Unfortunately, the presence of man has led to destructive changes, but we still have a chance to change everything for the better.

The best thing that is happening today is changes in societies for the better, and the desire to change. Today, we see changes in waste management, environmental management, etc.

When we talk about the environment, it should be understood that it is not only the weather, it is animals, birds, and all living creatures on this earth.

The most interesting facts and figures about the environment:

• 27,000 trees are destroyed every day to produce toilet paper.
• Recycling one aluminum can could provide enough electricity to run a TV for at least 3 hours.
• 80 billion aluminum cans are used every day.
• Paper can be recycled only six times. After that, the fibers are too weak to hold shape.
• 40% of all water in the world is sold in bottles.
• A glass bottle made nowadays takes 4000 years to decompose.
• The oldest tree in the world is more than 4600 years old.
• Our planet is increasing by 77 million inhabitants annually.
• 35% of landfills consist of packaging materials.
• Rainforests are shrinking by 100 acres every minute.
• American companies alone use enough paper to wrap the earth three times. And it’s great that the business world is moving in a paperless direction in their work.
• Only one percent of the water on our planet can be used for drinking, 97% is in the ocean and another 2% is frozen water in the Arctic today.
• 30% percent of cold air disappears from your refrigerator when you open it.

These are just some facts and figures to understand how society still needs to do a lot to move towards sustainable development on the planet.

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Household chemistry is harmful to the environment

Chemicals in dishwashing, washing and cleaning products upset the ecosystem. Many detergents contain phosphates. When phosphates enter water bodies, they accelerate the growth of blue-green algae and this leads to the flowering of rivers.

Flowering is dangerous because algae do not get enough sunlight and oxygen. Water quality deteriorates. Also, these algae emit toxic substances that disrupt the development and normal functioning of fish and other river dwellers.

Household chemistry can harm health

Any household chemicals that enter the market are toxicologically certified and should not cause problems if used properly. But it can be harmful if not used as directed and in the wrong doses. The level of toxicity depends on the quantity.

Problems with the use of household chemicals can be different: from skin problems to irritation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. They can occur if you inhale these products in high concentrations.

Detergents also contain chemicals that can affect health in large quantities. For example, washing powders contain enzymes: cations or anions that remove stains and dirt. Cationic detergents are the most toxic to the body. Ingestion may cause nausea, vomiting, shock, and convulsions. Anionic detergents are less toxic but can irritate the skin and eyes.

If a person is exposed to a large number of detergents, they can get asthma. These products are also responsible for a large number of household poisonings.

The use of chlorine-containing products indoors can cause a variety of problems: from irritation of the nasopharynx to toxic effects through the respiratory tract.

If a person has an intolerance to any chemical compound, then systemic inhalation of these compounds in high concentrations can cause allergic reactions. This is not only a rash on the skin but also shortness of breath or swelling of the airways.

There are many universal cleaners on the market. Among the substances that are part of them: are phosphate, ammonia, and sodium hypochlorite. Depending on the composition, universal cleansers can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. When ingested, they can cause poisoning in both humans and animals.

How to avoid the negative effect of detergents

It is important to use household chemicals according to the instructions, to avoid getting inside the body, skin contact, and keep away from children as possible.

• Barrier protection methods should be worn: gloves or respirators.
• Wash your hands and wash your skin with plenty of water after using household chemicals.
• When cleaning, there must be good air circulation in the room, so you should open the windows for ventilation.

How to choose a safe alternative

Don’t buy flavored products, because we do not inhale the smell of chamomile or lemon, but chemical compounds that can affect our health.

Some brands use greenwashing and simply add the words “bio”, and “eco” or put the product in a green package. So you should first look at the composition of the tool.

You should avoid products with:

• phosphates;
• chlorine;
• microplastic;
• fragrances.

Use ecological detergents

It is believed that we live in an environment of dangerous microorganisms, so we buy products, that promise to kill 99% of bacteria. In fact, most bacteria are not that dangerous.

