Maya MacGregor
Staff Writer
From brushing your teeth, to packing your lunch and buying shampoo, there are always simple ways students can become greener.
The Living Green Club is a new club on campus whose goal is to educate students about ways to shop that are both environmentally and animal friendly. Co-presidents Hannah Avery and Maddie Lanting also hope to make the Mira Costa campus more eco-friendly.
“The Living Green Club was started to raise consumer awareness,” Lanting said. “It’s good to know what you’re buying and using everyday and how those decisions effect the environment.”
Another goal of The Living Green Club is to help students become more environmentally conscious in their daily routine. Simple things like taking shorter showers, turning off the water while brushing your teeth, and washing your clothes on cold to conserve energy, are simple ways to live a greener life.
“Walking to your farmers markets is also a greener choice because it is local and reduces fuel emissions,” said Avery. “Anyone can become greener and it’s really easy because everyone in our community is super conscious about this kind of stuff.”
In addition to the awareness campaign, there are several projects planned for the club. One of which is raising money for a composting box, which will be placed on the roof of the math and science building. The other project is buying bins for students to recycle paper towels and food.
“Paper towels make up a lot of waste at Costa, so recycling them will result in a more environmentally conservative school,” Avery said.
Lanting and Avery’s path to lead greener lives began while taking the Advanced Placement Biology course, where they were assigned to do a project on animal rights and animal testing.
“We were really surprised by all the products that claimed to be natural and green but were tested on animals,” Lanting said. “So we decided to start this club and make a difference in our own way.”
The co-presidents believe making simple changes can help you lead a greener life, which is overall better for the community and environment.
“The greener products may be more pricey, but the extra $4 is equivalent to a drink from Starbucks,” Lanting said. “If you put the money into a better product, you could become more environmentally friendly.”
According to the Living Green co-presidents, students can take many steps to become more environmentally aware. Recycling and reusing things helps reduce the amount of waste. Reading labels and buying products that are also green and not tested on animals is another step.
“Before I joined the club, I had no idea that some of the products I use were tested on animals,” member of the Living Green Club, Jenna Mangiagli said. “Now, I make an effort to avoid those brands.”
The Living Green Club will be holding a fundraiser on Sunday, October 27, on the Hermosa Beach Strand. The proceeds will help fund the composting box. To reach their goal, they need to raise $200. The club meets every Thursday at lunch in room 350.
“Costa is taking many steps to become a greener school and we are trying to help make it more environmentally friendly,” Lanting said. “It is definitely greener than most schools.”
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