How to Have an Environmentally Friendly Night Out as a Teenager
Monticello High School Student and C3 Intern Amelia Lewis
As a part of C3’s youth internship program, Amelia Lewis (Monticello High School) and Ian Helgerson (Western Albemarle High School) having been learning about nonprofit fundraising, advocacy, and effective communications. The students picked a climate-related topic of their choice to write about. Enjoy Amelia’s blog and please share it widely. In addition to being a C3 intern and member of C3’s Green Teen Alliance, Amelia enjoys spending time with friends and family outdoors, playing field hockey, running, and creating art.
Going out with friends and getting food is a huge part of teenage life. As teenagers, it is a rite of passage for us to enjoy the newfound freedom of driving around town to get food. While it is fun to go out with friends in our free time, we can also make a difference in the environment by being thoughtful with our plans. That’s why I decided to plan my own environmentally friendly night out with my friend to experiment with specific approaches to reduce our waste and carbon footprint. Come along on my environmentally friendly night out to learn how to have your own!
A CAVA plant-based bowl
Step #1: Research restaurants that have low carbon footprints
I started out the planning process by researching restaurants that have low carbon footprints. A carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon/greenhouse gas emissions an individual/group releases to the atmosphere when they consume fossil fuels (Merriam-Webster). Restaurants generally have high carbon footprints, due to the production, transportation, and waste of food and materials. Usually, fast food restaurants have higher carbon footprints because they produce food at a fast rate and depend on the meat industry. In order to find restaurants with low carbon footprints, research plant-based restaurants within your town to see what steps they take to benefit the environment. I decided on the restaurant, CAVA, because I knew that it was not a fast food restaurant and has a plant-based menu.
Amelia’s low waste tote, straws, and reusable water bottle
Step #2: Pack reusable bags, straws, and water bottles
Before leaving for my night out, I packed a tote bag, metal straws, and a water bottle. It is important to pack these things because they can help to reduce plastic waste when out. Make sure to pack extra for your friends or remind them to bring their own. It can be hard to remember to pack these reusable items sometimes, so you could even make a kit in your car to go to whenever you go shopping or get food.
Step #3: Consider wearing sustainable or second-hand clothing
For my night out, I went straight from field hockey practice, but otherwise, I think it would be fun to pick out an outfit that was bought from a sustainable brand or a thrift store. Some great consignment shops in Charlottesville are Darling Boutique, Goodwill, and Re-Threads. Being conscious of your outfit decisions ensures that you are reducing clothing waste and supporting companies that are environmentally friendly.
Step #4: Carpool with your friends
I drove my friend to the restaurant in order to reduce energy consumption and emissions. Carpooling is a fun and easy way to help out the environment. Put on fun music and enjoy being together!
Step #5: Consider ordering something plant-based
When at the restaurant, my friend and I ordered plant-based grain bowls. While it may not always be realistic or enjoyable to order a plant-based meal, eating plant-based from time to time is extremely impactful because it significantly reduces water consumption, land occupation, pollution, and carbon emissions. According to Tufts University, “livestock production creates about 15% of all global greenhouse gas emissions,” while the production of plant-based alternatives “uses half the energy, one-tenth of the land and water, and produces 90% less greenhouse gas.”
Amelia and her friend enjoying ice cream (served with compostable spoons)
Step #6: Eat outside and pick up any trash
After getting our food, my friend and I decided to eat outside at a picnic table. It was nice to enjoy the beautiful weather and the outdoors. Spending time outside always reminds me how great the natural world is and encourages me to keep it clean and healthy. We made sure to pick up and throw away or recycle our trash. You can even pick up any litter you find around you to leave the space better than you found it.
I had a lot of fun on my environmentally friendly night out with my friend. I enjoyed being creative and thoughtful with my planning and decisions. While it is fun to have an environmentally friendly night out, you can easily apply these steps to your everyday life. Our actions as teenagers really do make a difference. Next time you go out with friends, remember some of these tips to make your own difference in the environment!
Sources:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carbon%20footprint
https://nutrition.tufts.edu/news/meat-consumption-myths-and-facts