The new year brings with it a chance for new beginnings: a time to reset, leave old habits behind and dive head-first into new resolutions. But if total overnight transformation feels big and scary and unattainable, we’re here for you.
We are the DFA Nerd Herd, a team of engineers, veterinarians, scientists, nutritionists and more led by the farmer-owners of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), and we’re always looking to reduce our carbon footprint. And when your goal is sustainable living, a lot of the recommended steps feel big, expensive and time consuming. Not all of us are able to outfit our house with solar panels. Or lobby Congress about global warming. Or live a completely zero-waste life.
We’re here to tell you: You don’t have to do it all at once. For change that has staying power, choose evolution, not resolutions. Your new year shouldn’t be about starting over, it should be about building on the great things you’ve already gotten started. Evolve your routine into a greener, more sustainable one by looking for small changes that can make a big impact.
Help plastics avoid the landfill. Did you know that recycled plastics are used to make everything from shampoo bottles to kitchenware to park benches to flooring? There are so many ways to give single-use plastics a second life. So be sure to rinse and recycle your milk jug — and then imagine what it’ll be transformed into next!
Another way to ease the burden on the landfill is to reuse plastic containers. This is part of the evolution thing: Tossing things with life left in them isn’t productive. So reuse those takeout containers as storage for food, office supplies, even craft items. Repurpose that giant cheese puff container from a big box store to keep your pet’s food fresh. And we’re loving these tips for
reusing milk jugs!
Be sure the milk you’re drinking is sustainably produced. When you’re shopping, look for a
DFA-owned brand. That way you’ll know it comes from a farm committed to sustainable practices like using solar power and wind turbines, and even converting cow waste into renewable energy. You read that right — our dairy cows are powering tractor trailers with their — ahem — poop. Just
one cow can produce enough poop in a year to power a big rig for 1,200 miles.
Snack sustainably. Maybe we’re biased, but we think dairy makes everything just a little bit better. And when you’re talking about sustainably farmed dairy from
DFA brands, you can snack easy, knowing your choice is part of the evolution toward more sustainable living. So sprinkle some parmesan on your salad. Impress your friends with a cheese plate. Or a butter board. Or — holy cow! (pun intended) – whip up some
no-churn ice cream.
Leave disposable cups and bottles in 2023. We know this isn’t a revolutionary idea, but it makes a big difference. Cutting single-use products out of your life isn’t as hard as you might think. Pour your morning smoothie (made with sustainably produced dairy) into a tumbler and take it to-go without the waste. No matter how you take your coffee, take it in a washable, reusable vessel. Add some sustainably farmed creamer from a DFA brand and you’ve got a delicious start to the day that you can also feel really good about.
There’s a good chance you’re already doing some of these things, because that’s what evolution is all about: taking small steps where you can, toward a greater goal of sustainable living.
Want to cook and eat more sustainably? Check out our
guide to reducing food waste. How are you hoping to evolve in the new year? Let us know on
Instagram @dfamilk.