As spring flowers bloom and trees don their leaves, the sudden splash of greenery around every corner may have you looking for ways you can green up your own life. And although a famous frog once sang about how hard it is to be green, it only takes a few small changes to help make your routine more eco-friendly. Here are three simple changes you can make this spring to help make the world a greener place.

Travel Smart

Even though this eco-friendly tip has been suggested for years, there’s really no simpler, or more immediate, way to minimize your carbon footprint than by reducing your driving. And you aren’t limited to just walking more! Try riding your bike to work, or ask about work-from-home or hybrid work options to minimize how often you have to commute. Look for public transportation near you, or see if any of your neighbors or coworkers would be down to carpool. Who knows? You might even like your new travel routine better than being stuck in traffic for hours every day.

Cut Back the Plastic

Did you know that at the end of 2021, there were 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans? The best way to keep plastic from ending up in the ocean is by using less of it in the first place. If you haven’t already, consider switching to a reusable water bottle. Check around your home for other plastic-heavy items that you could replace with plastic-free alternatives, like shampoo and conditioner bars instead of bottles. And if you are using plastic, try to make it last as long as possible before tossing it into the recycling bin.

Green Up Your Cleaning

As nice as it is to have your home sparkling, the cleaning industry is full of less-than-green items. As you get a jump on your spring cleaning this year, take a look through your cleaning supplies and try to switch out at least one item for something that’s more eco-friendly. A great place to start is your paper towel roll, which can be easily replaced with a more sustainable bamboo option, or even a fully reusable flannel towel alternative. And the best part about reusable paper towels? You won’t be spending a fortune replacing the roll every few weeks.

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