Ever since India has banned the use of certain types of plastic, people have become even more aware of what they can do to protect the environment. Whether it's using natural and organic products instead of chemical ones or using glass and clay instead of plastic, we're all trying to do our bit to lessen the damage done to our surroundings. However, there are still certain items that we use on a daily basis that we didn't even know could pose a threat to the environment. Here's what they are.

We might think that these don't pollute the environment but they actually do. If you drink coffee regularly you might on average opt for almost 240 disposable cups per year and that's a lot of cups. Instead, opt for a travel-friendly mug or container to carry your coffee.

Many restaurants have now started offering disposable cutlery made of wood. But honestly, do you really even need disposable cutlery? If you're at home you'll obviously have spoons and forks to eat with and if you're at work you could always just store a set of spoon and fork with you so that you don't require disposable cutlery.

Single-use razors like the name suggests are supposed to be thrown away after just one use. But these razors are very difficult to recycle which is why they're often just discarded and filled up in landfills. So, if you're going to use a razor it's best to use one that is long-lasting and can be recycled easily.

You might be wondering what could possibly go wrong for the environment if you're the one consuming the pills, right. Well, turns out, a study found that the hormone ethinyl-estradiol (EE2) - a synthetic version of oestrogen found in birth control pills can alter the behaviour of certain types of fish. The fish find it harder to catch food and even procreate. This means that a number of fish populations could completely be wiped out due to this hormone. While scientists are yet to find out what can be used in place of contraceptives, you could do your bit by using other kinds of birth control methods until then.

We use air fresheners almost on a daily basis to help refresh the smell in our homes. Well, turns out that they contain a chemical called limonene which is even present in foods as a flavouring agent. On its own, the chemical isn't harmful but when released into the air it can react with ozone and cause serious health problems like asthma, cancer and whatnot. So, opt for better and more natural room fresheners like scented candles and beeswax instead.

We're told time and again to slather on as much sunscreen as we can when we step out of the house. However, what if we told you that sunscreen could be responsible for coral bleaching? Scientists have found that over 10 chemicals in sunscreens can lead to the bleaching of corals. So, try and opt for more natural and organic sunscreens instead of chemical ones.

Did you know that one-third of the world’s freshwater is used to cultivate rice crops? Yes, the water that we all use and drink is used to cultivate rice crops. And the worst part is that in India, rice is cultivated in the most drought-prone areas. So, not only do they have less water, but they're also using it up to grow rice.