Fun ways to teach your kids about sustainability

The concept of “living sustainably” has gained a lot of attention, given the global context and the urgency of shifting towards a less wasteful lifestyle. A lot has been done to raise awareness about the necessity of sustainability and recycling, but we still have a lot to learn and improve. Part of ensuring that our children have a better future is to teach them about the importance of “green living” from a young age. It requires patience and time, but it can be done in a fun and entertaining manner.

Here are a few fun ways to teach your little ones about sustainability and spark their interest in becoming responsible consumers when they grow up:

1.      Teach them what recycling is

It can be difficult for kids to understand how discarding a plastic bottle in the dedicated recycling bin instead of the regular trash bin makes a difference You can talk to them about what happens if people don’t recycle and watch documentaries on the topic together, or even take them to a local recycling center to show them what happens with recycled items. You can drop by our facility with your little ones anytime if you live in our area.

2.     Get into DIY projects

Kids love creating things, and their imagination should be fed continually. Engaging them in fun DIY projects and repurpose or upcycle something that would typically be discarded could serve as a valuable lesson on how we could easily cut down on personal waste. Here you have some nice and creative ideas to get started.

3.      Plant a garden together

If you have a garden (lucky you!) with a sad and lonely spot, it’s time to turn it into something beautiful with the help of your little ones! Planting is a great way to stimulate your child’s senses of touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell – and spark their interest in nature. They’ll love getting their hands a bit dirty and watch the little seeds grow into a plant – especially if it’s an edible one. Kids may become more inclined to eat vegetables if they’ve planted them.

4.      Clean up a local beach, park, or playground

Here’s one of the most eco-friendly family activities ever: invent an outdoor clean-up game and get your kids to be more physically active. Moreover, studies show that the most direct route for caring for the environment as an adult is participating in “nature activities” before the age of 11. You could challenge them to compete and see who’s the fastest cleaner, while indirectly teaching them civic responsibility. Teaching them about the importance of respecting the community and not littering is appropriate at any age. 

Here are some interesting recycling facts you could teach your kids while completing activities:

• 75% of our rubbish can be recycled.
• Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees.

• Recycling one aluminium can save enough energy to power a TV for three hours.

How to be eco-friendly during the pandemic lockdown

The coronavirus pandemic has put our social lives on pause and forced us to change our habits drastically - and the situation may stay the same for weeks, if not months.

Naturally, many of us use this time worrying about their health and professional affairs – which can elevate the levels of stress and anxiety. On the bright side, the environment seems to benefit from this situation, and experts show that the coronavirus has cut emissions more efficiently than years of climate negotiations. There has been a significant drop in air pollution and CO2 levels.

In this article, the Gold Circuit E-Cycling team is offering a few suggestions of activities that you can do during this time that can help you focus your energy on improving your sustainable lifestyle skills while staying vigilant and safe.

Below are a few ways to take action for the planet while self-isolation, and we hope they’ll stick after the global health crisis recedes.

Try to go green with your diet & compost

Time is our best friend during these strange times – and it gives us plenty of opportunities to get creative in the kitchen. If your list of New Year resolutions included eating more veggies, fruits, and plants, now it’s the perfect time to try some plant-based recipes and reflect upon your food waste. For the latter, the most accessible solution is provided by composting.

When the food in your trash goes to a landfill, it emits methane, a greenhouse gas that amplifies climate change. Compost does a lot more than cutting down emissions since it’s used as garden fertilizer and reduces the need for chemical options. According to the EPA, compost can capture and eliminate 99.6% of volatile organic compounds from the air. Learn more about composting here and have a look at some super-easy plant-based recipes here.

Volunteer for Earth Day

This year, Earth Day is going online for the sake of public health, and you can apply to become a volunteer here, without leaving the safety of your home. It has never been easier to do your part in the collective efforts against climate change.

Undertake an upcycling or DYI project

You already know that our mantra is Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and being stuck at home gives you plenty of time to start your own project and boost that creativity! There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram that teach you how to turn an old t-shirt into a tote bag, knit your own sweaters or even repurpose old plastic shampoo bottles and turn them into decorations. The only limit is your imagination…and the patience that goes into online research.

And...last but not least, recycle! Our facility is still functioning as usual. Keep an eye on our main website and our social media platforms.

For inquiries, give us a call at 888-283-0007 or drop us a line at info@goldcircuitecycling.com

How to be more eco-friendly in your daily life (part 2)

In our previous article, we've shared a few tips on how to lead a more eco-friendly life without making drastic changes. The summary is: recycle more, buy fewer things you don't need and waste less food. Our suggestions imply a slight mindset shift towards a more sustainable life which benefits the environment and your bank account as well.

Now we're back with a few extra ideas, as easy to implement as the previous ones.

1.  Buy recyclable/biodegradable replacements for your kitchen staples.

We've recently discovered a really nice eco-friendly brand that produces compostable paper items such as coffee filters, baking paper and sandwich bags, as well as 100% recyclable aluminium foil and trash bags. They're called If You Care and you can order their products online. Moreover, in the recipes section of their website you can find many meal ideas which are both healthy and waste-free. If you intend to make your household more eco-friendly, check them out!

2. Bring your own bag at the grocery store or do shopping online.

You've probably never thought that being a bit lazy can do wonders for the environment, but think about it for one second: by having groceries delivered at your doorstep, you eliminate car trips and carbon emissions. A single delivery van makes one trip for multiple customers, and many supermarkets should offer the option of "no bags" to make your shopping experience even more sustainable.

However, if you have to do your own shopping, bring your own bag to the store and cut down on single-use plastic bags. You can even buy a cute and cheap fabric tote bag!

3. Compost!

Such an easy thing can make a big difference, since food remains make up nearly 30% of total landfill waste. By composting, you can prevent your leftovers from letting off methane - and you can use the composted materials to fertilize your garden. That's what we call a win-win situation!

You can buy an affordable composter online or you can check out companies in your area that will literally come at your door to pick up your leftovers. Check out this link for the best composters on the market or this page to find companies in charge with this in your area. 

To learn more about our recycling solutions, visit our dedicated websites here:
www.goldcircuitecycling.com www.recycleyourfoam.com/

For inquiries, give us a call at 888-283-0007 or drop us a line at info@goldcircuitecycling.com