45 Genius Ideas That Help Make The World A Better Place

If you want to help save our planet, the time for action is now. Just take Greta Thunberg's example - at just 16 years old, the young girl has already made a name for herself as an activist, even giving a speech at the recent UN Climate Summit. And don't feel discouraged just because you're not giving speeches in front of world leaders. There's plenty of things you can do to help - be active, have an opinion, use less plastic - every little step counts. However, there are times when you feel like you could be doing more - that's when you need some inspiration. People online are sharing genius ideas that help make the world a better place and they just might be the inspiration you need. From plantable bracelets to avocado cutlery, check out all of the incredibly clever eco-friendly ideas in the gallery below!

#1 The Cafe At My Closest Beach Gives Free Drinks To People Who Collect A Bucket Of Litter From The Beach

Image source: Chazster567

#2 Turns Out My Pencil Is Made Of Recycled Newspaper

Image source: bonron_longdong

#3 Pen Made Of Recycled Water Bottles Casts A Shadow Of A Water Bottle

Image source: Tyler__Harris

#4 Instead Of Using Paint For This Parking Lot, This Is How The “Lines” Are Created. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Image source: TheNeptunian

#5 An Easy Way To Recycle Old Mascara Wands

Image source: marilynbmonroe Please do NOT throw away your mascara wands. Instead, clean JUST THE WAND with Dawn liquid soap, place them in a ziploc bag and mail them to a Wildlife Refuge accepting donations. These little wands are able to be upcycled to clean away oil, larvae, fly eggs, mites, infections, mud and other contaminants from wildlife. Works great for medical care and wound treatment. Mail to: Appalachian Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 1211 Skyland NC 28776

#6 Poland Unveils Glow-In-The-Dark Bicycle Path That Is Charged By The Sun

Image source:  TPA Instytut Badań Technicznych Sp. z o.o.

#7 Carlsberg Using Glue To Make Six Packs Instead Of Plastic

Image source: sokke_the_real

#8 Got An Event Bracelet That Can Be Planted

Image source: RealSushiSandwiches

#9 I Found A Hidden Message When I Ripped The Paper Off This Ramen Pot

Image source: pixelfetish

#10 An Ice Cream Cup Made Of Banana Leaves

Image source: hey_imKramer

#11 My Grocery Store Started Selling Overripe Bananas For Cheap With A Recipe For Banana Bread On The Bag

Image source: WholesomeSwissCheese

#12 You Can Charge This Battery With A Micro USB

Image source: fallensk8r

#13 Refill Station At Simon Fraser University, Canada

Image source: LexOtterly

#14 This Notebook Is Made Of Stone

Image source: Lando24

#15 This Cup Is Made From Plant Starch, Not Plastic

Image source: harisshahzad98

#16 My Pencil Has Seeds On The Tip, So When It's Too Small To Use It You Can Plant It And A Tree Will Grow Out Of It

Image source: ImFreakingAlefi

#17 This Makes Me Incredibly Happy, And More Inclined To Shop Here More Often

Image source: MattehPee

#18 My University Makes Notepads Out Of The Recycled Paper And Hands Them Out To The Students

Image source: UrBrotherJoe

#19 Recycled Cardboard Used As An Alternative To Bubble Wrap

Image source: bunzler

#20 Single-Use Cutlery And Straws From Avocado Seeds

Image source: BioFase Recently, Mexican company BioFase released single-use cutlery and straws that biodegrade in 240 days. The company collects avocado seeds from companies who process avocados to make guacamole or oil.

#21 This Super Market Had Tiny Paper Bags Instead Of Plastic Containers To Reduce Waste

Image source: treanegno

#22 This Japanese Toilet Refills Through A Sink In The Top So You Can Rinse Your Hands And Re-Use The Water

Image source: Flupsy

#23 You Bike To Keep The Outlet Going, To Recharge Your Devices

Image source: AndersV2200

#24 Every Day After Closing, This Local Bakery Leaves Out A Bag Of Their Unsold Pastries That People Can Take From Freely Instead Of Throwing Them Away And Make Unnecessary Waste

Image source: AmazingJesusChris

#25 The Bowling Alley In My Neighbourhood Tore Up Old Lanes And Used Them To Renovate The Washrooms

Image source: JohnYoungMVP

#26 My Local Coffee Shop Gives Free Compost Made From Their Used Coffee Grounds

Image source: dazz9573

#27 I Bought A Pack Of Cigarettes And They Came With A Postage Paid Recycling Pouch

Image source: p4d4

#28 My Shoes Came With A “Handle” Rather Than Being Packed In A One Time Use Bag

Image source: notloh

#29 Throw And Grow Confetti

Image source: magicaldaydream

#30 A New Question Is Up On Our Cigarette Voting Bin On Villiers Street

Image source: hubbubuk

#31 Disposable Bowl Made Out Of Nothing But Three Pressed Leaves, Sturdy Despite Being Fastened Together With Just A Small Bamboo Pin. Used By Street Food Vendors In India

Image source: 9999monkeys

#32 Eco-Friendly Eggs Packaging

Image source: Maja Szczypek

#33 This Steel Gate Made Up Of Pliers

Image source: dogmum214

#34 They Had A Bike At My School To Blend A Smoothie That They Were Handing Out At Lunch

Image source: _Nrpdude_

#35 This Office Is Made Up Of Old Shipping Containers

Image source: jw2498

#36 The Water Taps At This Cafe Drip Onto Plants To Not Waste Water

Image source: halfandhafu

#37 This Coffee Cup Is Made From Recycled Coffee Grounds

Image source: basicallytraveling

#38 This Sketchbook Made From Real Recycled Circuit Boards

Image source: sparaticRyan

#39 My New Dentist Has Their Forms Laminated To Reduce Paper Waste By Simply Plugging In And Wiping Off

Image source: kaconal

#40 Resealable Cans Of Water

Image source: Noremac77

#41 The Paper Tag Attached To My New Pan Can Be Planted To Grow Herbs

Image source: trytoholdon

#42 My School Fights Littering By Installing Basketball Hoops Above Trash Cans

Image source: Oltarus

#43 This Bag Of Old/Stained Face Towels Have Been Re-Used As “Rags” At This Hotel

Image source: SlipperyPockets

#44 This Sink Counter At A Brewery Is Made With Recycled Beer Bottles

Image source: bukithd

#45 The Beach I’m At Has A List Of Commonly Found Garbage And How Long It Takes For It To Decompose

Image source: TookMeEonsToMakeThis