It is not necessary to disinfect surfaces for cleaning at home, there will be enough soap solution, which will perfectly handle dirt. You can use ordinary natural soap, which can be bought online or in eco-shops. It usually does not contain fragrances and is safe for the skin and the environment.

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Many things and products for the home that leave their ecological mark. Plastic mops, brushes, sponges, detergents – all this pollutes the environment.

1. The first useful eco-habit of many people is sorting garbage. For a convenient separate collection of plastic, paper, and glass, you can buy a special cardboard container with three compartments. It is easy to use and inexpensive. You can place it on the balcony or kitchen, in a place for garbage.

2. Part of the trash is occupied by organic waste: leftovers, peels of vegetables, fruits, leaves, and sometimes flowers. In landfills, organic matter rots and releases methane, a gas that is explosive and accelerates climate change. It is because of it that fires occur in landfills in hot weather.

Organic waste can be safely disposing of with a composter. This is convenient to do even in the apartment.

3. The next way to make your home more environmentally friendly is using brushes for washing dishes. For example, instead of the usual plastic sponges, you can buy brushes and sponges made of natural materials.

These can be coconut fiber or agave fiber kitchen brushes. Unlike plastic parts of ordinary brushes, they are biodegradable.

Natural brushes also wash away dirt and can last up to 6 months. In addition, after wear you do not need to buy a new brush, just change the nozzle itself.

4. An alternative to synthetic washcloths can be a loofah or a jute washcloth. Its use for cleaning, washing dishes, and bath procedures.

5. Natural soap can be used to replace cleaning detergents. It is quite enough for cleaning surfaces, dishes, and even washing.

Household chemicals containing phosphates get into the water and spoil the microflora of water bodies. Natural soap is an environmentally friendly alternative. In addition, it can also have a pleasant aroma.

Modern manufacturers of eco-friendly products use natural aroma oils in the production of natural soap.

6. Wax napkins are an ecological alternative to food film. They are made from natural ingredients, so you can safely store food in them.

These napkins can be used to wrap vegetables, fruits, and bread, store greens, cover cooked food and even freeze food.

7. If you drink tea from sachets, it is better to buy a reusable bag. The fact is that the tea bags contain polypropylene – a plastic sealant that prevents the paper from soaking in hot water. Due to the mixture of materials in the sachets, it is difficult to recycle, and therefore they increase the amount of plastic waste that pollutes the environment.

There are also zero waste solutions for the bathroom:

8. For example, brushes made of natural materials are an alternative to toilet brushes, which are often made entirely of plastic. They are made according to the same scheme as washing brushes: natural bristles and a wood base.

9. If you are thinking of upgrading your soap dish, you can buy a ceramic one instead of a plastic one. It will last a long time and will be an excellent eco-replace for plastic.

10. If you don’t already have a toothbrush cup, you can buy a wooden stand instead of a plastic one.

You can also replace the plastic cup with a glass or ceramic one.

11. Packages in everyday life are always needing, and now there are many alternatives to polyethylene. For example, you can buy backpacks or reusable bags made of flax or mesh material. With them, you can not only go shopping but also store food at home.

12. In case of a cocktail party at home, you can buy reusable metal tubes or bamboo tubes. This will reduce the amount of plastic waste.

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For the experiment, plots in the Botanical Garden of the University of Bayreuth were provided with underfloor heating to cause additional frost changes. To the three natural changes in frost, the researchers added five artificial ones and then compared different areas.

Frequent changes between frost and dew, which are more likely to occur in winter due to climate change, can increase biomass production. This is the result of a new study by German researchers.

Researchers at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ), the University of Bayreuth, and the Helmholtz Center in Munich provided a surface for their experiment. In the University of Bayreuth Botanical Garden with underfloor heating, which led to five additional periods of dew in the winter. Ten percent more grass and other biomass grew later in the manipulated areas than in the control areas.

