[June 5th is World Environment Day] What environmental conservation actions do LOVST staff practice?

Hello!

I'm Anne from LOVST TOKYO PR.

Today, June 5th, is "World Environment Day." It's a day for us to think about what we can do for the future of our planet regarding environmental issues, and to take action.

So, this time, I asked the LOVST TOKYO staff about what they do every day to "protect the global environment"!

 

◼︎ Unneeded items go to a recycling box (NANAMI, PR)

Instead of immediately discarding items that have served their purpose, I make an effort to take them to places that collect and recycle them whenever possible.

For example, recently, when I replaced my broken glasses, I had them collected at the "BRING-PLA PLUS Project Glasses Recycling BOX" at a JINS store.

Broken glasses are difficult to resell and seem to have no option but to be thrown away, but JINS collects unneeded glasses and uses them for energy resources and experiments for new technologies!

Since these were important items I used every day, just thinking that they will have a "next role" makes me feel lighter when I let them go.

Not just glasses, but also clothes and miscellaneous goods, I try to consider if there are options other than discarding them.

In today's society, which is overflowing with things, I believe it's important to "circulate existing resources as much as possible"!

 

◼︎ Using a reusable bottle and water refill map (REN, EC STAFF)

Many people probably practice this, but to reduce plastic bottle consumption, I make sure to "always carry my reusable bottle"!

It's said that the vast number of plastic bottles produced daily take hundreds of years to fully decompose, and they are also a major cause of ocean pollution.

To get through the hot summer without relying on such plastic bottles, the "mymizu" app, which I use with my reusable bottle, is indispensable!

This app is excellent because it displays cafes and free water refill spots in the city on a map. When your reusable bottle is empty, you can quickly find a place nearby to refill it◎

If you "habitually carry a reusable bottle but end up buying bottled drinks when you run out," I highly recommend trying this app!

 

◼︎ Using eco-bags and bulk buying (AKARI, INTERN)

The habit of "always keeping an eco-bag in your bag" has rapidly spread in recent years!

I'm one of those people, and since I always carry an eco-bag, I rarely receive plastic shopping bags.

However, what still bothers me is the excessive individual packaging of vegetables and fruits.

When I was a high school student, I studied abroad in New Zealand, and there, plastic individual packaging was very rare, and I could buy things by weight anywhere.

When I returned to Japan and looked around the supermarkets again, I was surprised by the sheer amount of plastic used.

From that feeling of discomfort, I started looking for stores in Japan that offer bulk sales, and now I visit them occasionally!

I hope that the style of bulk buying, where you can buy "as much as you like" and avoid unnecessary plastic packaging, will become more established.

 

 ◼︎ Using reusable tissues (ANNE, PR)

Do you know that there are such things as "reusable tissues"?

In fact, a Danish brand called "Last Object" offers items like tissues, cotton swabs, and cotton pads that can be reused many times.

I love using their tissues and cotton swabs. After using a tissue, you just wash it in the washing machine and hang it to dry. For cotton swabs, a quick rinse with water is all it takes, then you put them back in their case and can use them again◎

It's been over a year since I started using them, and I've experienced no inconvenience at all; they are very comfortable to use.

Hygiene products often have a strong image of being disposable, so the fact that these can be reused is quite surprising.

These items are available through several sales channels in Japan, so if you're interested, please give them a try!

 

◼︎ What we can do

This time, I introduced some of the environmental conservation actions that the LOVST team members try to incorporate into their daily lives. I hope it provided some helpful insights!

In addition to what I've shared, there are many other things we can do for the future of our planet in our daily lives, such as "avoiding animal-based meals at the daily dinner table" or "using public transport instead of private cars."

On the occasion of "World Environment Day," why not share what you usually keep in mind with those close to you, or try a new action that you haven't been able to do before?