Being environmentally friendly is everyone's responsibility, and it starts at home with all of us. However, it can be tricky to know how to begin. If you're interested in saving the planet for future generations, here are just a few ideas about where to start.

Safe

A lot of environmentally conscious people and organizations talk about avoiding chemicals, toxins and any unnatural ingredients. This isn't always the most useful way to think about these issues. Instead, prioritize safety. All chemicals come from nature, and plenty of completely safe and environmentally friendly chemicals come from laboratories. The important thing isn't whether it's natural or lab-made. What matter is the effect it has on yourself and the environment, whether you're using painkillers for a headache, rug cleaning in your house or cooking for your family.

Food

Everybody has to eat, but food production for all the people in the world puts a huge strain on our planet. What can you do about it? Actively seeking out sustainable and organic products is a start. Familiarize yourself with the standards behind those labels, too. Fruit that is sustainably grown might still use dangerous pesticides, and eggs can be organic even if they come from harmful and unsustainable farms. There's only so much you can do to guarantee the sustainability and quality of the products you get at the store, but you do have 100% control over how much food you waste.

Waste

Plan your meals carefully to save money and avoid throwing stuff away, but there is more than one kind of waste. Look at how much packaging something comes in, whether it's food or your latest online order. How much of that packaging can be recycled and how much will end up in a landfill? Anything you can do to reduce waste around your home will reduce the amount of waste around the planet and help to protect the environment.

Energy

Waste isn't restricted to physical waste either. Energy usage generates a lot of emissions all around the world. Turning off lights and appliances that you aren't using is a good habit to get into, but you can go further. Buying energy efficient appliances will reduce your energy consumption, and making sure that your house is well-insulated is another good trick to reduce your utility bills and your impact on the planet.

Transportation

Cars also have a huge impact on the planet. The more gas you use, the bigger your carbon footprint. Getting a hybrid or electric car can help to mitigate that. Ditching a car altogether isn't always a reasonable option, but if you can walk or take public transportation, that's the very best thing you can do to make sure you're not hurting the planet every time you leave your house.

Above all things, the most impactful way to be environmentally friendly is to hold your governments, businesses and organizations to the same standards that you hold yourself. If you're sorting your own trash every day, then why would you allow businesses to get away with dumping everything together. If you are going the extra mile to make sure that all your appliances are energy efficient, shouldn't you hold the organizations you are part of to the same standards? Most of all, recognize that you can do constant research about the chemicals in your food and environment, but it's a lot easier for the government to do that. Don't just hold yourself accountable, make sure that government and businesses know that you will hold them accountable too. Your individual actions matter because they are part of a larger, collective action. All of us pulling together is what will really save the planet for future generations.