15 Easy Ways to Start Being More Sustainable
This blog is meant for anyone who wants to lead a more conscious lifestyle, both for the rookies who are just starting to learn about sustainable living, as well as for those who have been into sustainability for some time. These easy tips for being more sustainable can be useful for either. Maybe you find you can follow all 15 of them, or perhaps you want to start by focusing on one at a time.
Whichever you choose to do, please know that with any step you take towards an eco-friendly life, you’re making a change in the world. Strive for consistency, not perfection.
HERE ARE 15 EASY WATS TO START BEING MORE SUSTAINABLE AT HOME:
use what you have
This applies to anything. We usually have a made-up urgency to buy more, even though we could find solutions to our needs with things we already own. One good example is clothes; wearing the clothes you already have is the best way to stand against fast fashion. Another case would be holiday decorations, as many people in the U.S. throw them after the season is over and buy everything again the following year. Even dressing up for Halloween can be done with clothes you already own. Just think about the fact an estimated seven million Halloween costumes are thrown away every year.
2. buy second-hand
Another great alternative to buying new things is buying second-hand. Everything from clothes, to bicycles, to electronics, can be purchased in good used condition, and there are several apps and websites where you can find them. This way, you give new life to an already existing product, and you can also save money. Even the good old traditional yard sale is a good way to be more sustainable!
3. add more plants to your diet
I’ve already discussed why a plant-based diet is more sustainable. Eating less meat can have a huge positive environmental impact. To slowly transition towards a vegan or plant-based diet, you can start adding more plants to your meals. I share delicious and easy plant-based recipes you can try at home and start incorporating to your meals. After your plate starts looking more colorful (full of plants), you can start taking away the meat and replacing it with plant protein.
4. skip take-away
Everyone has some days in which they feel too lazy to cook properly. That’s okay. If you can, it’s better to try eating out instead of ordering in, as take-away food comes in wasteful packaging. Take a reusable container with you in case there are leftovers. The same applies with take-away coffee, which has become a popular habit. Drink it at home or sit down at the coffee shop if they provide ceramic mugs. Consider it a great opportunity to sit still for a moment and enjoy a good cup of coffee. Some places allow you to use your own reusable mug, instead of the disposable one they offer; find out beforehand what their policy is.
5. buy reusable products:
There are some products we’re so used to disposing of. Imagine more than 7 billion people having the same habit! Plastic bottles are one of the easiest things to avoid, by using reusable bottle, which aren’t only cute, but will also keep your drinks cold for hours. Other items that can be replaced with their reusable alternative are organic cotton pads, straws, cutlery, or menstrual cups/pads. Another very important way of being more sustainable is to take reusable bags to the grocery store. This eco-friendly option is also great because it allows you to carry more things in one bag, which are stronger than its plastic counterpart. Don’t leave home without them, or if you have a car, just leave them in the trunk.
6. fix things–don’t just throw them away
Every year, U.S. landfills are filled with 139.6 million tons of waste. Many things could be fixed or recycled. Think about clothes. Throwing away a dress because its hem became unstitched is beyond wasteful. Stitch it again. Glue your shoes. Most things can get fixed, but when their lifespan has definitely come to an end, you can recycle them. Even some brands like The North Face have recycling bins at their stores, where you can drop off anything from clothes to shoes for them to be recycled.
7. repurpose
When things are no longer fixable, and you can give them a new life instead of throwing them into the recycling bin, you can repurpose them. There are hundreds of ways to give clothes that can’t be mended a new purpose: rags, filling for pillows, pet bed, among others. Other things can be repurposed besides clothes; for instance, gift bags and boxes can be used again for the same purpose, and glass containers can be used as candle holders and storage.
8. avoid wrapped products at the supermarket
Buying in bulk (with reusable jars or bags–zero waste) is the most sustainable option for buying food. Sometimes, however, it’s not possible because of availability and allergies. I can’t buy some food in bulk because I’m a celiac, and it could be contaminated with gluten. However, I always buy loose veggies and fruit. People have the habit of separating them in individual plastic bags, but it’s unnecessary, as you can just throw them in the cart. Some supermarkets have the audacity to sell fruits and vegetables in plastic trays. Why would someone need a wrapped orange? If only fruit already had a natural package that could protect it! Wait…
9. shop at your local farmer’s market
Another way to avoid extra wrapping is to buy at your local farmer’s market. Not only you will find lots of flavors and support small businesses, but you will also be protecting the environment. By buying locally, you will decrease food miles, which refers to the distance your food travels to reach your local supermarket. When you shop at the grocery store, you buy vegetables and fruit that have traveled thousands of miles. When you buy locally, you reduce your food’s environmental impact, as they go from the farm straight to the market.
10. drive less
According to Yale, the U.S. transportation sector — which includes cars, trucks, planes, trains, and boats —emits 1.9 billion tons of CO2 annually. A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Sharing a ride, using public transport, walking, or riding your bike are the most eco-friendly alternatives to driving.
11. change your light bulbs to led
An easy way to reduce your environmental impact is switching to LED bulbs, which are energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Standard LED bulbs can be up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional bulbs, and waste far less energy than other styles of lighting.
12. unplug and turn off
Even when you’re not using appliances or electronic devices, they still consume energy if they’re plugged. After your water boiled, or when you go on vacations and leave your house for a few days, unplug everything. Also, turn off your computer when you leave work, or when you go to bed.
13. choose eco-friendly materials
There are so many sustainable materials for your everyday products, it’d be a shame not to use them! For example, clothes made from plant materials, like hemp and linen, natural rubber pacifiers, bamboo plates, plant sponges, wood pellet litter, only to name a few. Make sure to read the material sheet whenever you buy a product, and avoid those made from plastic, like polyester, PET, or PVC.
14. don’t wash your clothes so often
In case you’ve missed it, I’ve discussed how often you should wash your clothes in a previous post, given that many people throw everything into the laundry bin after just one use. Because 60% of our clothes are made from plastic microfibers (which are the major marine pollutant in the world), when we wash them, the shedding of fibers and abrasion release microplastics in the sewage water and are discharged into the ocean. Another reason why it’s better for the environment to wash your clothes less frequently is it extends their lifespan. If your clothes last longer, you will buy less, and nothing is more sustainable than that.
15. go paperless
If I made a pile with every letter I’ve received in the mail intrusively, I’m sure it would reach unbelievable heights. I can’t understand why it’s legal to send mail to someone without their consent, but as this is how things are, we must find ways to deal with it. Sign up for digital and paperless notices with companies you need to be in touch with, like your insurance and bank. You can also decide what types of mail you do and don’t want to receive from marketers, by registering at the Direct Marketing Association’s consumer website and making your choice. Don’t forget to also do your part! Send electronic invitations for your events and use digital marketing material for your business.
Which one would you like to begin with to start being more sustainable? What other easy ways of leading a more sustainable life would you add to the list?
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Hi, I’m Melina,
I’m the creator of Sustainable Rookie, and my goal is to share what I learn throughout my sustainability journey, so that I can help other people live a more conscious life.
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