environmental wellness

Lighten your Footprint at the Grocery Store

Picture of packaged food at grocery store

I’ve been trying hard lately to “lesson my footprint” on this earth, by changing my behaviors so that they are more sustainable. I’m still finding it hard however, when I go to the grocery store and try to limit the amount wasteful food packaging within my shopping cart.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), containers and packaging make up over 23% of landfill waste, with food-related packaging being a major contributor. With concerns about our environment in mind, it’s hard to avoid purchasing food in boxes, bags, wrappers, or foil when at the grocery. While packaging can promote food safety and preserve food quality, much of it is designed for single use and ends up in landfills, oceans, or incinerators.

Fortunately, there are some steps to reduce our reliance on wasteful packaging.

Use your own reusable bags, containers, and produce sacks. Replacing single-use plastic bags with cloth or mesh alternatives can significantly reduce plastic waste. Americans use about 100 billion plastic bags annually, most of which are not recyclable and definitely not readily biodegradable.  Remember to keep the bags in your car, as it’s easy to forget them!

Limit purchases within the center aisles as these are often filled with ultra-processed foods wrapped in multiple layers of plastic and cardboard. By focusing on whole, fresh foods, shoppers can reduce both packaging waste and their intake of unhealthy processed items. Consider purchasing fresh options from farmers markets as well as most products are minimally packaged and might not use as much fossil fuel getting to market.

Buying in bulk reduces the ratio of packaging to product. For example, purchasing a large bag of rice or oats generates less waste than buying multiple smaller packages. Many stores also offer bulk bins for grains, nuts, and spices, allowing customers to bring their own refillable containers and avoid packaging altogether.

Unfortunately, packaging for many food items might be unavoidable. In these cases, try to choose materials that are more easily recycled or composted. Glass and metal are generally recyclable, while paper and cardboard are recyclable and also biodegradable. Most plastics and Styrofoam are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills or polluting waterways and harming wildlife.

We as consumers can become agents of change by voicing our preferences or influencing with our pocketbooks. Ask store managers to stock more bulk items or products with minimal packaging can help shift demand. Support businesses that encourage environmental practices. Stay informed about local recycling rules and participating in community clean-up efforts. Although policy and system change is essential to fully address the packaging crisis, collective individual action can drive meaningful progress toward a more sustainable and less wasteful food system.

Author: Dan Remley, Associate Professor, Field Specialist, Ohio State University Extension
Reviewer: Heather Reister, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension

The True Cost of Eating a Doughnut: The Perspective of a Person Living with Type 1 Diabetes

I live with Type 1 Diabetes and have to manage blood glucose by balancing insulin administration with food and physical activity. I have the privilege of having good health insurance and therefor able to afford state-of-the-art diabetes management supplies including an insulin pump, and a continuous blood glucose monitor (CGM). The pump provides a basal rate of insulin, and when I eat, I enter the amount of carbohydrate grams into the pump which calculates a bolus of insulin, in order that my blood sugar doesn’t spike. Through the CGM, I can see in real time if my blood sugars are in balance. The CGM also allows me to make decisions about insulin administration based on what my blood sugars are running. I can also look at patterns throughout the week to see if I need to take more or less insulin, or work in physical activity (i.e., take a walk after lunch). Although this technology keeps me healthy, there is a cost to it all. Every three days or so, I must change my insulin reservoir which consists of a disposable plastic tube and cartridge. Sometimes if I eat a lot of sweets and carbohydrates, I have to change the supplies more frequently. I also change my CGM every 10 days which I use the large single use plastic insertion unit. Overall, I use a tremendous amount of not only insulin, but single use plastics, which eventually wind up in landfills and are energy intense resources to produce. So, the point of this all is that decisions that I make about food, not only impact my health, but also the environment. If I eat a doughnut, for instance, I would require around 7–8 units of insulin. This isn’t ideal for my health, as it might contribute to weight gain, and it also consumes a significant amount of single-use plastic. Often, decisions about health and the environment are inter-related, even for a person without diabetes. Consider the following:

  • Drinking tap water versus soda. Tap water does not have any calories, doesn’t take as many resources to produce, and there isn’t any packaging that would need to be recycled.
  • Eating left-overs versus eating out. When you eat left overs, you are preventing food waste. In fact, 40% of all food is wasted, ends up in landfills, and contributes to greenhouse gases. Left overs are often healthier than food eaten out especially if you prepare food with less sodium or carbohydrates.
  • Eat a piece of fruit, rather than a snack that comes in a box, bag, or wrapper. The fruit is healthier and probably uses less resources to grow and produces less waste since there usually isn’t any packaging.

