21 simple steps you can take now to help Bali and the planet this Earth Day (and every day.)

This month, with Earth Day just around the corner, we throw focus on what we can do collectively as individuals. Here are 21 simple swaps that can really make an impact.

1. Switch off to save electricity wherever you can – It sounds pretty basic right? Just switch off lights when you leave the room. Or add a bit of romance to your life with candlelight. We love these natural ones in store now from Bale Natural Candle. Go one step further and switch off your A/C during the day (and/or night).
2. Unplug your coffee machine. No we aren’t saying give up your daily espresso all together. Just unplug the machine (and all other electronic devices) from the wall when you aren’t using them! Even when not in use, electronic items like your coffee machine, computer and T.V. are draining energy while dormant.
3. Get curious around your home and start reading labels! Don’t be a victim of greenwashing. Check the labels of your everyday items for hidden nasties. Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products to avoid washing toxic chemicals down the drain and into our oceans! We love our ever growing range of low-tox products made here in Indonesia by local suppliers including plastic free wraps, compostable cleaning clothes and brushes, sanitary items and more.
4. Find your green thumb and get planting at home. Along with producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide, growing your own plants and produce can save you money and provides you with your very organic goodies. It’s also super satisfying – as long as you can keep your plants alive ;).
5. Buy organic – wherever possible (if you really can’t keep those plants alive). At Alive we love to support our local organic farmers and suppliers. Not only is the environmental benefit undeniable, the produce tastes better, comes without the pesky pesticides and lasts longer.
6. Buy in bulk and be the change. You’ll not only be reducing waste when you buy in bulk, it’s the perfect chance to use those recycled glass jars and bottles. We have Legumes, Grains, Seeds, Pulses, Pastas, Organic Rice, Superfood Powders, Dried fruit & Spices all available in bulk at our store and online.
7. Meal prep like a pro. Now you’re buying bulk, it’s the perfect time to start wasting less food by preparing your meals or planning your menu in advance. In addition to less food waste, it means less trips to the shop, more money in your wallet and less of that “What shall we have for dinner” stress. If you’re having trouble getting started with this one or simply don’t enjoy cooking, we have a range of broths, soups, sauces and organic cold pressed juices for inspiration.
8. Produce less gas (by composting). Food waste in landfill creates a potent greenhouse gas – methane. At Alive we are proud of the fact that we use up any food wastage or compost it and give it back to our farmers to use. If you have no idea where to start, jump online and do some research in the area you live and see what your options are. Here in Bali companies like Urban Compost and Bali Eco Bali have come up with amazing solutions for personal and commercial composting.
9. Love those leftovers. While none of us really want to eat the same spaghetti bolognese for dinner three nights in a row, we also want to get into the habit of having less wastage. Freeze leftovers to eat another time or get creative and reinvent those leftovers the next day. Roast chicken one night can easily be sandwiches, you get the idea..
10. Take shorter showers. While a hot shower can be the most relaxing way to end a day, they do nothing to help reduce those pesky emissions. Better yet –  go cold or share a shower and use half the amount ;)!
11. While you’re lathering up in the shower – turn off the tap between shampooing and conditioning. Water experts say this simple act alone can save around 50 liters of water per person per day – well, you don’t need to actually be an expert to figure out it’s a huge saving.
12. Avoid single use plastic Yes it’s an oldie but a goodie. Swap out your take away coffee cups and water bottles for the reusable versions, say no to plastic bags, buy less plastic wrapped veggies and choose bulk whenever possible just to get you started. We know we aren’t perfect, at Alive wherever possible we choose to wrap produce in banana leaf and provide foods in bulk. Tiny steps can create big changes. If you do need to use plastic, recycle wherever possible.
13. Filter your tap water. Now depending on where you live, we know the thought of this could freak some people out. But did you know even here in Bali it is possible to filter your tap water yourself and drink it? You might have noticed the terracotta water pots we have in store at Alive. These pots by Terra use clay, carbon, colloidal silver to purify the water. Do your own research here. They are doing amazing things whilst providing sustainable water solutions to plastic bottled water here in Indonesia.
14. Get ‘plogging’.  AKA picking up rubbish while jogging. If jogging isn’t your jam, don’t be disheartened. Picking up rubbish whenever and wherever you see it, on the streets, beach or around your community is a simple way to have an immediately positive impact on the planet.
15. Meatless Mondays. This one is a biggie. Cutting down on meat consumption, even for just one day a week not only reduces greenhouse gases, but also reduces global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use. We also love the idea of getting to know your local suppliers and learning about where your meat is coming from.
16. Recycle, recycle, recycle. Don’t forget to wash your recyclable plastics before recycling. Contaminated food containers can cause entire batches of product unusable – undoing your best efforts – so when in doubt, wash it out.
17. Buy local. Ok we all have our vices – Australians i’m looking at you with your vegemite and weetbix. But making a conscious effort to support local whenever possible, has huge roll-on effects on the environment in addition to the lower price tag.
18. Clean up your skin-care routine. It’s no secret that beauty usually comes with a price – the biggest one being the enormous amount of waste from plastic packaging and chemical laden products. We started the conversation about this in a post here.
19. UPcycle One man’s (or woman’s) trash really can be another’s treasure – Have you jumped on the UP-cycle train yet? There is certainly a little bit of skill and vision involved in this one. It’s easier to show you what we mean – Check out Seminyak local Michael Hockey from Inside The Round’s YouTube channel for inspiration and just plain entertaining viewing here.
20. Work from home Digital nomads, you will be interested to know your work location can actually have an impact on the environment. Working from home if you normally commute to a cafe or workplace means fewer vehicles on the road – and a lower carbon footprint. Better yet dust off your bicycle and cycle there if you can. Your heart will thank you along with the Planet.
21. Be a part of the change and join a local clean-up event. You’ll get to meet like minded people, make a difference and score some of those amazing feel good endorphins knowing you’re making a difference on a larger scale.