Bet You Didn't Know These 13 Things You Do Were Actually Saving The Planet

Plastic straws can only be used once and then they must be thrown away. You usually won't use them for more than an hour, yet it takes hundreds of years to break down a single plastic straw! Imagine how long it takes for these plastic straws to be cleared up when eight million tonnes of it are being dumped into our oceans every year.

So if you're one of those who prefer to drink directly from the cup, give yourself a pat on the shoulder because you're actually playing a part in saving the earth!

Some of your friends may joke about how mafan it is to be carrying a stainless steel water bottle everywhere you go. But hey, that's one less plastic bottle in an overflowing landfill, which takes up to 700 years to decompose!

Plus, it helps keep your water cool too.

No, you're not a cheapo. You're just being environmentally friendly.

Shopping in flea markets and buying secondhand clothes actually increases the garment's lifespan. You alone can reduce five to ten percent of carbon and waste footprint if you use a pre-loved item for just three months.

Some may think that you're being paranoid because you keep unplugging the microwave after using it. But hey, it's not just about preventing short circuits and possible fires - it's about reducing carbon dioxide emission and energy saving.

Being an 'aunty' or 'uncle' is worth it when you know that you're keeping at least five plastic bags away from crowding the landfills every time you go shopping.

Besides that, tote bags are totally trendy these days.

You can save at least three things with your own mini vegetable farm: save money, save the environment, and save your health because you'll be consuming less pesticide-laced vegetables.

Most of the vegetables you get from the market would have produced some carbon emission when they're being transported to your neighbourhood for sale. So by planting your own veggies, you'll be helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Meal planning, basically. When you plan your meals for the whole week, you can avoid overbuying and wasting food.

We wasted 15,000 tonnes of food every day in 2016. And all these are turned into waste because we just dump them into the bin. That amount could have fed 11 million people three meals for a day, imagine that!

Did you know that when you decide to go vegetarian for at least one day a week, you're actually helping to cut down carbon dioxide production, farm pollutants, and the destruction of rainforests?

Vegetarian banana leaf rice is actually really yummy. Try it!

Think about it this way: if you were to get takeaway once a day, you'll be using at least seven polystyrene boxes, or seven plastic bags. By bringing your own tiffin box, you can help to minimise the production of these disposable containers which takes a really long time to decompose.

We know that plastic cups are bad for the environment, but paper cups aren't any better too. They may be recyclable, but they cost a lot more money - and even more carbon footprint - to be processed and recycled.

A reusable coffee cup may be pricey, but contribute to the fight to reduce waste and use of resources, as well as increase energy savings. On top of that, certain cafés provide discounts if you bring your own tumbler for takeaway coffee.

If you take the train, you'll agree that it's less stressful when driving, what with the traffic in the cities these days.

When you opt to take the train instead of driving to work, you reduce the amount of carbon emission that pollutes our air. Not to mention reducing the duration of others being stuck in traffic jams.

You, are the real MVP.

You cycle to work? You must be so fit right now.

For the others who are lucky enough to live near their offices (as in, less than 5km away from your workplace), do consider doing so to cut down on air pollutants!

You may already be doing this but do you know why it's better to do so? It does more than just reducing the burden of the garbage collectors, it also cuts down the amount of trash that goes into the landfill.

By separating our trash, we keep the recyclables separate from those that could not be recycled. This prevents the recyclables from being contaminated by the other trash because once exposed to contamination, they will cease to be recyclable and will have to go to the many landfills we already have. There are about 2.2 billion tonnes of these every year.

This year, the Petrosains Science Festival is focusing on sustainable living with AR experiences, informative talks, creative hands-on activities, and more. It's the perfect place to learn how green ideas and innovations can help reshape the way we live and make a difference to the environment.

You'll also get to take part in fun activities from the festival partners including National Geographic, Fly FM, and MDEC.

Take note of the event details:
Location: Petrosains, Suria KLCC and the Esplanade, KLCC Park
Date: 15 - 17 September 2017

Download the event app here! More info at sciencefestival.my