What other examples can you think of?

OSU Extension has resources to help you live more sustainably. So be green and be healthy!

Prepared by Dan Remley, PhD, MSPH, Associate Professor, Field Specialist, Ohio State University Extension

Reviewed by Heather Reister, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Butler County

Up Your Vitamin N(Nature) Dosage this Spring

A group of Blood Root blooms

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the vernal equinox will mark the astronomical first day of spring in Ohio. The change in season is the perfect time to get outside and commit to increasing your daily dose of Vitamin N(Nature). Why should you go outside? The health and wellness benefits of being outdoors are numerous across the lifespan and are nicely summarized in this 2-minute video, What Happens When You Spend Just 5 Minutes in Nature? . The video was created by Florence Williams, who also authored The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative.

If you need ideas of things to do to increase your Vitamin N this spring, we have five activities for you to try:

1. Search for spring wildflowers, also referred to as spring ephemerals. These early bloomers start blooming before the leaves return to the trees and are a welcome sight year after year. If you want to learn more. visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildflower website to find the Spring Wildflowers of Ohio field guide, weekly wildflower bloom reports, videos, a wildflower checklist, and featured locations throughout our state.

2. Watch the stars, planets, and moon. Visit What’s Up: Skywatching Tips from NASA, an educational website with monthly highlights, daily skywatching guides, night sky news, and other educational resources about our galactic neighborhood. Have you ever seen the International Space Station in the night sky? You can enter your location on NASA’s Spot the Station website and get a calendar of sighting opportunities in your community.

Male Ruby-throated hummingbird at a feeder

3. Look and listen for migrating birds to return to your yard and community. Have you noticed the return of the chatty Red-winged Blackbirds? They are often one of the first migrants of the season. BirdCast is a website that allows you to enter your city and state to get real time bird migration alerts. If you are fond of hummingbirds, Hummingbird Central tracks their journey back to Ohio so you know when to put out your feeder. One more reminder: limit the amount of light pollution around your home as often as possible, but especially during migration season.

4. Walk, stroll, or ride on the 1,523 miles of bike trails in the Buckeye State. To learn about the different trails and find a trail near you, visit the Ohio Bikeways website hosted by the Ohio Department of Transportation. This site features trail safety tips, a bikeways brochure, and a downloadable map.

Green seedlings sprouting in a cardboard egg carton

5. If you or someone you love has a difficult time getting outside, consider bringing nature indoors. Sowing seeds indoors is a fun and educational spring activity. Using a cardboard egg carton is an easy, economical, and environmentally friendly way to plant your seeds.

Every day is an opportunity to get outside and get a healthy dose of Vitamin N. As Florence Williams says, “Go outside. Go often. Bring friends. Breathe.”

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County. Email: stanton.60.osu.edu

Reviewed by: Susan Zies, Assistant Professor and Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Wood County. Email: zies.1@osu.edu

Photos from Adobe Express.

Pass On the Pesky Plastics

Sandy beach with plastic litter spread across the shore

According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), cigarette butts — whose filters contain tiny plastic fibers — are the most common type of plastic waste found in the environment. Food wrappers, plastic bottles, plastic bottle caps, plastic grocery bags, plastic straws, and stirrers are the next most common items. Many of us use these products every day, without even thinking about where they might end up.

Plastic Free July® is a global movement that encourages millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and communities. The movement originated in Australia, but it now operates across the globe.

