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It is a great if you are aware of the sustainable goals to save our planet. But you may still fall into consumerist trap of buying sustainable solutions that on the contrary can increase your carbon footprint.

What Carbon Footprint You Must Have To Save The Planet

<p>Now take this quiz to decide how you can reduce your carbon footprint.</p>

It takes energy, water and electricity to make process wood and make paper bags. That adds to the net carbon footprint although it is biodegradable. Let us know honestly!

Do you buy a biodegradable paper bag every time you go shopping?

Before we eat the farm animals, they are fed with other protein sources that are aimed to reach us in the food chain hierarchy. But in that process, there is more **deforestation for agriculture solely for these farm animals**. Moreover studies claim **cows add methane to the environment** through activities in their stomach (when they fart ;P). **Animal farming of lambs has even higher carbon footprint than cows and buffaloes**.

Non-vegetarians have at least a ten fold more carbon footprint than vegetarians.

Ann, Beth and Cathy eat 1 kg of beef, lamb and lentils over a period of 7 days respectively. Which one of them has highest carbon footprint?

Cotton is grown on semiarid land so it consumes a huge amount of water and needs a lot of pesticides. Paper is a fairly polluting industry. Chemists have had sixty to seventy years to make the production of plastics fairly efficient and so typically there is not a lot of waste in the petroleum industry. But on a long run, plastics take 500-1000 years to degrade piling up on our landfills. **Cotton bags have higher footprint - but that is only a one time investment and their durability and biodegradability still remain the best option out of these three.**

It is non-intuitive, right?

Which one has lowest carbon footprint?  
A new plastic bag, a new paper bag or a new cotton bag  


CO2 released to make a paper coffee cup using pulp from trees, water, ink, plastic, multiple fuels and ship it.

Loss of plant and animal life potential (in natural habitat) to make and ship this paper coffee cup out of trees, water, ink, plastic, multiple fuels. Recycling paper cup also uses fuel and adds to its carbon footprint. Although making a ceramic cup would release more than 0.11 kg CO2, reusing it over 50-100 times makes its footprint close to zero. **But recycling the paper cups is more carbon expensive! So, carry a reusable cup and reduce your coffee time carbon footprint.**

It sounds so little, but it is not.

How much carbon dioxide is emitted to make a Starbucks paper coffee cup (16 ounce)?  


Almost all goods that we buy in supermarkets or get shipped are plastic wrapped. It ranges from recyclable to non-recyclable plastic. Guess how much of plastic it is.

More than half of all goods in Europe are packaged in plastic. Of the 57 million tonnes of plastics produced in Europe annually, 39% is packaging. **You can transition to farmer's market for locally grown produce, cut down on your packaging waste and do good to the environment.**

That's a lot! And now just multiply the number with the population of Europe (746 million) and get surprised!

How much plastic packaging waste does an average person in Europe generate per year?

Based on the most cited study, it’s about 200 g per 1.5 liter bottle which means that 800 bottles per year consumed by the average bottle drinking household is equal to 160 kg CO2 or the equivalent of driving 592 km with a car.   
**So, pick a bottle you love and stick with it – even if that means saying ‘no’ to a free bottle you’re not going to use! Reuse or donate your old bottles instead of sending them to landfill or recycling**

Not a good idea to buy plastic bottles when you are outside home.

What is the carbon footprint of your bottled water?

Take up the quiz again. You can do it. Take a step towards a greener life. Remember the mantra: reduce, reuse and recycle. Even recycling adds to the carbon footprint. So try to reduce your waste, reuse items (try second hand stuff) before buying a recycled product or sending your products for recycling.

Long way to go sustainable!

Retake the quiz and find out how you can make your life even greener. Hint: recycling can be carbon costly.  
Remember the mantra: reduce, reuse and recycle. Even recycling adds to the carbon footprint. So try to reduce your waste, reuse items (try second hand stuff) before buying a recycled product or sending your products for recycling.

You are doing great, just a little more effort to make your life greener!

Remember the mantra: reduce, reuse and recycle. Even recycling adds to the carbon footprint. So try to reduce your waste, reuse items (try second hand stuff) before buying a recycled product or sending your products for recycling.

You are so green already! Bravo.

Will you carry a personal coffee mug with you?

Let us know so that we can make better quizzes!

Did you learn anything new?

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What Carbon Footprint You Must Have To Save The Planet

Take this quiz and test where you lie on the sustainability scale based on these facts.

What Carbon Footprint You Must Have To Save The Planet

Take this quiz and test where you lie on the sustainability scale based on these facts.

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