Kids & Company Blog

Eco-Friendly New Year’s Resolutions

According to a survey done in October 2023 by Forbes Health/OnePoll, the average person’s New Year’s resolution lasts only 3.74 months. (Did you know the second Friday in January is called, “Quitter’s Day” and January 17th is known as “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day”?) The good news: Not only is adopting an eco-friendly resolution (or two!) a great way to adopt a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle, it will most likely be kind to your pocketbook, too!

Here are 24 ways to “go green” in 2024:

1. Embrace minimalism (even just a bit): Declutter, donate and “give” experiences instead of buying presents.
2. Start composting kitchen scraps and, for those who have the program, commit to using your Green Bins.
3. Try to only buy home products from companies who have strong eco-friendly policies or at the very least, choose products with minimal plastic packaging.
4. Grow a Garden: Even those in smaller spaces can grow herbs. This is a great project for the whole family too!
5. Calculate (and then work to decrease) your carbon footprint. We’ll admit it: this one takes a little effort, and some math...but just think of how you’ll dazzle your friends with your knowledge!
6. Consider a plant-based diet, which is better for the environment in so many ways. Check out our blog, here, on 4 meatless recipes from the Kidco Kitchen to try at home.
7. Choose locally sourced and/or organic foods whenever possible.
8. Make a commitment to get informed about environmental issues, and have age-appropriate conversations with friends and family to raise awareness and teach others. Our Director of Learning Environments, Kristine Grant, has curated a list of books that speak to the theme of caring for our planet here.
9. Go Paperless: Opt for digital bills and receipts and switch to electronic devices for note-taking and calendar planning.
10. Be a good neighbour: Participate in local clean-up events and volunteer for environmental organisations or community gardens.
11. Be fashionably eco-conscious by becoming a savvy thrift shopper. We have shared some tips for sustainable shopping for the sub-zero season here.
12. Make note of when and where your local farmers' markets are happening and make a point of supporting them.
13. Be mindful of how much water you use (ie. showers, baths, laundry and dishwasher). 
14. When you need to replace light bulbs, appliances, switch to energy-efficient ones.
15. Spend more time outside and appreciate the beauty of nature, even if that means a walk around the block, a stroll in the park, or a vigorous hike. This is also a great way to engage with your child in some outdoor activities using found objects, like this video here. 
16. Simply be mindful of what you are consuming. (Ask yourself: Is it really necessary? Where is it going to end up when you don’t want or need it anymore?)
17. Become more of a DIY’er and upcycle something to make it new and useful, rather than a waste of space and materials. We have a host of activities that encourage using recycled items over at our Kidco at Home resource.
18. Eliminate single-use plastics like bags, straws, and utensils from your “to go” meals.
19. Make your own eco-friendly cleaning products, or choose those with the least amount of harmful chemicals.
20. Install a programmable thermostat (and actually program it).
21. Think about leaving the car at home and walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation if possible.
22. Plan the next family vacation to embrace Slow Travel, ie. make a conscious and educated effort to embrace your destination’s people, environment, culture, food, music, etc.
23. Teach everyone in the house to get in the habit of turning off the lights when they leave a room, unplug chargers when not in use, and use the sleep mode on computers and electronics.
24. When making charitable donations, consider those who support environmental and/or wildlife conservation.

These are only suggestions to get you started. Feel free to add your own, and don’t hesitate to share your ideas with others. Remember, big doors swing on small hinges: The key to successful resolutions is to start with baby steps -- just like living a more sustainable lifestyle!

Posted on: Thursday December 28th, 2023

Posted by: Kids & Company