Small Changes To Protect Our Planet; Celebrating International Forests Day And World Water Day

International Day for Forests and World Water Day are both coming up on 21^st and 22^nd March respectively. These days are often passed by without much acknowledgement unlike more mainstream events such as Earth Hour which is also coming up on 27^th March 2021.

International Day of Forests promotes the importance of all the different types of forests and their significance to the planet, whereas World Water Day focuses on the importance of freshwater and bringing to light that till today, around 2.2 billion people do not have access to safe water. Both these events are part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, encouraging every country and person to take action for a sustainable future for all.

As a tea grower, BOH owes our very existence to the cool climate gifted by the abundance of forests and fertile soil of Cameron Highlands. We are all for implementing green measures into our business model to become a more sustainable organisation, from minimising plastics in our packaging, to using more efficient machines that lower material and electric wastages.

We also do our best to give back to the communities we are a part of. By working with local NGOs on reforestation efforts and protecting endangered forests reserves such as the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve, as well as supporting awareness campaigns by the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre (TRCRC), Global Environment Centre (GEC), World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia and others, we hope to educate fellow Malaysians on the importance of environmental conservation.

Turning to what we can do as individuals, we can tweak our lifestyles to benefit our environment in the long run. For example, you can:

• Save energy by turning off electrical appliances you are not using.
• Practice the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle whenever you can at home or at work. Recycling is much easier now as more companies use recyclable materials in their products. For example, we at BOH use recyclable materials in our fast-moving products to help lessen the impact on our environment.
• Consider switching to energy efficient light sources such as Light Emitting Diode (LED)s. They may be a bit more expensive than conventional light bulbs, but LEDs last longer and save energy (which saves you money in the long run).
• Wash your clothes in big loads so as to not waste water.
• Having plants around your house can keep your home cool and reduce your dependence on air conditioners. Speaking of air conditioners, if you really need to use them, consider purchasing energy efficient ones.
• For our friends in colder climates, try wearing warmer clothing or use blankets instead of turning up the thermostat. Keeping your thermostat levels low saves energy and money.

These are some of the small lifestyle changes we can make that can have a big impact on our planet if we all play our part. You can find out more online on what other sustainable things you can do around your home. 

This International Day of Forests and World Water Day, let’s all take small steps to keep our planet healthy, clean and livable for generations to come.