Being eco or environmentally friendly is becoming more and more important in today’s society. You might see the term is referred to in job ads, house listing, food, and packaging products, but what is it? The easiest way to define eco-friendly is to live with intent, live with the intent not to cause or create any harm to the environment through your interactions with it.
To me the Kobees brand is so much more than lip balm it resembles a commitment to keeping our environment clean, it is taking the extra step to more conscious of our surroundings and how they should be kept.
When I step outside now in 2020, I see and picture what used to be, and not how things are now. I used to see trees everywhere, plentiful snowfall during the wintertime, lots of woods and nature at your fingertips. Everything has changed since then, winters here in Wisconsin are much shorter, there is barely any snow and what used to be trees and forest are now homes and development sites. If you look around where you have grown up or just observe the climate, I’m sure you will notice some changes as well. We have grown up in a world where everything is replaceable, nothing that can’t be fixed, everything is just here for the taking and the way we use, and dispose of will not cause an immediate impact. Unfortunately, this is not the case, my generation, gen-Z will feel the effects of this and our kids the most. Our planet is rapidly warming, the oceans are becoming more and more acidic, and a sixth extinction is currently underway. We need to become cognizant of what we are doing. We are in this mindset of doing things later or tomorrow or hoping someone else will come along and fix the problems for us. We need to start taking responsibility for our planet.
Today I feel like businesses and big corporations alike are becoming more and more scrutinized in today’s society on their part in helping the climate crisis. I want to change that narrative. Even though companies are aware of the impacts they are making, it’s hard for such big shifts in change. Kobee’s is starting from the ground up with the environment as the focal point. There are real problems that need to be addressed so we don’t ruin what we have before it’s too late.
I feel some of us don’t realize the potential impact if we don’t all work together to slow climate change. A lot of changes will happen to this earth during our lifetime that could be of big detriment if we don’t act accordingly.
Since 1906, the global average surface temperature has increased by around 1.6 degrees. The impacts of global warming aren’t some far-fetched reality. They are happening right now. Heat is melting glaciers and sea ice, precipitation patterns are shifting, and animals are starting to have to migrate more frequently and further to reach ideal climates.
Climate change isn’t just a rising temperature, it’s extreme weather, shifting wildlife populations, rising seas and a host of other problems. Changes that keep happening because humans continue to add greenhouse gases to our atmospheres. Some of the changes that we are already seeing today are…
Ice melting worldwide, for example, in Montana, from 1910 the number of glaciers has decreased from over 150 to less than 30. Sea levels rise due to melting ice, with the level rising on average around 3.2mm per year. By 2100 Oceans levels could rise between 10 and 30 inches if the temperature keeps rising which can seriously affect people living in select coastal communities.
Rising temperatures affect wildlife and their habitats. More animals are having to travel farther and farther to reach their ideal climate/cooler temperatures.
More precipitation in some areas while others experience severe drought, increased risk of wildfire. Also, with inconsistent weather patterns, it becomes harder and harder for farmers to yield consistent crops and will only become more difficult in the future.
Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Our oceans absorb about a quarter of the carbon dioxide that humans produce by burning fossil fuels each year, and that's changing their basic chemistry. This is particularly bad for creatures with calcium carbonate in their shells or skeletons, like mollusks, crabs, and corals. Acidic water makes it harder for them to grow those shells, so many of them are going to have a hard time surviving as our seas change.
These are just a few examples of what is happening to our environment right now and this why I hold myself and Kobee’s to committing to a more eco-friendly lifestyle and standard, imagine the changes in the future if we don’t start to take responsibility for some of our actions. The change to becoming eco-friendlier can’t happen all at once, it going to take all of us working together to solve this problem and bring these issues to more light. Being eco-friendly to me means being more in tune with your surroundings, realizing everything is here for a reason, there is a balance between us and all things on this earth and we need to do our part in maintaining that balance.
I’m going to list off a few simple ways you can start to live more environmentally conscious and realize the beauty of the nature around us.
Conserve water and electricity
- This is one of the most important things on this list, water is being used more than ever, due to the production of food, supplying people with drinkable water and needs to be protected. Try not to take long showers, don’t have your water running the whole time you wash dishes, make sure to only do laundry when you have a full basket, turn your lights off after you leave a room or unplug and appliance that you don’t use consistently.
Plant more trees
- There is plenty of space around, go to the store and grab some seeds and get planting! Even if it’s only a few. We all know the benefits trees and plants provide. They give us oxygen, fruits, resources. They help control erosion in the soil, help control floods and provide homes and shelter to local wildlife. Massive-scale deforestation in the last couple of decades has reduced the forest area by a significant portion. So get out and plant something, you get to be outside and enjoy your surroundings while giving back at the same time.
Go outside
- One of the best things for me is to get outside, even if it’s only for 10-15 minutes per day and just take time and realize where you are. It’s refreshing, relaxes your mind and thought and allows you to see clearly and tackle whatever is in front of you.
Buy locally grown products
- When you are going shopping for food, if your area has local farmer's markets, this is an easy win. You get fresh-farm produce, which usually organic and non-GMO and usually at a better price than big grocery store chains, and usually with no plastic involved. Also, in addition to supporting the local community you get to enjoy some fresh air and socialize. Also, make sure to bring your reusable shopping bags with you!
Buy recyclable or recycled products
- Always lookout for a recycling symbol when you visit a grocery shop to buy items for your home. That will make you environmentally responsible and eco-friendly. Also, try to carry a grocery bag with you to avoid buying items in plastic bags that will later end up in landfills.
Reducing waste
- The way we dispose of goods is one of the root causes of our environmental problems. When we throw out paper, plastics, and other waste instead of recycling, this wrongful disposal of trash pollutes our oceans, soils and water sources. Make sure you're taking a close look at how you're disposing of goods and look for ways to recycle commonly used items in your home.
