“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” - Lady Bird Johnson

Some of my earliest and fondest memories are experiencing the southern way of life before I even understood how special and distinct that way of life is. I can remember watching my great grandfather pull peanuts from the ground that we would later boil while patiently playing under the carport. The inaugural batch of the summer’s redskin peanuts were worth waiting the entire year for.

You knew as the days lengthened that you were approaching that special time of year in the south that can be described and commemorated solely on taste and smell. To live the southern way of life meant living with the seasons. Knowing how to nurture and reap what nature provides was a skill that was grandfathered down from generation to generation as a means of survival.

My grandmother has spent a lifetime honing and passing down these skills. Even now, I’m in awe of her wealth of knowledge regarding the southern seasons, plants, animals, insects and birds. Her vast botanical garden that she maintains with such grace and duty is reflective of the deep understanding and respect she holds for the southern soil.

As time and modernity slowly imparts itself on the Deep South, our way of life is notably changing. Namely, the wildlife and its natural habit. Social media has created a demand for people to experience and be part of our attention-grabbing way of life. We are also seeing seasonal items like fruits, vegetables, and seafood being made available year-round in our grocery stores. We no longer have to live with the seasons. We are living on-demand lives. With the ever-increasing consumerism, tourism and construction there are new responsibilities that we should take on to preserve, mend and protect our precious environment, its wildlife and ecosystems.

Below is a list of suggested changes we can all make that, collectively, will lead to immeasurable positive impacts on the environment.

Ditch the Plastic Toothbrush

Most of us have programmed ourselves to brush our teeth multiple times a day. While that habit is critical for oral hygiene and overall health, the material we use to accomplish that task may have unintended consequences.

The average American goes through 3 to 4 toothbrushes per year, following the recommendations of most dental professionals. Roughly 1 billion toothbrushes will be thrown away this year, nearly all of them plastic. In fact, plastic has been the primary component used in toothbrush manufacturing for over 90 years.

Since plastic is essentially indestructible, this means that 90 years worth of discarded toothbrushes continue to live on as permanent waste in our landfills, sewage systems, oceans, parks and beaches. These plastics then begin the long process of decomposition, a process that introduces toxic by-products to the environment. As the plastics decompose and shrink into microplastics, wild animals often mistake them for food and consume them

Unfortunately, the numerous components in modern toothbrushes make them very difficult to recycle. No one wants to take the time to pull out the nylon bristles and metal staples to separate them from the petrochemical-based plastic handle. With this knowledge, mindful consumers have increasingly turned to eco-friendly alternatives.

Whether you elect to use bamboo or bio-based plastic toothbrushes, bear in mind that not all eco-friendly products are created equal. Even if the bamboo or bio-based plastic is biodegradable, the bristles are not. The nylon-6 bristles should be removed with pliers using a rolling motion to pull out the metal staples and thrown in your recycling bag. Since the bamboo and bio-plastic are biodegradable, this portion can be composted or thrown in your general waste container where it will break down completely over time.

It may be more of a pain than just chucking your old plastic toothbrush in the trash, but the turtles (and your grandchildren) will thank you for it!

Say Goodbye to Disposable Razors

One of the largest contributors to plastic pollution is the disposable razor. Nearly 160 million Americans have admitted to using disposable razors in 2019, a number that is project to increase to 163 million over the next 3 years. Assuming most people replace their razor or razor heads every 6 weeks, that’s over 1 billion (I’m sensing a pattern here) plastic razors being thrown away annually in the U.S., say nothing of the plastic packaging they come in.

Fortunately, there is an easy solution to the plastic razor problem that doesn’t require new synthetic materials or fancy technology. The old school safety razor, like the one grandpa used, is lightweight, durable and reusable. Even the one part that isn’t reusable, the razor blade, is made out of recyclable metal, making it the perfect eco-friendly alternative.

There are also hygienic and skin care problems that result from using multi-blade disposable razors. With multi-cartridge razors, the first blade is used to pull the hair up, which often causes the second, third and fourth (and yes… sometimes fifth) blade to cut beneath the skin, presenting myriad issues. This process strips the protective layer of the skin, exposing it to harmful environmental pollutants. It also leads to skin irritation and ingrown hairs. Multi-blade razors also rapidly trap nasty bacteria, which combined with the lack of a protective skin barrier, leaves you more susceptible to bacterial infection.

With that in mind, the safety razor is one of the easiest and most personally beneficial swaps you can make to decrease your environmental impact.

Repurpose Plastic Containers

We all should make an effort to cut out single-use plastics, but plastic isn’t going away altogether. Most plastics containers on the market are now recyclable, which helps to alleviate some guilt over their use (that is, assuming you recycle). Many environmentally conscious corporations still elect to use plastic containers over glass or other alternatives, citing that their lighter weight and durability allow for lower carbon emissions that result from transportation.

