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Many major organizations are urging people to go green, and they’re offering some pretty compelling reasons. The unsustainable practices of people around the world are affecting the food supply, wildlife, and even our health. Luckily, these organizations also offer tips on how to make simple, sustainable changes in your life.

It can be tough to go green and live sustainably. However, the benefits are well worth the challenge – especially once you understand the bigger impacts of your everyday actions.

Whether you’re looking to slowly ease into a greener lifestyle or go all in right away, there are plenty of quick and easy ways to do so.

Here are a few organizations that will help you on your path to greener living.

The Center for Biological Diversity

The Center for Biological Diversity is a huge supporter of green living. Its mission is to save all life on Earth by protecting the environment and climate, and it recognizes the role that sustainability plays in this. That’s why it encourages people to go green.

The Center offers a large collection of resources to help people live a greener life. These resources cover a variety of topics such as improving the energy efficiency of your home, going plastic-free, and even voting for sustainability.

It has also launched a project called Endangered Species Condoms. This project educates people about how rapid human population growth and overconsumption are affecting all living things on Earth.

By keeping the human population in check, more resources are freed up for the other creatures we share the planet with. It might not be the most well-known tip for living a more sustainable life, but practicing safe sex is definitely something to consider when going green.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects the health of our nation. It’s also interested in green initiatives. That’s because the choices you make every day -from what you eat to how you get to work – can have a huge impact on the environment and ultimately affect your health.

According to the World Health Organization, “13 million deaths annually and nearly a quarter of all disease worldwide… are due to environmental causes that could be avoided or prevented.” Many health issues are worsened by a poor environment, including asthma and heart disease.

The CDC provides in-depth information about how your health is affected by the environment. It also offers great tips for living a cleaner, greener lifestyle, such as using alternative transportation, conserving water and energy, and making more sustainable food purchases.

World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a conservation organization that works to help all life on Earth thrive. To do this, it’s “championing sustainable solutions.”

Many of the resources from WWF provide a big picture view of what the global community is doing to combat climate change. This includes initiatives like improving global forest management and building a low-carbon economy.

WWF also gives tips for practicing sustainability on a personal level. If you want to show your commitment to a greener lifestyle, you can even sign the organization’s Pledge for the Planet. WWF is another great resource for information about how our choices have an impact far beyond our own lives.

Your Local Government

The best tools for going green are often right in your own backyard. Many city and county governments have their own projects and resources to help anyone looking to live more sustainably. You just have to know where to look.

For example, Hayward, California, manages a program called Green Your Life. It provides all the information you need to go green, from reducing chemicals in your home to going solar.

Additionally, the program offers several educational workshops on topics like water-efficient landscaping and financing renewable energy sources. There is even a monthly newsletter to help you stay on track.

Whether you’re in the Hayward area or not, Green Your Life is an excellent resource. If you live elsewhere, chances are your city (or one nearby) has a similar program to help you go green as well.

How Will You Go Green?

Living a more sustainable life is a challenging task. Fortunately, there are plenty of organizations that are more than happy to help. Packed with information and useful tips, their websites will likely push you in a greener direction.

You don’t have to completely transition to a fully sustainable lifestyle right away – or even at all – if you don’t want to. The trick is finding manageable ways to go green that works for your lifestyle. These days, it’s easier than ever to get started. The easiest way is a donation. Donate old stuff or goods to your local thrift store in Panama City Beach, FL. Not only you will go green but you will also serve the community as these stores are run by non-profit organizations.

Looking for a productive and rewarding project to do at home? Why not start with cleaning and organizing your closet?

Throughout the year, it’s easy to let our closets get a little disorganized. After all, we’re busy! This spring is a perfect opportunity to give your wardrobe the TLC it deserves.

Here’s a step by step guide to cleaning and organizing your closet:

#1: Get two boxes and label them “keep” and “donate”

Cleaning out your closet doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. Using two boxes or containers will make it easier to sort your clothes and decide what stays — and what goes.

#2: Examine items one at a time

Take a look at each article of clothing one by one. Ask yourself these questions to decide if you want to keep the item or not:

• Does it fit me well? Do I feel good when I’m wearing it?
• Have I worn it in the last six months?
• Does it still have tags? Will I ever wear it?
• Is it stained or damaged?
• Are you holding onto it for emotional reasons?
• Do I have multiple items just like this one?

