Sigma BioBlogs

Lush blades of grass tickle the back of my neck.  All I see before me is a pale blue sky speckled with faint clouds.  A curious trio we made, my husband, 5-year old niece and I lying in the grass at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.  We stare up at the sky briefly and then the moment of relaxation is over.  My niece is back on her feet and ready to move on to the next flower bed where she promptly requests my camera so she may take a photo of the array of deep plum colored tulips.  It was the sort of afternoon that makes one savor the beauty found outdoors.

The day with my niece served as a reminder to me of why it is important to protect our natural resources and Earth Day is a great time to discuss ways to reduce our impact on the environment and share tips for greener living.  Here are a few of my personal favorites because they are easy to incorporate into your lifestyle:

Bamboo utensils– avoid the disposable utensils when eating out.
Reusable Produce bags – drop these inside your cloth grocery bags as you head out the door and reduce plastic bag usage even more.
Stainless steel water bottle– Fill up your own water bottle instead of buying a plastic bottle.

What are some of your “green living” ideas?

Remember, your small changes can make a difference.  It is difficult to imagine that one less plastic fork or plastic bottle you toss in the trash will make an impact on the environment but consider the combined efforts of a group of many.  At Sigma-Aldrich eco-enthusiasts join forces in our internal Green Team.  The team looks for ways to encourage adoption of environmentally-friendly practices by their fellow employees at home and in the office.  The initiatives include providing online tools for car sharing, reducing departmental printing and coordinating on-site recycling.  Joining a team activity is a great way to start making an impact in your community.   Find an Earth Day event near you.

Want to green up your lab?  Finding green alternatives in the lab without impacting your research is probably more complex than swapping disposable utensils for bamboo, but we can help.  Visit sigma.com/green for “Greener Alternatives” and more information on greener products, programs and services along with links to resources on environmental sustainability.  It is amazing what can be accomplished when a group of dedicated individuals get together to drive change.  We will be working along side you, striving to make Global Citizenship a priority.  Sigma’s Global Citizenship Initiative GC1015  goals include more efficient water and energy use, waste and emissions intensity improvements and expanding community engagement to name a few.  Check out the full list of GC1015 goals or come up with your own ways to benefit the environment.

Whether you start to make changes at home or in the lab, what matters is that you are doing it.  The earth will thank you…with a vibrant bouquet of plum colored tulips.