The increase in plant productivity can be explained by various factors, such as an increase in nitrogen reserves in the spring, the researchers write in the New Phytologist Journal.

Changing phases of frost and dew

Soils that are subject to freezing and thawing cycles as the seasons change now cover more than 55 million square kilometers. This is more than half of the total landmass of the northern hemisphere.

Forecasts such as The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report predict that global warming will be more likely to fluctuate around the freezing point in the future.

Changing the phases of frost and dew is considering one of the main factors in the release of nitrogen into the soil and, consequently, increases the activity of microbes.

Global warming and increased lack of insulating snow cover will exacerbate these changes.

However, apart from research from the north of Sweden, there are virtually no studies that study the significance of these plant change processes.

Due to global warming and the increasing lack of insulating snow cover, frost changes will intensify. However, there are hardly any studies that would investigate the significance of these plant metabolism processes.

Influence of extreme weather phenomena

Scientists from George Crailing of the University of Bayreuth have set up a test field on the outskirts of the city to study the effects of extreme weather events such as drought, heavy rainfall, and frost. The area lies in the transition zone between oceanic and continental climate. The average temperature here in January is -1 degrees Celsius.

One hundred plants of widespread grasses were planted on thirty out of four square meters of land. When the soil temperature dropping below zero for 48 hours, the soil was heating until the temperature rose above zero for 48 hours.

Artificial frosts

In addition to the three natural changes in frosts, the researchers added a total of five artificial ones and then compared different areas. The following summer, the plants were harvested twice, dried, and then weighed.

It turned out that the controlled areas produce ten percent more aboveground biomass than the control areas, where during the previous winter there were fewer changes between periods of frost and dew.

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Vegetarianism can help save the planet from climate change, according to a UN report on tackling climate change. Scientists estimate that a change in diet is 20% of the total effort to combat global warming.

That is, if people around the world reduce meat consumption and reduce food waste, it can improve the environment.

Find out why foods have different effects on the environment, what their environmental friendliness depends on and how to make your diet more eco-friendly.

What determines the environmental friendliness of food?

The environmental friendliness of food production depends on the number of resources used to grow, transport it. Each factor in its own way affects how environmentally friendly we can consider the finished product.

Is there a link between the animal industry and climate change

Studies show that reducing the consumption of animal products can help reduce global warming. First of all, this is because the production of animal products, especially meat, uses a huge amount of resources on the planet and is responsible for at least 14.5% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, if you compare the number of resources needed to obtain a kilogram of animal and vegetable protein, the animal needs an average of 10 times more land, 6 times more water, and greenhouse gas emissions will be five times higher than to obtain vegetable protein. This was proved by a study by the University of Cambridge.

So, if we abandon animal products, it will be very, very helpful in resolving the climate crisis, and vice versa, if we do nothing about our eating habits, we will not be able to stop global warming.

Here are some more important facts:

• The meat and dairy industries use 1/3 of all drinking water in the world.
  Livestock is one of the main factors changing land use and deforestation. In total, each year, for various reasons, the land loses about 26 million hectares of forest per year (this is like the area of ​​Great Britain).
• More than 70% of arable land worldwide is used for growing feed for farm animals. It competes with the area of ​​land used to grow food for humans.
• The plant-based diet can reduce its carbon footprint (the total emissions of all greenhouse gases formed during production, transportation, and cooking) by 50% (compared to a diet dominated by animal products).
• To feed one average person on a plant-based diet during the year requires about 675 m² of land, while for one person who consumes animal products – 18 times more land, ie about 12 150 m².

Is a plant-based diet always the best choice?

In general, veganism is a more environmentally friendly type of food than any other. This is well illustrated by the Oxford Study, the largest study on the impact of food production on climate change. However, reducing or refusing to consume exotic foods also plays an important role, so the best solution for the environment will be consuming local plant products.

If you are not ready to give up all animal products at once, you can still reduce your environmental footprint.