This year, their slogan is Small Steps, Big Difference and they are targeting the biggest three single-use plastic items in the world: single-use plastic cups, plastic drink bottles, and plastic food wrap.

As part of their emphasis on reducing plastic waste, they have a list of ideas and solutions for those just getting started on their journey to avoid pesky plastics. Some easy ideas they share include:

  • Bring or borrow a reusable coffee cup or dine-in at your local coffeehouse or café.
  • Avoid purchasing fruits and vegetables in plastic containers or bags.
  • Use reusable shopping and produce bags at the grocery store.
  • Refuse plastic straws, stirrers, and lids.
  • Carry your own water bottle and avoid buying plastic bottles.
  • Avoid purchasing pre-packaged bread, rolls, and baked goods in plastic.
  • Purchase meat, fish, and deli items without plastic trays or containers.
  • Always reduce, reuse, and recycle as much plastic as possible. Educate yourself about what is and isn’t recycled in your community.
Plastic Free July 2024 Challenge

If you want an individualized look at how you can avoid plastic, try the Pesky Plastics Quiz. It is a helpful way to see how you are doing with plastic consumption and where you can make some changes. It takes less than 5 minutes to answer the questions and get ideas of how to change some of your behaviors and choices.

If you don’t want to take the quiz online, you can print out My Challenge Choices, a PDF that lets you not only decide what challenges you want to try but also see how limiting plastic consumption can avoid landfill waste, protect our oceans, and reduce your eco-footprint. It is also helpful to realize how packaging choices can impact the environment and your wallet. For example, if you drink soda pop, purchasing it in aluminum cans is a “greener” choice since cans are recycled at a higher rate than plastic bottles.

We also encourage you to explore the sustainability resources from Ohio State University Extension. Visit our Family and Consumer Sciences Sustainability website for user-friendly educational resources, videos, a home tour, and a sustainable meeting guide. As you prepare for the new school year, be sure to check out Ten Tips for Packing Waste-Free Lunches.

When Plastic Free July® ends, we encourage you to stay informed and vigilant about ways to avoid pesky plastics throughout the year. Remember, small steps can make a big difference!

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County. Email: stanton.60@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Heather Reister, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Butler County.

Photo Credits: Adobe Stock and Plastic Free Foundation.

Cunningham, K. (2020, December 3). Report finds aluminum cans remain most sustainable package. Recycling Today. https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/aluminum-cans-recycled-twice-plastic-bottles

Plastic Free Foundation. (n.d.). Plastic free July – Be part of the plastic pollution solution. https://www.plasticfreejuly.org

United Nations Environment Program (n.d.). Our planet is choking on plastic. https://www.unep.org/interactives/beat-plastic-pollution

Stanton, L. M. (n.d.). Ten tips for packing waste-free lunches. OSU Extension. https://go.osu.edu/waste-free-lunches

Stanton, L. M. (2022, July 19). It’s time to rethink packaging and recycling. Live Healthy Live Well. OSU Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2022/07/19/its-time-to-rethink-packaging-and-recycling

More Fun with Less Sun

Three individuals smiling at the beach. All are wearing sunglasses and a man is also wearing a hat.

As the weather warms up, we spend more time outdoors and we need to take steps to protect our skin, lips, and eyes. According to the Mayo Clinic, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and 90% is caused by exposure to the sun. As you head outdoors, follow these ten tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from the damaging effects of the sun and reduce your chance of skin cancer:

  1. Apply broad spectrum sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends wearing sunscreen every day to prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging. Print out this informative infographic about sunscreen and post it somewhere everyone can see as a friendly reminder to protect your skin.  
  2. Use lip protection. Just like your skin, your lips need protection from the sun. Use a lip balm that contains 30 SPF and protects you from both UVA and UVB rays (or says broad spectrum).
  3. Wear sunglasses. Slip on some cool shades and protect your eyes. People of all ages should wear sunglasses.
  4. Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Grab a hat that is tightly woven and has a rim at least 3-inches wide. This will protect the top of your head, your neck, your face, and ears from the sun.
  5. Wear sun protective clothing. Many fabrics have an Ultra Protective Factor (UPF) that protects your skin. Wearing clothes with 50 UPF is like wearing sunscreen with 30 SPF. Look for bathing suits, sun shirts, pants, and other clothing items with 50 UPF to provide a convenient way to protect your skin.
  6. Limit sun exposure. Avoid being outdoors when ultraviolet rays are their strongest, which tends to be between 10 AM and 4 PM.
  7. Seek shade. When you are outside, look for shade or bring your own. An umbrella, a shade tent, or natural shade can reduce your sun exposure. But don’t rely on shade alone to protect your skin.
  8. Protect windows. If you spend time near windows, make sure they block UV rays. To better understand the effect of spending time near a window, view the New England Journal of Medicine to see a picture of a 69-year-old truck driver and the sun damage caused to one side of his face.
  9. Perform skin self-exams. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends that individuals, regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity, perform monthly skin self-exams. They have helpful resources to learn how to check your skin, what to look for, and how to record your findings.
  10. See a board-certified dermatologist every year. You should see a dermatologist once a year, or more often if you are at a higher risk of skin cancer, for a full-body, professional skin exam. When found early, skin cancer is highly treatable.
An older couple is smiling and the man and woman are wearing sunglasses and hats.

Statistics show that 1 out of every 5 Americans will develop a form of skin cancer in their lifetime. By following these tips and avoiding tanning beds, you can significantly reduce your risk of skin cancer, all while having more fun with less sun.

More Resources:
Did you know that many Ohio State University Extension educators are trained to teach about sun safety? Visit our webpage and contact the OSU Extension professional in your county to schedule an educational workshop today!

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County. Email: stanton.60@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Heather Reister, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Butler County.

Sources:
American Academy of Dermatology Association. (2023, May 15). Find skin cancer: How to perform a skin self-exam. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/check-skin

American Cancer Society. (2023, July). Preventing skin cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/sun-and-uv/skin-cancer-prevention-infographic.html

Gordon, J.R.S. and Brieva, J.C. (2012, April 19). Unilateral dermatoheliosis. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm1104059

Mayo Clinic (n.d.). Infographic: Skin cancer. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/skin-cancer/multimedia/skin-cancer-infographic/ifg-20441507

Richard, E. G. (2022). All about sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen

Photo Credits: Adobe Stock.

Go Green This Holiday Season

A "Happy Holidays" gift tag on a naturally wrapped gift

The holidays bring many opportunities to “go green” and think about the impact our traditions and activities can have on our environment. Being green doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive, but it often means taking a little extra time to be intentional. Here are four ways to go green over the holidays:

1. Gift Giving
During the holiday season, there is often increased pressure to purchase items that you might normally skip at other times of the year. The social pressure to buy gifts, cards, and miscellaneous “stuff” fuels consumerism and waste. Try to avoid any gifts you purchase from ending up in the landfill. Consider gifting an experience, a homemade consumable product (like bath products or food), a second-hand item, or an eco-friendly product like Swedish dishcloths, reusable water bottles, or glass soap dispensers.

2. Product Packaging
When you purchase an item this holiday season, consider the packaging and challenge yourself to eliminate waste. It turns out, plastic packaging accounts for nearly half of all plastic waste globally, and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its first use. For example, gift cards are popular, but the plastic cards themselves are difficult to reuse or recycle. Go old-school and give cash or checks as a sustainable alternative.

Pink bath salts in a glass mason jar.

3. Gift Wrap
Did you know that in the United States, an additional five million tons of waste is generated over Christmas, four million of which is wrapping paper and shopping bags? Newspaper, butcher paper, reusable boxes, metal tins, and paper gift bags are creative and sustainable ideas for gift wrap. Choosing these materials helps to keep traditional gift wrap, bows, and ribbons from ending up in the landfill.

