What is Meant by Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly is a term used to describe things and activities that are inoffensive and nontoxic to the environment. The term is a shortcut for ecologically-friendly. The term is also synonymous to “environmentally-friendly” or “green”. The emergence of the idea of “eco-friendly” is brought by the realization of harmful effects of human activities to the environment. Activities such as pollution, natural resources depletion and plastic productions are several activities that make the environment unhealthy and harm the people as well. As a result, “green” products are manufactured and marketed by “green” companies to make up for these bad effects. Actually, these called “green” products still have negative impacts to the environment, but compared to those conventional products, the bearing of green products is significantly reduced. For example, on the issue of eco-friendly nappy, the choice of cloth diapers over disposable diapers is favoured. Reports said that both diapers still are environmentally-harmful. Yet, cloth diaper has less environmental impact; hence called eco-friendly nappies. In addition, cloth diapers are cheaper, gentler to baby’s skin, and made from natural fabric that is irritant-free, while disposable diapers take time to decompose, pollute the environment via methane emissions, contaminate water and soil, and contains over 200 chemicals. Being eco-friendly is not delimited to products or items. There are other activities that are considered eco-friendly or less harmful to the environment such as gardening, recycling and composting. Eco-friendly technology is the advocate of most manufacturing companies. This is a set of technological and scientific methods or procedures that are not (or at least) deleterious to the environment; hence, promoting an ecological balance. Also called green technology, it aims to preserve the natural sources by creating a new technology or imposing those already existed. Green technology not only saves our natural resources but also protects humans from the damaging effects of technology. An environmentally-friendly technology uses lesser resources, creates lesser (or zero) pollution and practices recycling of materials. Eco-friendly technology, more often than not, manufactures products that are chemical-free such as lead-free toys for children. Choosing and promoting environmentally-friendly technology is therefore essential to human lives. Buy organic foods, try recycling materials and save energy are just some ways to help the environment to be greener and a better place to live. Furthermore, purchasing appliances that are eco-friendly labelled, turning off appliances when not in use and making use of used papers are other ways we can help Mother Earth at home.