Crafting Solutions: Diy Pollution-Fighting Tools For A Greener Tomorrow

There are many tools that can help with pollution, from the individual to the governmental level. Individuals can make a difference by making their own cleaning products, using less toxic ingredients, and choosing natural fibre materials like cotton, linen, wool and silk. They can also reduce their energy use, repair or buy second-hand goods, and choose reusable mugs, straws and utensils. Governments can direct local businesses, city offices and school districts towards programmes that can help them reduce pollution and become more sustainable.

Using less toxic ingredients for cleaning products

There are many tools that can help with pollution, and many of them are available to the general public. The US EPA has resources to help people learn about the issues and reduce their environmental footprint. They also offer internship programmes in P2, which teach people how to apply pollution prevention approaches and practices.

The WHO has a tool called Benefits of Action to Reduce Household Air Pollution (BAR-HAP), which is a strategic tool for medium-term planning. It can be used to generate forecasts of financial resource costs/needs at the national or sub-national level and compare those resource costs/needs with the value of the net benefits that the transitions entail. It is useful for improving budgeting in health, energy and other sectors.

There are also many ways to prevent pollution in your daily life, such as conserving water resources, saving energy in your home, and learning about greener living.

Using natural fibres like cotton, linen, wool and silk

While there are many tools that can help you reduce your environmental footprint, such as the Benefits of Action to Reduce Household Air Pollution (BAR-HAP) tool, there is little information about tools that can be made to help with pollution. However, using natural fibres like cotton, linen, wool and silk can help to reduce pollution.

Every time we wash synthetic fabrics like polyester, acrylic and nylon in a washing machine, millions of plastic microfibers are released into the water system and make their way into the oceans. Natural fibres, on the other hand, do not have the same effect. In fact, 81% of consumers say that compared to synthetic fibre clothing, cotton apparel is the most sustainable.

However, it is important to note that natural fibres are not without their environmental impact. In 2015, Ladewig et al. suggested for the first time that natural textile fibres be considered as pollutants in their own right, alongside microplastic fibres. This is because natural fibres can act as a source of various polluting chemicals associated with fibre production as they degrade in the environment.

Despite this, natural fibres still have a much lower environmental impact than synthetic fibres. By making the switch to natural fibres, you can help to reduce pollution and conserve natural resources.

Choosing reusable mugs, straws and utensils

Disposable straws and utensils create a significant amount of the plastic pollution found in our oceans, which has been responsible for killing off seabirds and torturing sea turtles. Americans use over 500 million drinking straws every day, and enough disposable utensils are thrown away each year to circle the equator 300 times.

You can easily benefit the planet by reducing or eliminating your consumption of single-use plastics. There are many great options for reusable straws and utensil sets, so choose a set that you will actually use and that is easy to carry with you on a routine basis. You can keep a set in your bag, car or desk drawer, or at home. Reusable silicone or stainless steel straws are a good option.

Using a pollution-free mode of transport

BAR-HAP is a strategic tool for medium-term planning that can be used to generate forecasts of financial resource costs/needs at the national or sub-national level. It can also be used to compare those resource costs/needs with the value of the net benefits that the transitions entail. This can help inform budgeting in health, energy, and other sectors, as well as engage with government and civil society constituencies.

The tool includes several useful features, such as a user-friendly interface with step-by-step guidance and visuals, default data for all low- and middle-income countries, and auto-populated background information based on the country selected.

By using tools like BAR-HAP, individuals can make more informed decisions about their energy usage and reduce their impact on the environment.

Reducing air pollution from lawn and garden equipment

Gas-powered lawn and garden equipment can contribute heavily to local and regional air pollution. One way to reduce air pollution from lawn and garden equipment is to use people-powered yard tools, which are cheaper and easier to maintain than their gas counterparts. Electric landscaping equipment is also available, and with recent battery advancements, it is more affordable than ever. Even with a higher initial cost, during a typical 10-year lifespan the cost will level out due to a reduction in fuel and maintenance-related expenses.

Another issue with gas-powered lawn and garden equipment is the risk of fuel spills. Refilling gas-powered lawn mowers and other garden equipment can be messy, and when spills happen, the spilt fuel can get into your lawn, garden beds, groundwater, nearby ponds, and so forth. Some of the fuel also evaporates into the air as volatile organic compounds. Cities with lots of auto-rickshaws with two-stroke engines have some of the worst air pollution and heavy soot.

To avoid this, you can use a four-stroke mower, which is better than a two-stroke mower, or a mower that exceeds the CARB/EPA 50-state emissions standards for emissions, such as a Honda mower. The best lawn mower for reducing air pollution is one with no tailpipe emissions at all, which means either going manual or going electric, ideally powered by renewable energy.

Frequently asked questions