4. Holiday Traditions
Holiday cards, party invitations, decorations, hosting, and food can take a serious toll on our environment. Large gatherings can mean single-use plates, utensils, cups, and napkins. Avoid or reduce this waste by choosing reusable products. Uneaten food becomes food waste, so use the interactive guest-imator to plan how much food you really need at your gathering. Finally, if you decorate with a live tree, look for opportunities to reuse or recycle your tree and keep it out of the garbage. Your tree can be used for mulch, to protect fish in lakes, or to provide shelter for birds.

Looking for more green ideas? Visit the OSU Extension Sustainability website to find tip sheets, videos, and a 3-D Sustainable Home Tour.

Written by Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Warren County. Email: stanton.60@osu.edu.

Reviewed by Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Franklin County.

References:

Garber, M. (2012, December 22). Wrappers’ delight: A brief history of wrapping paper. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/12/wrappers-delight-a-brief-history-of-wrapping-paper/266599

Mansfield, S. (2022, December 22). Green your holiday this season. United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/perspectives/green-your-holiday-season

The National Christmas Tree Association (n.d). How to recycle and give real Christmas trees a second life. https://realchristmastrees.org/all-about-trees/how-to-recycle

Stanton, L. M. (2022, July 19). It’s time to rethink packaging and recycling. Ohio State University Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2022/07/19/its-time-to-rethink-packaging-and-recycling

Zee, G. (2022, December 7). Plastic gift cards on climate advocates’ “naughty list” this Christmas. ABC News. https://abc13.com/plastic-gift-cards-christmas-gifts-pvc-toxic/12534016

Photo Credits:
Natural wrapping image by rawpixel.com.
Mason jar with bath salts image by Victoria Emerson, pexels.com

This Is for the Birds

Northern Parula, a small warbler, in its fall and winter foliage

As many of us settle into late summer and early fall, birders around Ohio and across the country are observing fall migration. For birds, fall migration is a rather lengthy process that starts at the end of June, when some hummingbirds start heading south and lasts until the end of December when some waterfowl begin their migration journey. For birders, it’s a great time to reap all the health benefits of birding, as well as be on the lookout for the usual suspects, migrants, and even vagrants.

Fall migration is unique because it occurs over a longer period of time, compared to spring migration which tends to happen in a more consolidated timeframe as birds rush north to their breeding grounds. Another difference between the two is that the number of birds that migrate in the fall is larger than the number that migrate in the spring. The reason is that in the fall, adult birds are also joined by the young birds that hatched over the summer.

Birds prepare themselves for migration by eating extra food and storing fat. But did you know there are also helpful things we humans can do to assist our feathered friends on their taxing journeys? You can help migrating birds by doing these four things:

  1. Prevent Window Collisions. Anywhere from 365 million to nearly 1 billion birds die every year as a result of lethal window collisions. Not only are windows invisible to birds but since they often reflect the sky or outdoor scenery, they are often inviting places to fly into. If you live or work in a building and witness bird strikes, the American Bird Conservancy offers extensive information to prevent future collisions.
  2. Turn Out Your Lights. Another easy way to protect birds is turning off your household lights from dusk until dawn. Since many birds migrate using the stars and moon to guide their way, birds are easily confused by artificial light. To learn more, visit Audubon’s Lights Out initiative.
  3. Provide Food, Water, and Shelter: During migration, birds travel thousands of miles and need energy along the way. Dr. Mike Ward, Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, suggests we can “both enjoy the passing of these colorful birds, as well as help them along the way, by planting native shrubs, having areas on your property that are just “messy” (an area with some annual weeds, pokeweed, and some fruiting plants), and by keeping cats indoors during migration.”
  4. Participate in Project FeederWatch. Turn your love of feeding birds into scientific discoveries by participating in this November-April survey of birds that visit backyards, nature centers, and community areas throughout North America. Track what is happening around your home and contribute to a continental citizen science project about bird distribution and abundance.

If you’re interested in doing more for our feathered friends throughout the year, you can consult Cornell Lab of Ornithology and their Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds. Together, we can marvel at the sights and sounds of birds on their long journeys and feel good knowing we are helping them on their way.

Seven simple actions to help birds from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Looking for more resources about birds? Visit go.osu.edu/nature-matters-birds for educational resources, booklists for adults and children, and more information to get started birding or keep you going on your birding journey!