If you’re on the fence about an item, it probably means you don’t really want it. Put it in the “donate” pile!

#3: Donate unwanted items

Now that you know what you want to keep and donate, it’s time to go to a local thrift store in Panama City Beach, FL! You can donate clothing, accessories, household items, children’s toys, games, and books that your family doesn’t need anymore.

Donating your items instead of throwing them away is also a great way to help the environment!

Shopping isn’t as carefree at it used to be for me, and it has nothing to do with money. I’m trying to curb the number of things I bring into my home, partly because I’m attracted to minimalism (even if I’m not quite there yet) and partly because I foresee moving to a smaller place in the next three to five years. I’m also paying more attention than ever to the sustainable impact of the things I buy. Yet, there are still some things I need and some things I want.

I’ve gotten pretty smart about making my grocery shopping as zero-waste as possible, and now I’m working on the other types of shopping I do. I get a sense of satisfaction out of a purchase that’s in some way more sustainable than it would have been a few years ago. Here are some of the ideas I’m putting into practice.

Less beauty product packaging waste

There’s a lot of plastic that comes with beauty products, and while I haven’t been able to do away with all of it, I’m taking steps to eliminate it where I can. I’ve switched to a shampoo bar that comes wrapped in paper, eliminating the thick plastic shampoo bottles I used to buy. As a bonus, the bar works much better on my thick, curly hair and lasts a long time. I’d love to find a conditioner bar that works well.

I also purchase a minimal amount of makeup and buy the same makeup all the time. That way I don’t throw away makeup that’s gotten old before being used up. It means my made-up face looks the same all the time, except for perhaps a lipstick change every once in a while. As a bonus, I’ve trimmed my makeup routine down to less than five minutes, and I never have to stare at a drawer full of makeup wondering what to choose.

I’ve also learned how to fix a broken eye shadow so I don’t have to throw away a palate before it’s used up.

I’ve gotten (almost) perfect with taking reusable bags to the grocery store, but reusable bags can be used at all stores. I’m working on that, or choosing to walk out with my purchase without the bag. I now either take bags on my trips to places like Target, the hardware store and the pharmacy, or if reasonable, I put everything back in the cart without the bags.

There have been a few times when I’ve piled everything in my trunk, and then when I got home, I grab the bags and load them up in my driveway to make it easy to carry everything inside.

Buy fair trade

Sustainability goes beyond the environment. Choosing to be more sustainable with your purchases can take people into consideration, too. When I buy fair trade from a trusted source, I know I’m helping someone earn a livable wage in fair working conditions.

I often shop at My Fair Trade Lady, a small store near me that I trust to have authentic fair trade products. It’s my favorite place to buy gifts for others. They get beautiful, handmade, unique presents, and I get to use my money to support artisans instead of big corporations.

Buy used

It’s never been easier to find what I need in pre-owned condition. Facebook Marketplace and private Facebook yard sale sites provide information and even photos of items that are available in my town or nearby right onto my smartphone.

I’m an avid yard sale shopper, and sites like Yard Sale Finder tell me where the local yard sales will be on any given Saturday morning, and I can map out a route instead of driving around looking for signs on trees. Thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL are filled to the brim with goods at the moment as everyone “tidies up”.

What I love most about buying pre-owned furniture, home and yard decor, kitchenware and clothing is that I don’t have to be a slave to what’s in fashion at the moment. I can choose items that really appeal to me instead of things I’m gong to see everywhere.

At the moment, I’m looking to replace my dishwasher and I’m searching for a used one that’s affordable and in good condition. My son said he doesn’t think our one used dishwasher is going to make a difference against the sheer number that are made new by appliance companies. He’s right. Our one used dishwasher may not, but if everyone chose to replace broken appliances with perfectly good pre-owned ones, it would make a big difference.

Rent or borrow

I know. This one isn’t purchasing, but sometimes the most sustainable action you can take, especially if you can borrow what you need from a friend or rent one. I find this especially helpful with tools and yard equipment.

If I need to power wash my brick home, I can borrow a friend’s power washer. If a friend who doesn’t do a lot of work around the house is doing a one-time project and needs sawhorses, she can borrow mine. I’ve rented a weed whacker while mine was getting fixed.

That brings me to another simple way to be sustainable with shopping: Fix things that can be fixed instead of buying something new. It’s a simple step, but it’s one we often forget in the rush of things.