The Best Earth Day Freebies and Deals for 2020

March 27, 2020

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From forests to oceans, mountains to valleys — Earth is an astounding place. The natural world that surrounds us is something we should celebrate every day — but now that it’s spring, we’re back around the sun and it’s time to officially celebrate. Luckily, there’s a holiday just for this purpose: Earth Day.

Created in 1970 to celebrate the environment, the holiday has picked up speed year after year. Looking for ways to celebrate on April 22? Look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the best Earth Day 2020 deals to help you go green and save.

Surprisingly, many methods of green living go hand-in-hand with saving money! Check out our guide below to learn more about Earth Day freebies and deals, and remember to call local stores and restaurants to see if they’re participating this year.

10 Ways to Save on Earth Day and Go Green

Stores like to get in on this day of green, too! Below we have a list of stores that have historically celebrated Earth Day with deals.

• Buffalo Exchange: Keep your eyes open for the popular thrift store’s $1 Earth Day sale, which features select pieces for only a buck! This deal has been a cash-only event in the past.
• BurgerFi: The new-age burger joint offered veggie burgers for $5 on Earth Day in 2019, as well as free tomato plant seeds with every purchase.
• Caribou Coffee: Similar to Starbucks, Caribou has a month-long deal: anyone who purchases one of their Earth Day coffee tumblers receives free drip coffee and heavily discounted specialty drinks for the month.
• Chipotle: Burrito giant Chipotle has been known to offer BOGO burritos on Earth Day.
• Grimaldi’s: Stop into the classic pizza joint for $10 cheese pizzas. The deal is for dine-in or take-out customers only.
• Levi’s: Bring in your used (but dry cleaned) denim and receive a 20% discount off your in-store purchase. For denim deals, see these Levi’s coupons.
• Starbucks: In the past, Starbucks has offered free coffee or tea for anyone that brings in a reusable tumbler on Earth’s special day.
• Target: A great deal for those with little ones, Target hosts a car seat trade-in program that gets you 20% off a new one. For more savings, check out these Target coupons
• U.S. National Parks: What better way to celebrate nature than immersing yourself in it? Last year, fees were waived in national parks and some state parks as well.
• Whole Foods: The popular market typically offers single-day freebies and deals on Earth Day. Also, be on the lookout for workshops and special events put on by the grocer!

How to Make Your Routine More Green

Creating a more sustainable society starts with the individual. Making simple changes to your daily routine will help.

Below we’ve compiled a list of tips to go green. Ease into the lifestyle shift and make each your own — most can be molded to fit your daily life.

Cut back on single-use plastic

According to Plastic Oceans, humans produce 300 million tons of plastic every year, 50% of which is for single-use purposes. This waste contributes to the build-up of plastic in the ocean — in total, 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year.

The solution is simple: ditch single-use water bottles and takeout containers. The best part? You’ll boost your budget by cutting back on unnecessary expenses that add up, like daily coffee runs.

Set a timer on your heater/AC

According to Money, 45% of energy bill expenses are for heating. This makes it the most expensive monthly part of owning a home for the average American. You can mitigate this problem by setting a timer on your central thermostat.

Only have the machine kick in when you’re home, and the same goes for the summer months when air conditioning is necessary.

Place pots and pans on the correct fitting stove burner

Food scientists have said placing your pots on the correctly sized stove burner can help evenly cook a meal — but also helps with saving money.

If a pot is too small for a burner, the remaining heated space goes to waste. This causes heat to dissipate and your food isn’t cooking any faster.

Air dry your laundry

We all hate when our favorite pieces of clothing shrink, so why not air dry them? On top of keeping up with our fashion by air drying clothes, as The Spruce reports, we can save more than $200 a year. This also drastically reduces electricity usage.

In addition to energy savings, dryers generally use many harmful materials to make — so cutting them out of your home can help reduce your carbon footprint.

Use recycling bins and go paperless

Using recycling bins in every room will encourage you to recycle. It’s easy once you get in the habit.

According to the Sierra Club, the United States uses anywhere from 55 to 110 million trees to create paper each year. Of all of this material, only 53% of the paper made is recycled. This causes a cascading effect year-over-year.

Each bit helps — by going paperless, you can save on everything from postage to gas because all bills and documents can be moved to one spot: online.

Tips to Save Money and Go Green Out and About

Small changes can be made on the run, too. Making small efforts to shift your sustainability in the right direction outside of the home can go a long way.

Carpool, take public transportation or walk

The average American spends thousands on gas and car repairs every year. From depreciation to random mishaps, cars are money guzzlers. They are also harmful to the environment.

Set up ridesharing with coworkers or simply bike. You’ll spend a fraction of what you would if you drove every day.

Drink from reusable water bottles and coffee mugs

An increasing number of coffee chains offer discounts for patrons using reusable tumblers.

Single-use plastics, again, are piling up in the oceans and harming wildlife everywhere. In addition, the chemicals used to produce these products should be avoided at all costs.

Purchase wooden or bamboo products instead of plastics

Wood and bamboo health products have surged in popularity recently due to their environmental benefits. All the way from production to disposal, these items are more sustainable than classic plastic ones.

They help you save, too. Bamboo toothbrushes can be bought for under $10 a pack. Brands are also starting to release electric toothbrushes with changeable heads.

Reduce your beef consumption

Per serving, beef produces 20% more greenhouse gases than all other types of meat. Thirty percent of non-ice-covered land is used to raise livestock like cows. See how the impact of your steak can add up?

Given that cows produce immense amounts of methane and other greenhouse gases, cutting back on beef consumption can help the environment. Try switching to chicken or fish for a month to begin. And because beef can be expensive, your wallet may stay just as full as you!

Hopefully, these tips help reduce your footprint and make the world a greener place. Every little bit really does help, and Earth Day is the perfect way to start a journey towards a cleaner future. And to kick off your green shopping, save on eco-friendly nutrition with GreenSmoothieGirl coupons now!

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