Sloto Lifestyle

We are in a climate crisis, and with it many governments and its citizens are looking to live a more environmentally sustainable life. While many factors are impacting climate change, plastic has become one of the most concerning, as it brought a need for sustainable packaging in modern society.

Paper, and most recently plastic, have been used worldwide to protect items during transportation or for storage, and are also essential to make fragile products like medicine more accessible and cleaner for everyone. There is no easy answer as to which material is the most sustainable one, but there are some considerations to make next you go to the grocery store.

Each material has its advantages and disadvantages depending on its use, and also a different environmental impact. For example, paper-bags, while compostable and easily recyclable, have a higher level of energy and water consumption during production process than high-density plastic shopping bags, which on the other hand perform better than the plastic ones.

Also, while plastic bags are often produced from waste products of oil refining, paper requires forests to be cut down to produce the bags and its manufacturing process creates a higher concentration of toxic chemicals as its plastic counterpart.

So which one is best? Both materials have a big impact in the environment, and the real answer is to reduce your bags as much as possible. Even if they’re made of paper, if the bags are not damaged, try to reuse them for different products and its need.

Real effective actions to combat the environmental crisis

As featured on Sloto Magazine

The fact is indisputable; our planet is in trouble. In early 2019, the UN released two condemning reports that surveyed vast amounts of scientific literature to confirm what we already suspected: human actions are affecting the climate and are destroying the biosphere.

The first report, from March this year, says we have 11 years to save the planet, and the second, from May, indicates that one million animal species are threatened with extinction. It is time for us to take action against the impending catastrophe. Here are some simple but effective actions that can contribute to a better world.

• Stop upgrading your mobile phone too often
  
  Manufacturing a phone generates 16 kg of emissions, not counting the power it consumes while you use it. Furthermore, the raw materials to make the phone are precious: copper, lead, gold, silver, palladium, as well as glass and plastic. Hold on to your phone as long as you can to save on emissions and extensive consumption of natural resources.
  
  
• Eat locally and less meat, if possible
  
  Food production takes a huge toll on the environment. From pesticides to transportation of goods, from packaging to food waste, from deforestation for livestock farming to water scarcity due to water use for livestock’s food production (corn, maize, etc.): here we have an industry that needs reformation. The easiest way you can contribute to the optimization of food production is to eat locally. Buy from your local providers and from your region, and also try to cut down on meat. Studies have shown that livestock production is one of the most destructive forces driving climate change. Be part of the change – the positive change!

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Around the world, cities are preparing for a smarter, healthier and more efficient transportation system than traveling by car. It reduces your carbon print and is also a way to stay active and healthy! Here are some of the cities that encourage this green mode of transportation:

• Copenhagen: In Copenhagen, more than 62% of its citizens cycle to work in one of the most biking-friendly cities in the world. The city has more than 242 miles of designated bike lanes and even features a “cycle super highway’ which connects to the town of Albertslund.
  
• Amsterdam: The Netherlands capital has over 800,000 bicycles and its flat streets make it easier to use them to go to work, for grocery shopping or for exercise. Tourists are also encouraged to ride a bike, with several bike rentals available throughout the city.
  
  
• Portland: The Portland Bureau of Transportation is trying its best to match the bicycle culture of European cities, and it has made a fantastic job so far. There are free printed city and neighborhood maps for cyclists and the public bike rental system is one of the greenest in the world.
  
  
• Montreal: The Canadian city has over 373 miles of bike paths featuring food and drink stands along the cycling paths. The city also hosts a bike festival that welcomes bikers of all ages to take a tour around town.
  
  
• Tokyo: Given how Tokyo’s population is, imagine if we told you that 14% of all its commuters are bikers. That means almost 2 million people going to work by bicycle every day! The city also has ample bicycle parking and amazing bike paths around the city.

What could you do to help make your city go bike green?