Here are some simple ideas:

• Gradually reduce the number of products that have a high carbon footprint and replace them with local alternatives.
• Do not forget about the seasonality of products and try to buy local seasonal vegetables and fruits. Fewer resources were spent on their cultivation – water, electricity, fuel, etc.
• Try vegan alternatives to your favorite dishes, or something new for yourself, such as cooking seitan (so-called wheat “meat”, “fish” from tofu, oat milk, lentil cutlets, or linen pudding. The main thing is not to afraid to experiment.

First of all, we need to understand the problem and understand that each of us has the opportunity to help solve it.

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In addition to harming the environment, plastic utensils can harm the human body.

Is it safe to use disposable tableware?

We now live in the so-called Plastic Age. This material is used for everything in a row because of its cheapness and lightness. However, there are already a large number of studies proving the dangers of plastic.

Under the influence of temperature or time, it can emit harmful chemicals into beverages or foods. So, any plastic is dangerous in contact with food, especially if it has scratches that will inevitably appear over time.

What to look for when choosing a reusable plastic container?

Choose only PP polypropylene (“5”), be sure to look for the markings in the triangle on the container and its lid.

But we recommend using non-plastic alternatives – ceramics, glass, food steel (marked “18/8” or “18/10”). Such materials will last much longer. Moreover, glass and ceramics can be safely heated.

What foods should not be stored in plastic containers?

• Fatty foods (oil, fish, etc.)

Oils can be bought in glass, or pour into glass bottles at home for long-term storage.

• Alcohol

Especially beer and light drinks.

• Vinegar

The vinegar reacts quite aggressively with plastic. It is dangerous to use it for eating after contact with the bottle.

• Hot foods

Try not to store any foods in plastic. And even freeze food in glass jars or natural bags. Low temperatures, as well as high temperatures, open the way for chemicals to our foods.

Any plastic enters into a chemical reaction, and its microparticles get into food. To date, scientists have discovered that nine types of plastic can accumulate in the human body.

Manufacturers advise to look at the marks and use the dishes according to them. For example, if there is no label that it can be used for hot drinks, it is better not to do so, because Bisphenol A (BPA) may be released. It is harmful to human health. It is best to prefer dishes made of glass, clay, ceramics.

But if you can not do without plastic:

• choose denser plastic for packaging;
• prefer reusable containers and bottles;
• do not use disposable utensils a second time.

If you bought water in a plastic bottle – do not throw it, do not subject it to any deformation. It is also important to avoid direct sunlight, do not leave it on the windowsill or in the car so that the water does not heat up.

FYI: If plastic is intended only for cold foods, it is not necessary to store hot foods in it. For each plastic product, there is regulatory documentation that you can request from the manufacturer. It must indicate the shelf life of this product and its chemical properties. The manufacturer usually gives a warranty period: if it is written that it is a year of operation, the safety of use applies only to this period, no more.

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In order to stop the exploitation and killing of animals for the sake of natural fur, world brands continue to abandon their use. Instead of natural, faux fur is a trend on the catwalk and in the mass market.

Unfortunately, faux fur is not as environmentally friendly as it may seem at first glance. It is made of synthetic materials – acrylic, polyester, nylon, which are still harmful to nature. For example, during washing, each synthetic item releases about 2,000 plastic particles, which then fall into water bodies and thus harm their inhabitants and people. In addition, faux fur will decompose in a landfill for up to a thousand years.

Along with the desire to be more aware and responsible about the environment, there is an understanding that no matter how hard we try, we must always choose between environmental friendliness and ethics, especially when it comes to clothing. Which shoes to choose – genuine leather or eco-leather? Buy sweater from natural wool or acrylic? And what about faux fur?

The global trend of abandoning the use of natural fur by brands due to the cruelty and unethical production is only gaining momentum.

But how environmentally friendly is faux fur and are there alternatives that can reduce the negative impact on the environment while remaining ethical?

There is a stereotype that natural fur decomposes quickly. This would be the case if it had not undergone chemical treatment during production. Many toxic substances are used to preserve fur: formalin, formaldehyde, cyanide-based paints, which inhibit the decomposition process.