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County. Email: stanton.60.osu.edu        

Reviewed by: Shari Gallup, Assistant Professor and Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Licking County. Email: gallup.1@osu.edu

Photo Description: Northern Parula, a small warbler, in its fall and winter foliage as it proceeds South on its annual migration.
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock.

Sources

American Bird Conservancy. (n. d.). Glass Collisions: Preventing Bird Collisions at Home. https://abcbirds.org/solutions/prevent-home-collisions

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n. d.). Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds. https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/seven-simple-actions-to-help-birds

Kaufman, K. (n. d.). Timing of fall migration. Black Swamp Bird Observatory. https://www.bsbo.org/timing-of-fall-migration.html

Leonard, P. (2023, March 8). Grassroots data is vital for reducing deadly bird-window strikes. Cornell Chronicle. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/03/grassroots-data-vital-reducing-deadly-bird-window-strikes

Pankau, R. (2018, November 1). Bird migration and native shrubs. Illinois Extension: The Garden Scoop. https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2018-11-01-bird-migration-and-native-shrubs

Stanton, L. M. (2021, February 11). Benefits of being a bird nerd. Ohio State University Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/02/11/benefits-of-being-a-bird-nerd

It’s Time to Rethink Packaging and Recycling

Plastic bags overflowing with empty plastic bottles

I used to pride myself on my recycling efforts. I would compare my overflowing recycling bin with my neighbors and wish more people recycled. I felt it was our duty, responsibility, and obligation to protect our planet.

However, my recycling pride was deflated when I read a report from the Department of Energy that showed only 5% of plastics were recycled in 2019. A whopping 86% of plastics end up in landfills and the rest is burned to generate electricity. I finally realized that just because a product has a recycling arrow on it, does not mean it’s being recycled, especially if it is plastic.

So how do we reduce our plastic consumption? Let’s examine four common household purchases and see why plastic should be avoided.

1. Food: Paper Box Rather Than Plastic Cups
Sometimes, there is a hefty economic and environmental cost to convenience, like this example with macaroni and cheese. Turns out mac and cheese from the box is 17 cents/ounce, while the plastic cups cost 61 cents/ounce. Even worse, the consumer is left with four #5 plastic containers, which are one of the least recycled post-consumer plastics, at a rate below 1%. Compare this to paper and paperboard, which have a recycling rate of 68%.

Box of Mac N Cheese next to 4 plastic cups of Mac N Cheese

2. Fruit: Metal Cans Rather Than Plastic Cups
The cost difference between pears in a metal can and in plastic cups is negligible. However, the environmental cost is substantial. As mentioned above, #5 plastic has a recycling rate of less than 1% while the recycling rate for steel cans is 71%. Of course, fresh pears are package free. To have the smallest environmental impact possible, shop with reusable produce and grocery bags, then throw the pear core in a compost bin.

A metal can of pears next to pre-packaged cups of pears

3. Soda Pop: Cans Rather Than Bottles
There is little cost difference between pop cans and bottles. But once again, the environmental difference is noteworthy. Aluminum cans are the most recycled category of aluminum at 50%, compared to the recycling rate of #1 plastics which is 29%.

Aluminum can of Diet Mountain Dew next to a plastic bottle of Diet Mountain Dew

4. Soap: Bar Rather Than Liquid
Again, the cost between bar and liquid soap is minimal, so let’s compare the packaging. Soap bars are often packaged in paper, which have a recycling rate of 68% while liquid soap is often packaged in #2 plastic containers, which have a recycling rate of 29%. This information also applies to laundry detergent. If you are looking to avoid the large, #2 plastic jugs of laundry soap, consider plastic-free laundry powder, bars, tablets, or sheets.

Body wash in a plastic bottle next to 6 bards of soap

Stay Informed
The dos and don’ts of recycling changes frequently. Stay up to date on what you can recycle curbside and look for additional opportunities to recycle in your community, through zero-waste organizations or your solid waste district.