In short, plastic may not be entirely unavoidable. In addition to recycling, there are numerous ways to upcycle and repurpose plastic packaging. Check out the list below for some inspiration:

Use old jars as seed starters to kick off your vegetable garden
Repurpose jars with lids for jewelry storage
Refill jars with DIY body scrubs or face masks
Upcycle plastic bottles and jugs to make watering cans

If you’re super creative and handy you can even use bottle caps to craft lamps or make your kids piggy banks out of old soda bottles. The possibilities are endless!

Say No to Plastic Water Bottles and Grocery Bags

Single-use plastic leads to over 8 million tons of non-degradable waste in our oceans every year, while harming our wildlife. Some of the biggest culprits of this crisis are plastic water bottles and grocery bags.

Luckily for all of us, it’s never been easier to break free from these items. Get yourself and your loved one’s stainless steel, glass or BPA-free reusable water bottles instead of relying on cases of plastic for hydration. Make it fun by personalizing it with your favorite stickers and measuring how much water you consume on a daily basis.

The same goes for grocery bags. Many states are moving to charge a tax for single-use grocery bags, while others are banning plastic bags altogether. Either way, you’re almost certain to find inexpensive reusable bags and totes at your favorite grocery store.

Cut Down and Recycle 6-Pack Rings

Traditional clear plastic 6-pack rings were valued for a long time as an effective and easy way to tote your beverages around. But as evidence has mounted and the public has become more aware of their negative environmental impact, calls for the elimination of the rings have increased.

We’ve all seen images of seabirds, turtles and other marine life either consuming or tangled up in these plastic beverage carriers. The EPA has mandated that all ring carriers sold in the United States be degradable since 1994. While some eco-friendly alternatives have been created to meet those requirements – such as the recycled HDPE can carriers, biodegradable E6PR, and Hi-Cone flexible RingCycles do exist – the hard truth is that they still take several months on average (longer in less sunny areas) to break down.

Furthermore, photodegradation relies on sunlight to break plastics down, but most beverage carriers are sent to landfills where they are quickly covered by other waste. So, what can you do to mitigate the problem? The best thing to do is to be sure to do your part and recycle plastics whenever possible to divert them from landfills and help prevent further pollution to our oceans and waterways. Prior to recycling, take the extra step to cut them down into small parts before disposing of them.

Be sure to contact your local recycling center ahead of time and ask if they accept the type of plastic you have on hand (typically, this will be #4 LDPE for can rings). If not, consider forming a group collection that can participate in The Ring Leader Recycling Program for free!

Garden for Yourself and Wildlife

This does not have to be limited to peppers and tomatoes, and you certainly don’t need acres of land to do it. Whether you have a window potter, a raised bed in your small backyard, an acre of fertile land, a school/church yard or a rooftop garden at your disposal, you can play a huge role in the conservation and preservation of many important species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the rusty patched bumble bee as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This species emerges in April to gather pollen and nectar from a variety of flowering plants, and does not go into hibernation until September. Throughout that time, the rusty patched bumble bees provide pollination for our beautiful gardens, including tomatoes, blueberries, clovers and bee pollen, but require a constant and diverse supply of blooming flowers to feed their colony.

Bee population losses are occurring at alarming rate, putting our very survival at risk. Many other endangered animals and plants are at risk of being eradicated – including the American Swallow-tailed Kite, the Gopher Frog, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and the Seabeach Amaranth – a startling indicator that ecosystems are failing. However, you have the power to save these species and restore purity to our beloved environment.

South Carolina is one of the top states per capita in the nation on the number of Certified Wildlife Habitats because everyday people like you and I are providing food, water, cover, and a place to raise young for our local critters.

Support Conservation of our Natural Resources

Making daily changes in your habits and buying practices are a great start, but there is always more we can do to support those actively working to protect our land, water, and wildlife, many of whom rely on grassroots fundraising and charitable donations to maintain operations.

When it comes time to make a charitable donations, be sure to research the organization(s) you’re interested in, and consider supporting ethical and trustworthy conservation groups – whether regional or national – such as the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation, respectively.

You can also support their efforts indirectly by voting with your dollar at the grocery store and shopping mall by buying local organic produce that does not rely heavily on the use of pesticides and herbicides that harm animal and plant species, avoiding products made with coral, tortoise-shells, and furs, buying vanishing species stamps and purchasing state hunting and fishing licenses.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” - Leo Tolstoy

We must not downplay the impact of the small changes we make in ourselves and our daily lives. Albert Einstein called compound interest the most powerful force in the universe. If each individual resolves to make small behavioral changes for the greater good, we will reap the rewards. Together, we can make the world a cleaner, safer and more thriving place for ourselves and all living things.

About the Authors:

This piece was written by SC Wildlife Federation supporters Ahmed and Savannah Nayel. Ahmed and Savannah are the co-founders and creators of the natural skin and beauty company Bare + Bloom Naturals. Together, they prioritize eco-friendliness at every stage of their product creation while using all-natural ingredients in their modern-day beauty and skin care lines. When not working on Bare + Bloom, Ahmed Nayel is a professional sustainability and energy efficiency consultant, specializing in building energy performance, green building certification, and low-income housing. Ahmed and Savannah reside on Pawley’s Island on with their children.