In turn, low-quality faux fur, which can be seen more and more often in the mass market, being in a landfill, almost does not decompose, poisoning the soil, groundwater, and even air, releasing tons of dangerous substances into the atmosphere.

Back in 2011, the Dutch company CE Delft conducted a study on the environmental impact of various materials, comparing natural fur with cotton, acrylic, polyester, and wool.

It turned out that the production of natural fur has the worst impact on almost all environmental indicators, including:

• climate change,
• hazardous emissions,
• eutrophication (waterlogging).

Next was wool, followed by cotton (due to excessive water consumption) and only at the end – polyester and polyacrylic.

It turns out that faux fur, which usually consists of 70% acrylic and 30% cotton, is more environmentally friendly and has less impact on the environment.

What can we as consumers do to save ourselves and the planet? The best solution would be to buy things from small local brands, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions during transportation. Also, pay attention to reselling and, if desired, look for other alternatives.

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Yes and no. When comparing electric cars with petrol and diesel cars, they are indeed safer for the environment and human health, as they emit almost no greenhouse gases and other pollutants while driving.

But at the same time, we must remember that the electricity they use is most often obtained from non-renewable sources. Therefore, if the place where the electric car moves remain clean and more or less safe, the negative consequences of driving it is transferred to the place where electricity is produced. If we look at the situation on a national scale in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the whole country emits greenhouse gases equally, but not because of burning gasoline or diesel, but because of electricity generation.

This factor is influenced by where we take electricity. If a person charges an electric car from charging with energy from renewable sources, for example, has solar panels in his house, then this option will be much better for the environment.

The more renewable energy (wind, solar) is producing the more environmentally friendly electric cars will become.

The second thing that is usually criticized for electric cars is the recycling of batteries. Also, during the production of electric vehicles, factories emit both greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants, sometimes even more than during the production of a car with an internal combustion engine.

The third factor: when the car is driving, it lifts smoke and sand from the ground, which then settles in the human body in the form of fine particles and can lead to premature death due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Fine particles are mainly dust and smoke, and may also contain other harmful components. When a person breathes this often, not all particles leave the body, many of them settle in the blood vessels, and eventually, this leads to serious diseases. This is one of the reasons why people in cities die earlier than in rural areas.

This factor applies to both conventional cars and electric cars. Of course, the amount of emissions from burning diesel or gasoline is higher, but in this respect, electric cars are not entirely safe.

Social impact

Electric cars also have negative consequences from a social point of view:

• like all cars, electric cars knock people down and negatively affect road safety. They are almost silent, and this is one of the reasons why they can be even a little more dangerous than other cars in this sense;
• electric cars also need parking spaces in the city, increase congestion, overcrowding in the city, and take up space that could be used as a pedestrian or public transport.

Therefore, if a person really needs to use a car, the electric car will do less damage. But if there is no extreme need, it is better not to use it, and choose another mode of transport that will be more environmentally friendly.

What transport is safe for the environment

The best option for the environment and human health is to walk. If the distance is long, it is better to use a bicycle or gyro board, electric scooter, or other means of micro-mobility.

If a person cannot use such transport due to physical violations, it will be more environmentally friendly using public transport. It is better to prefer electric: tram, subway – than the one that creates emissions: minibus, bus.

If a person sometimes needs to transport some things or people, it is better to use car-sharing or a taxi. In this way, she uses a car that is already in the system, and one car per day can be used by 5 people, not one. This reduces both the number of cars and the load on the transport system.

Only if this option is not available or not suitable and you need to carry things or people who can not move on their own every day, then you can choose an electric car.

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How a thermo-cup, an electronic ticket, and a flea market reduce deforestation.

Sort and recycle paper

To get a ton of paper pulp, which will make office paper, you need 4 tons of wood. Depending on natural and production conditions, this figure is equal to several felled trees. The production of recycled paper requires half as much raw material. That is, 1 ton of paper pulp requires only 2 tons of waste paper.

