MEGAN JUNG

One of the universal experiences of living in California is living in a drought. I remember learning about it in elementary school and being terrified of the thought of running out of water. However, as time has gone on, I have gotten complacent and accepted the2 drought as a part of my life. This class has made me realize how important it is to do my part in helping the environment, including saving water. Thus, I have recently begun to time my showers and make a conscious effort to take shorter showers. In fact, I was gifted a mini hourglass by the LADWP and now challenge myself to finish my shower within that time frame to limit my showers to 5 minutes max. I also turn off the water in my shower when I am using shampoo, or soaping my body. In doing so, I am able to clean myself thoroughly using the soapy suds without the worry of water rinsing it off prematurely. At first, I was skeptical to try this as I did not want to be left cold, but fortunately, the heat and steam from the shower remains in the air keeping my body warm. Most of all, this is a great and easy way to help save water as greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced. The energy it takes to pump, heat, and treat water can be very energetically expensive, so it is important to limit heated water usage. It is a small change, but one that you can incorporate in your daily life, which will ultimately make a great difference.

One small but consistent change I have made since I have moved into my apartment, is to always use reusable bags when I go grocery shopping. I prefer to use reusable bags because they are often more sturdy and can fit more items as opposed to plastic bags. I am able to fit more grocery items inside, which makes it easier to carry up to my apartment. Additionally, I do not have to pay the extra fee they charge you each time you use a bag at the store. The little savings add up! A good way to ensure that I do not forget my reusable bag is to alway keep extras in my car. We also have a designated bin in our apartment for reusable bags, so I can grab them on my way out the door. This small change is significant because plastic bags are not biodegradable, and contribute to filling landfills with toxins that the earth cannot breakdown naturally. Additionally, I find it extremely wasteful, as most people use plastic bags once and throw them away. I believe that grocery stores should start to promote the use of reusable bags more. The tax on plastic bags is already a good start, but I would love to see more rewards for those who rely on reusable bags. Furthermore, most grocery stores actually do sell reusable bags, which is convenient for those of you who are interested. It is a valuable and well-worth long term purchase that I highly recommend, especially if you grocery shop often.

As an avid boba and coffee drinker, I recognize that plastic straws and containers are one of the most wasteful aspects of my daily life that I could easily change. This past year, I have decided to invest in metal, reusable straws. Making the switch helps reduce waste from plastic straws that may contain toxic and harmful chemicals, ultimately helping the environment. Metal straws are also very convenient as whenever I make a drink at home, I am able to use a straw at my convenience, wash, and have it ready for my next drink. They are also much stronger and durable than plastic straws, making it a great long term investment. Plastic straws typically end up endangering wildlife, including marine animals, and polluting our environment as they are not recyclable. In terms of the plastics from cups, I decided to purchase a Starbucks tumbler, which is a reusable cup that can be used at any Starbucks location. The tumbler also helps cut down on use of plastic nand ultimately helps contribute less to landfill waste. Additionally, if you use a tumbler at Starbucks you get a discount on your drink as well as additional rewards! I see using a reusable cup as a win-win scenario as it is cheaper and less harmful to the environment. For the future, I hope to continue to use my tumbler and metal straws. I want to encourage my friends and peer to invest as well. I think boba shops and other drink companies should encourage reusable straws and cups and offer rewards to encourage others to start thinking sustainably.