Final Thoughts
As summer winds down, it’s a great time to start planning waste-free lunches for your kids. The goal is similar: reduce waste and reliance on convenient, single-use, hard-to-recycle items. The next time you are at the store, reach for the apple sauce in the glass jar rather than the plastic one. Mother Earth will thank you.

Note: Item descriptions, prices, and photos were retrieved by the author at a local grocery store that is affiliated with a national supermarket chain on 7/18/2022.

For more information about plastic and recycling, visit:

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Warren County. Email: stanton.60@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Courtney Warman, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Program Specialist, Healthy Finances. Email: warman.44@osu.edu

Photo Credits: Cover image by rawpixel.com. All other photos by Laura M. Stanton, 2022.

References:

Bollas, B. (2021). Reducing your single-use plastic waste. Ohio State University Extension. https://fcs.osu.edu/sites/fcs/files/imce/PDFs/Single_Use_Plastics.pdf

Leblanc, R. (2019, May 9). An overview of polypropylene recycling. The Balance Small Business. https://www.thebalancesmb.com/an-overview-of-polypropylene-recycling-2877863

Milbrandt, A., Coney, K., Badgett, A., and Beckham, G. (2022). Quantification and evaluation of plastic waste in the United States. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Volume 183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106363

Stanton, L. M. (2021). Ten tips for packing waste-free lunches. Ohio State University Extension. https://go.osu.edu/waste-free-lunches

Stanton, L. M. (2021). How to pack waste-free lunches. Ohio State University Extension. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv_zyW-WzZY

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021, November 15). Ten ways to unpackage your life. https://www.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/ten-ways-unpackage-your-life

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2022, July 9). Facts and figures about materials, waste, and recycling. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling

Woelfl, C. (2021, June 7). Our plastic problem. Ohio State University Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/06/07/our-plastic-problem

How’s Your Environmental Wellness?

Group of diverse volunteers

And I think to myself…. what a wonderful world.
~ Louis Armstrong

Being environmentally well means “recognizing the responsibility to preserve, protect, and improve the environment and appreciating your connection to nature.” In other words, environmental wellness happens when the different surroundings in your life enhance your health and wellbeing. This includes your home, your workplace, your local community, your natural surroundings, and the planet.

Three aspects of environmental wellness include: paying attention to the different environments that you spend time in, making an effort to spend time outdoors, and being more sustainable (AKA “going green”).

Health Benefits of Environmental Wellness Across the Lifespan

No matter what your age, research demonstrates the far-ranging health benefits of environmental wellness. For example:

  • Children who play outside in nature develop superior motor skills, balance, and coordination compared to children who play on traditional playgrounds.
  • Teens and young adults report feeling calmer, less stressed, and lower anxiety after spending time in nature.
  • Adults reduce their risk of chronic diseases including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke when they spend time in green space.
  • Senior adults who garden reduce their risk of dementia by 36%, even more than those who walk every day.

How can you start improving your environmental wellness? Commit to spending more time outdoors, being more green in your purchasing decisions, and actively caring for the environment. You can also try these simple activities:

  • Write nature into your schedule. Grab a bag and pick up litter while you are out.
  • Bike or walk rather than drive. If you drive, carpool when possible.
  • Use reusable water bottles, mugs, and shopping bags to limit waste.
  • Add houseplants to your home and work environments to improve indoor air quality and to psychologically link us to nature.
  • Learn about recycling in your community and recycle as much as possible.
  • Avoid purchasing single-use plastic and pack waste-free lunches.
  • Plan your food purchases to avoid food waste and compost food scraps.
  • Encourage local schools to recycle, compost, and host community gardens.
  • Decrease your use of energy and water.
  • Grow native plants to provide shelter and food for wildlife and support pollinators.
  • Donate your time or money to organizations that protect the environment.

Satish Kumar said, “We are nature.” Environmental wellness helps us recognize our connection to the natural world and realize that when we help our environment, we help ourselves. It is important, however, to point out that not everyone has equal access to nature or green environments, due to limited green space, accessibility limitations, safety concerns, and financial resources. We all need to work together not only to protect the natural world but to also ensure that everyone can reap the health benefits of environmental wellness equally.