Avoid unnecessary printing

If you are already printing something, make sure that it is really necessary, and even better – that it will be used by several people, more than once. Electronic tickets instead of paper, printing on drafts, electronic versions of publications instead of paper – all this makes it possible to significantly reduce the use of paper.

In the world, more than half of paper products are made from recycled paper or cardboard. It can be packaging, toilet paper – it is easy to identify by the appropriate labeling on the package, and if it is not bleached – by the gray color.

Advertising flyers, which are distributed near the subway, live exactly 30 seconds: from the moment they are distributed, to the nearest landfill, where they will not be recycled.

However, this is not the only way to advertise your services or products. By giving up flyers, you encourage advertising customers to use environmentally friendly marketing tools. The same applies to other types of paper advertising products.

HOW: Print on both sides. Pay attention to the structure: a minimum of free space on the paper and slightly reduced margins of the document help to save a lot of paper. Reducing the margins by half can save more than 5% paper.

Discard paper – business cards, notes, or conferences can be downloaded to your phone or other digital media.

Use a thermo-cup instead of paper cups

Paper cups are mostly used only once. To prevent them from getting wet, they are covered with a special polystyrene film, so they can be processed only in special plants, and they are not in every country. In Britain, where such plants operate, seven million paper cups are used per day and 1% of them are recycled.

In some countries, due to food safety standards, a paper cup cannot contain more than 10% of processed raw materials, and therefore requires new wood raw materials for production.

It is estimated that the abandonment of paper cups by the staff of the office, which employs about 50 people, will save more than one tree a year.

HOW: Use reusable utensils at home and in the office.

Exchange things, not buy new ones

Old furniture, books that you no longer use, do not have to go to the dump. There are many ways to give such things a “second life”. The production of new things directly affects deforestation, and their reuse is an important contribution to reducing volumes. This principle works in the opposite direction – if possible, use used things, not buy new ones.

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The ozone layer of the earth is the part of the stratosphere in which ozone atoms are present. The ozone layer creates a thin protective film over the surface of the entire globe and protects all living things from the effects of solar radiation – ultraviolet.

What is the danger?

It is no secret that refrigerants used in old air conditioners pose a danger to the environment. Upon entering the atmosphere, R-22 freon evaporates, rises to the top and, when interacting with ultraviolet light, destroys the ozone layer of the earth. Currently, air conditioners use a new refrigerant – Freon R-410A is completely safe for the environment and much more efficient when used as a “working body” of the air conditioner.

R-410A Freon cannot be used in older air conditioners due to the fact that the operating pressure required for normal operation of the air conditioner with R-410A Freon is one and a half times higher than in old air conditioners with R-22 Freon.

Recommendations in use

Do not forget that you need to use the air conditioner in hot weather properly to avoid unpleasant consequences.

According to experts, after a long break in the use of the air conditioner, you need to wash its filters and wipe the surface of the device under the cover, experts say. This is necessary to avoid the spread of dust and microorganisms that can cause an allergic reaction.

Also, ecologists recommend not to open the windows when the air conditioner is running. This is due to the fact that when you open the window, you can only achieve higher energy consumption – that from the point of view of ecology not be good. The conditioner does not increase the oxygen content in the room, does not replace ventilation. For humans, it is useful only because it affects the body’s heat exchange – ecologists say.

Experts also remind us about the need to service the air conditioner on time.

Currently, there are about 1.2 billion air conditioners in the world, the maximum efficiency of which reaches only 14% of theoretical performance (for comparison, LED lamps to work with an efficiency of up to 89%). The installation of air conditioners in a quantity of 3.3 billion new units is projected by 2050, ie this is a market that is really worth fighting for.

However, not enough is done to increase the efficiency of technology, because manufacturers are interested in reducing the cost of models in retail, but not in reducing the cost of their long-term operation and reducing environmental impact through greater energy efficiency.

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