This Sunday I went to volunteer at Nourish LA, located locally to the UCLA campus in Sawtelle. This organization, introduced to me by Randy, focuses on eliminating waste from grocery stores and redistributing them to those who are facing food insecurity. As a first time volunteer, I was shocked to see the large quantity and wide range of foods that were originally meant for the dumpster. All of the food items were perfectly fine to eat and included fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, or pre packaged items such as baby food, cookies, or candy. When I normally grocery shop, I never think about how much food waste large grocery chains produce. Nourish LA is a local branch that utilizes food waste from nearby grocery stores, so I cannot imagine all of the food that goes to waste everyday from other locations. Food waste itself can be detrimental to the environment as once it reaches the landfills, it can generate significant amounts of greenhouse gasses such as methane. The rules that grocery stores have to follow in disposing their produce prematurely is extremely wasteful as it takes many resources to create, transport, and dispose of food. I felt inspired by Nourish LA and think it is a great opportunity for anyone to join as all of the volunteers were welcoming. Especially as a working college student, I appreciate that its event is held on Sunday so that I have time in my schedule to help. I plan to continue volunteering at Nourish LA because it is a cause that I am passionate about. I enjoy being able to acknowledge that I am not only helping the environment, but also people who may not have the means to purchase food on their own. Nourish LA has changed my perspective of the whole food industry and has opened my eyes its wasteful tendencies. It has also made me grateful for all of the food that I am able to purchase, and encourages me to only buy what I need. I hope to share this volunteer opportunity with my friends as I believe both education and active involvement in environmental efforts are important for enacting change. I am already excited to go back next weekend!

One of my favorite changes I have made in my lifestyle this year, was the investment of a reusable water bottle. Admittedly, I initially bought my Hydroflask due to the trends of social media where it was almost like an accessory to own one. However, I now realize that using a Hydroflask, or any reusable water bottle can help significantly cut down on plastic water bottles that are a large contributor to waste. Additionally, it helps reduce our carbon footprint as the manufacturing plants that make plastic water bottles emit greenhouse gasses during production. There are also many health risks that accompany bottled water as the chemicals used to treat the water and the plastic may be harmful, leading to long term health effects such as cancer or reproductive issues. Buying a reusable water bottle is a great long term investment, and it can be a fun process! There are so many different shapes, brands, and colors to choose from and it is very convenient as you are able to refill the bottle at any time, unlike disposable plastic water bottles. Another great investment I encourage, is the Brita filter. This allows me to directly filter my sink water and fill up my Hydroflask whenever needed. The Brita filter is another great alternative to plastic water jugs and helps reduce plastic consumption. Another benefit to sustainable water bottles is that they can be thermal regulatory. My Hydroflask always keeps my drinks cold unlike plastic water bottles. Overall, I think investing in a reusable body is beneficial and there are many affordable options available for people who are looking for a cheaper alternative to the Hydroflask. A quick amazon search I conducted showed bottles for as low as $10!

The holidays are my favorite season of the year. I love all the festivities, and as I have grown older, I have truly resonated with the idea that it is better to give than to receive. However, whenever Christmas rolls around, I have noticed that this cheerful time is something that humans anticipate, yet the planet dreads. In fact, the holiday season is the most wasteful time of the year with an increase in around 25-40% of waste created. In order to help cut down on waste, my family and I have started to eliminate the idea of wrapping paper. We only give gifts through reusable gift bags and reused tissue paper. This does not take away from the Christmas sprit, and offers an alternative to the wasteful, one-use wrapping paper. When I was a child, my mom would stand around with a large trashbag and waiting for us to fill it to the brim with all the wrapping paper from opened presents. Looking back, I find this extremely wasteful as I could get the same satisfaction from opening a gift bag. In my house, we now have a section in our garage full of gift bags that we have received and saved. We even save the tissue paper so that we can use them for future gifts. This not only helps reduce waste and consumption, but it also saves money. There is no need to go out and buy more wrapping paper when I have a surplus at home. It is also more convenient as I frequent this section of my garage around birthdays and other special occasions. I hope to encourage my peers to do the same and to save any gift bags they receive to reuse. If there is a greater proportion of the population that decides to make this change, there could be a significant decrease in the amount of waste produced around the holidays. I think it is time that our planet deserves some holiday cheer!

