At this very minute, millions of plastic bottles are being sold around the world. Every hour, 2.5 million are thrown away and may end up in our oceans, causing the deaths of many marine animals.

Make a significant difference today through getting yourself a reusable water bottle and start avoiding plastic bottles. This easy switch helps you and the environment!

The rise of switching from plastic straws to wooden or metal straws or none at all has been apparent in the recent years. Like other plastic items — such as bags and bottles — plastic utensils can take centuries to naturally break down. Billions of these one-time use cutleries are thrown away each year, making it among the “most deadly” items to sea turtles, birds, and other animals.

One of the easiest and most logical solutions to help solve the plastic crisis is bringing your own cutlery. There are local brands where you can get these sustainable products within your reach!

See also: 7 Local Brands For Your Sustainable Living Plan

Apart from being easy on the budget, another benefit of purchasing or selling used items is that it is sustainable. This practice is also one of the best ways to deal with textile waste as clothes get dumped even just after a few years. Buying second-hand extends the lifespan of clothes.

Use your garments to their fullest capabilities and keep perfectly good items out of landfills!

Getting your food at a farmer’s market definitely has a lot of benefits! Not only can you obtain farm-fresh products, but many of the items you can get at a local farmer’s market are organic and chemical-free. The fruits and vegetables tend to be more affordable, nutritious, and may even taste better!

Support local economies and local family farms when you shop at your local market! Family farms produce less environmental waste in the form of carbon monoxide, pesticides, and chemical fertilisers.

See also: Manila's Hidden Gems For Vegans And Vegetarians

Vegetarian diets have grown popular over the years as a way to try and reduce one’s carbon footprint. Cutting down your consumption of red meat also lessens the amount of greenhouse-gas emissions (which takes up roughly 51 percent of emissions) are caused by animal agriculture.

You don’t have to completely cut meat out of your diet to make a difference. You can actually start small by taking part in Meatless Mondays, an initiative that encourages people to ditch meat once a week, or you can opt to replace at least one meal a day with plant-based options.

Read more: Investing In Plant-Based Meat

For 2020, it’s time to avoid throwing away your food waste, whether it’s an entire sandwich or a half-eaten pizza slice. Our food waste goes into a landfill, creating methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. In other words, it contributes to climate change.

Start a compost pile in your backyard and use it to fertilise your plants so you won’t have to buy chemical fertilizers that are harmful for the environment.

Read more: How Real Is Climate Change