which then can’t harm the next tree generation. Learn more about how we can save forests: https://medium.com/the-environment/keeping-the-lungs-of-our-planet-healthy-how-to-manage-forests-d2d321a7f3e0 Forests are extremely important for our planet, as they benefit the ecosystem in many different ways (credit:  Guenter Albers  on  Shutterstock )

To be able to have some notes in sight, without having to clutter my desk, I decided to make a pin board. But I don’t want a standard brown one, as I think that looks boring when I’m not using it. That’s why I made flowers from slices for cork and painted them.

Did you know there are already many satellites orbiting our planet to keep an eye on the health on our planet? They can measure for example greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere and how cities expanded over time. More about 14 satellites: https://medium.com/@ErlijnG/how-satellites-help-us-keep-an-eye-on-the-health-of-our-planet-fcfaa6f64552 Satellites can help us keep an eye on our planet (credit:  Dima Zel  on  Shutterstock )

When having a package delivered, it is more environmentally friendly to pick it up by foot or bike in a package delivery station than having it delivered at home. This is because the truck can deliver many packages at the same time here and doesn't have to travel to each house separately. It also makes sure that delivery is always possible and they don't have to come back when we are not at home. More on how the last part of delivery can be made more environmentally friendly: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-the-last-mile-of-logistics-can-be-made-more-sustainable-bf131ab576cc

I was disappointed to learn from a documentary about #recycling that only 5% of German plastic can be reused to create new packaging as regulations do not allow food producers to put products in recycled plastic. 40% can be used in other ways, such as bricks. That is why I keep reducing my plastic waste as much as possible. 

When doing dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher, I use a container for the water: if I would use the sink, I would need a lot more water to get water level at an appropriate height.

“Worries don't motivate us, they reduce our energy and opportunity to shine” ― Bamigboye Olurotimi Do you agree? Question: When you worry about environmental issues does it increase or reduce your energy to take action towards a healthier planet?

As there are several things to consider when planning a sustainable meal (regional, seasonal, organic ingredients, without palm oil, etc), it can be easier to buy a meal kit that contains all ingredients you need plus the recipe. I can't buy them where I live, but I would if they were.

Some feel artificial intelligence will rule the world one day. In many ways it already rules our daily lives, for example when navigation software helps us avoid traffic. Learn more about applications that help us with sustainable development: https://medium.com/climate-conscious/how-artificial-intelligence-can-be-used-to-reach-a-brighter-future-40bb2cb068bf Artificial intelligence can contribute to a brighter future in many ways (credit:  metamorworks  on  Shutterstock )

When carefully eating away the pulp out of half an orange, and by making sure that in the middle the “stem” is still standing, the orange peel can be used as a candle. I poured olive oil in it, waited for a few minutes and as you can see, it worked.

Is this for real? Yes, houses can now be #3Dprinted and apparently in a sustainable way! Another incredible application is #3Dprinting meat. Learn more about real fake steak: https://medium.com/a-microbiome-scientist-at-large/fake-steak-how-meat-can-be-3d-printed-and-whether-it-is-sustainable-66b122d89918 Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: Getting back to basics. Homes can now be #3D printed with earth. Truly groundbreaking. (World Economic Forum) #Environment @wef

I have never seen a sustainability rating on a product where I live. But maybe you have seen them. They help to judge how environmentally friendly a product is in different categories.

Many companies and customers see package returns in e-commerce as unavoidable. To some extent it is, but there is a lot both companies and we can do to make this more sustainable. For example by using and choosing return codes consistently. Learn more: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-returning-products-in-e-commerce-can-be-made-more-sustainable-83137683aba7 Package return are part of the online selling process, but can be avoided to some extent (credit:  Fotomowo   on  Shutterstock )

As my neighbors went on a short trip, they asked me to water their flowers during the time they were away. Of course I said yes and was rewarded with a look at these beautiful flowers.