After interviewing Randy in class, I learned that he makes frequent conscious decisions about what he consumes or purchases. Even small steps like switching to a more sustainable brand can make a large difference. In my own life, I have started to make these little changes in the products I purchase whether that be buying products that do not waste plastic, investing in bamboo clothing, or organic foods. Not only would this benefit the environment, but it also benefits my own health and safety. Without the many preservatives in manufactured products, there is less of a risk in harmful consequences. One particular brand I would like to share with everyone is ELIMS, a sustainable oral care brand that my pre-dental roommate introduced to me. ELIMS offers toothpaste made from plant-based ingredients and naturally derived minerals. The company is partnered with the Carbonfree program to help reduce its carbon footprint as a company, and supports environmental projects that aim for restoration and reforestation. They are also partnered with Terracycle, which helps ensure that all the packaging is recyclable and helps eliminate the issue of waste. Purchasing this toothpaste has made me feel like I am part of something bigger, and that this small change can still have a large impact. Additionally, I have found the toothpaste itself to give great results. I noticed my teeth felt cleaner after using it, which may have been due to the all natural materials it contains. It was also affordable; however, I would be willing to pay extra for products that are directly related to my health. This company is just one example of the growing green industry that I will continue to support. I hope to find more amazing products and share them all with you guys!

Recently, one activity that I have taken up as a hobby is thrifting. As a shopaholic, I used to spend most of my money at the mall, buying overpriced clothes that I definitely did not need. However, as a college student on a budget, I had to learn to contain my shopping addiction and found that thrifting was the perfect alternative. At the thrift store, there is an endless array of clothes to choose from, and I enjoy the challenge of hunting for unique pieces. Economically, it is very beneficial as most items are $10 or less and almost any article clothing can be found at the thrift store. Environmentally, thrifting helps to reduce our consumption by recycling clothing, rather than encouraging more production, which would utilize more resources. Additionally, clothing factories are a significant contributor of carbon emissions and require large amounts of water to run. They continue to produce more material from nonrenewable resources, and the process of shipping and packaging itself requires many resources that the environment is unable to sustain forever. Thrifting is a fun and helpful alternative to the negative impacts that clothing stores and companies may have on the environment. Rather than adding to the plastic fiber waste, thrift stores aim to reuse the materials that have already been created. By focusing more on conservation and reducing consumption, thrifting creates an encouraging culture. In fact, I see thrifting as a therapeutic activity that I can also share with my friends. It is an activity that is inexpensive, practical, and enjoyable. Some of my favorite stores to thrift at are Goodwill and The Salvation Army. When you shop at these places, not only are you reducing your environmental footprint, but also donating your money towards charities. I have also decided to donate my old clothes to thrift stores, rather than the landfill as it is an easy way to help support these charities and clear out the clothes that I no longer need.

After moving into the apartments off campus from UCLA, I have had more freedom in what I am able to cook and eat. I do my own grocery shopping and typically plan out my meals for a week in advance. This has given me the opportunity to do meatless Mondays! The idea is to eliminate meat from my diet at least one day a week. I have found this fairly easy to follow as I am quite fond of other protein sources such as tofu, edamame, or eggs. Going meatless helps reduce the amount of resources used to produce meat such as oil, water, land, and pollution. Additionally, the meat production industry is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions due to the large methane releases in areas of production. Even if it is only once a week, the more people who participate in meatless days means that more significant change is possible. I have even begun to share this ritual with my roommates and friends. We all enjoy cooking and getting together once a week to make a new dish. Some examples of easy starter meals that I have made in the past are tofu cabbage stir fry, garlic chili oil noodles, egg drop soup, and pesto pasta. Not only has this made my grocery shopping cost cheaper, but it also adds variety in my diet. As a college student, going meatless has helped me save time on cooking as I do not have to worry about preparing meat along with other ingredients. In fact, the beginning of my meatless Mondays started unpurposefully when I did not have the time to cook meat and realized that most of my dishes did not include it. I plan to carry on this tradition throughout my life as it is a simple yet effective change. For the future, I hope to encourage more of my peers to enjoy meatless meals and to educate them on the benefits of going meatless to save our planet.