At Community Natural Foods we believe every day is Earth Day. We are trailblazers in our industry and do our very best to lead by example when it comes to sustainability. If you are looking to live a more sustainable life look no further, we have got you covered. Below are a few easy tips to help you start living a more environmentally friendly life.

Home Office

Say no to spam – Contact the flyer distributing company in your area to have your name removed from their mailing list. You can also stick a “no junk mail” sign on your mail box or front door. You will help to reduce the thousands of trees used each year to create the junk mail that is sent to your home.

Pay your bills electronically – Almost everything from your phone bill to your credit card statement can be viewed online. In most cases it is really simple to set up. Not only will you have less paper to manage but you will save paper waste as well.

Turn off electronics when not in use – A computer left on for 24 hours can use a lot of electricity and even when your TV or computer is off, it is still using power. Either unplug all your electronic devices or use a power bar and flip off the switch when you’re done.

In The Kitchen

Start observing Meatless Monday – Meatless Monday is a global movement with a simple message: once a week, cut the meat. They provide information, news, recipes and free promotional materials to help individuals, schools, restaurants, hospitals, food companies and entire communities to start each week with a commitment to eating healthy, environmentally-friendly, meat-free meals.

Choose sustainable food options – Whenever possible, choose seasonal, local and organic food. Buy seasonal food that’s grown in local climate conditions. This will reduce the distance traveled from the farm to your plate and strengthen the local economy. Organic foods are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.

Bulk Purchases – Avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e. drinks, school lunches, pet food, snack items, etc.). Instead, buy in bulk and transfer the products to your own reusable containers. Our stores have bulk bins where we sell everything from grains, cereal, flours and dried fruit.

Waste-Free Lunches – Pack a waste-free lunch whenever possible. Plastic baggies and cling wrap add up substantially over time. Use reusable containers instead including reusable cloth “baggies” we sell in our stores. Use a thermos instead of juice boxes.

In the Bathroom

Take Shorter Showers – Try reducing your shower time by five minutes, or better yet, take a five minute shower. Just cutting two minutes from your shower time can save ten gallons of water.

Install Low Flow – If you just can’t cut down your shower time another option is to install a low flow shower head. In addition to adding a plastic container filled with water in your toilet tank, this will reduce the amount of water you use per flush. 

Out and About

Use a Reusable Mug and Water Bottle – Reduce your daily footprint by having a reusable mug and or water bottle with you when you are out and about. It is surprising how many times you will end up using these and you will reduce waste as well.

Carry a Reusable Bag – Whether shopping for groceries or anything else for that matter, you may be sure to have a reusable bag with you at all times thereby reducing plastic waste.

The Backyard

Collect and Save Water – Get a rain barrel or other containers to collect rainwater that you can use to water your lawn, flower beds and gardens. Plants prefer rain water to chlorinated city water so your plants will be happy and you will save on your monthly bill.

Transportation

Walk or Bike – Take the bus or carpool if one of these is not practical. Walking or cycling can reduce carbon emissions greatly. In addition to having less of an impact on the planet you may become a little more fit as well.

Fashion

Buy second hand clothing – You may not know it but the textile industry uses more water than the oil and gas industry, surprise! Purchasing second hand clothing helps to keep clothing out of the landfill and water in our streams.

Reconsider Your Closet – Take a more minimalist approach to fashion and only have clothes in your closet that you value and actually wear rather than accumulating items just for the sake of having a full closet. It saves you money, time and our earth resources.

Recycle, donate, swap or gift – If you have clothes and shoes that are still in great condition that you no longer use consider selling, donating, swapping or gifting the items to someone who will use them. You can feel good knowing they didn’t hit the landfill and you may just make a few extra dollars or get some new clothes for free.

Beauty

Choose Natural and Organic Personal Care Products – Choose sustainable alternatives over conventional personal care products. This can reduce your exposure to synthetic chemicals as well as reduce your environmental impact. Look to David Suzuki’s Dirty Dozen for Cosmetics for guidance.

At Home

Upgrade Your Lights – Changing light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones can save four times the amount of energy than a regular bulb. Energy-efficient CFLs can also last up to ten times longer than traditional ones and save you money at the same time.

Recycle – Check with your city or town to find out everything that you can recycle. Consider more than just the glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and metal that gets picked up every week. Such things as electronics, cell phones, batteries and computers can also be recycled.

Switch Your Cleaning Products – One of the simplest things you can do is switch over your conventional cleaning products for enviro friendly cleaning supplies. The use of green cleaners reduces your exposure to harmful chemicals and improves the health of the planet.