For More Information

  • On sustainability, visit the OSU Extension Sustainability website to find Trash-Free Trails, Reducing Your Single Use Plastic Waste, and many other tip sheets. In addition, there are many educational videos as well as a sustainable home tour: https://fcs.osu.edu/programs/resources/sustainability
  • On the importance of nature and spending time outdoors, visit the Nature Matters website created by OSU Extension, Warren County: go.osu.edu/nature-matters

Written by Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County, stanton.60@osu.edu.

Reviewed by Shannon Carter, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu.

Photo Credit: Image by rawpixel.com

References:

Bickel, N. B. (2021, September 13). Youth report feeling physically, mentally better after spending time in nature. University of Michigan Health. https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/youth-report-feeling-physically-mentally-better-after-spending-time-nature

Ingunn Fjørtoft. (2004). Landscape as playscape: The effects of natural environments on children’s play and motor development. Children, Youth and Environments, 14(2), 21–44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.14.2.0021

Kumar, S. (2019). Elegant Simplicity: The Art of Living Well. New Society Publishers.

Melnyk, B. M., and Neale, S. (2018, January). Nine dimensions of wellness. American Nurse Today, 13 (1). https://www.myamericannurse.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ant1-Wellness-1218.pdf

Simons, L. A., Simons, J., McCallum, J., & Friedlander, Y. (2006). Lifestyle factors and risk of dementia: Dubbo study of the elderly. The Medical Journal of Australia, 184(2), 68–70. https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00120.x

Stanton, L. (2021) Ten tips for packing waste-free lunches. Ohio State University Extension. https://go.osu.edu/waste-free-lunches

Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environmental Research, 166, 628–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030

Consider Environmentally Friendly New Years Resolutions

Picture of Trash

I can remember growing up in Michigan in the 70s and 80s, we would get our first snowfall around Thanksgiving, and we wouldn’t see grass until late March. Every year here in southern Ohio, it seems the idea of a white Christmas is a thing of the past. The past decade has seen the warmest average temperatures on record. Climate experts paint an ominous picture for our planets’ future and our overall quality of life. Issues such as plastic pollution and food waste contribute to climate warming and also immediate wellbeing.

If you are looking to set a New Years resolution, consider some ideas that are eco-friendly. Here are a few ideas:

  • Buy and use reusable straws. Keep them on hand and refuse single use straws at restaurants.
  • Stop using single use plastic bags. Keep reusable bags in your cars so you don’t forget them when running into the grocery store.
  • Freeze left overs and use ingredients later in smoothies, soups, etc.
  • Start a compost pile for food waste. Keep an old coffee bin in the kitchen to discard food scraps.
  • Start using bar soap or refill soap containers to avoid purchasing plastic bottles.
  • Reuse glass jars, Tupperware, and beeswax wrap to store food and leftovers instead of single use plastic sandwich bags.
  • Refill a reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water.
  • Participate in a neighborhood clean up or roadside garbage pick up.

These are just a few ideas. Small changes can really add up over a lifetime. The actions of millions of people can can collectively reduce the amount of plastic and food going into landfills and contributing to climate change.

Author: Dan Remley, Ph.D., M.S.P.H. Associate Professor, Field Specialist, OSU Extension

Reviewer: Jenny Lobb, M.P.H., Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension

Sources:

Beyond Plastics. (2021). THE NEW COAL: PLASTICS AND CLIMATE CHANGE. REPORT: The New Coal: Plastics & Climate Change — Beyond Plastics – Working To End Single-Use Plastic Pollution

Ohio State University Extension. Sustainable Action through Video Engagement (S.A.V.E.). Sustainability in the Kitchen. Left-overs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlDXy80yraY

Ohio State University Extension. Sustainable Action through Video Engagement (S.A.V.E.). Sustainability in the Kitchen: Single Use Plastics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CangcvETxk

Ohio State University Extension. Sustainable Action through Video Engagement (S.A.V.E.).Composting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lOMPTRj7eE