With the autumn chill in the air, you might want to buy heavier, warmer clothing. While fleece tops are soft and fuzzy, they can shed microplastics into the water every time you wash them. Instead, opt for natural fibers that are cozy and won't shed plastic, like cotton, linen, wool, silk and hemp. If you do have fleece tops, wash them in cold water and let them air dry to minimize plastic shedding.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When you’re moving from your old home to a new one, it’s easy to get caught up in amassing a lot of single-use cardboard boxes, Bubble Wrap and packing supplies to transport your things. For a lighter carbon footprint, look for used sturdy boxes from a liquor or grocery store, use laundry baskets you already have, or see if you can borrow reusable plastic crates from a local restaurant or retailer. Limit use of plastic Bubble Wrap and be creative with the use of dish towels, bath towels, T-shirts, bedding and other soft things to protect fragile items. And look into moving companies that rent reusable bins you can use instead of cardboard boxes.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

With nearly 10 million cut flowers sold every day, knowing where flowers are grown for your bouquets and arrangements is important. Most flowers come from faraway places like Africa, South America and Europe, where fields of colorful blooms are grown in monocultures that are far from eco-friendly. A new directory called Slow Flowers has over 850 farmer and florist members who use domestically grown “farm to vase” materials. Learn more at slowflowers.com.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION