Tips To Living A More Sustainable Life
By living in a more sustainable lifestyle, we can reduce the strain on Earth’s resources and limit the waste we produce. It is clear the impact we as humans have, leading to degradation of habitats around the globe from rising temperatures, acidification of the ocean and leakage of waste into the environment. Although corporations are responsible for the vast majority of this, as consumers, we have influence and power over the situation. So here are some of the ways you can help make a difference:
Buy local, Fairtrade and sustainable goods
Not only does buying local support the community you live in, it helps to reduce carbon emissions associated with transportation and storage. Fairtrade ensures workers have suitable working conditions and are properly compensated. It helps achieve fair trade relationships and aids local producers to source and grow sustainably.
Reduce your meat intake and purchase it responsibly
Although many people now choose to cut meat from their diets completely in order to reduce their environmental impact, not everyone is willing to do this, as meat is an integral part of their diet and enjoyment of food. I for one am one of those people, but I understand the impact this can have. So to combat this, you can simply eat less meat, which for me means once or twice a week. Not only reducing your meat consumption, but considering where you purchase it from also reduces environmental impact. The main reason meat is so damaging to the environment is because of the way it is mass produced causing a drain on resources, while in many cases also being incredibly cruel to the animals. Instead, consider purchasing from a local butcher or farm shop which gives animals free range and good quality of life. Buying from local farms means the meat isn’t pumped with all the nastiness like in the larger meat industry, and won’t have huge food miles attached to it.
Save on energy
Now more than ever it is important to reduce your energy usage, not only from an environmental standpoint, but because of increased energy prices. Here are some ways you can use less energy:
Turn the heating down and instead wear more clothing
Turn off standby appliances
Make sure not to leave lights on
Hang out clothes to dry rather than using a drier
Fill the kettle with only the water you need
Consider installing solar panels on your house
Use eco-friendly cleaning products
You can reduce pollution of toxic material by swapping out everyday household cleaning items for eco-friendly versions. These are less damaging to our environmental systems. Here’s a few quick suggestions:
Ecover: A range of plant-based, biodegradable cleaning and laundry products with refill stations
Method: A range of plant-based, biodegradable cleaning products using 100% recycled bottles
AlterNative: Vegan natural shampoo, conditioner and soap products harnessing the power of plants
Ecoleaf: A range of plant-based, biodegradable cleaning and laundry products with refill stations. Also offer 100% recycled toilet paper.
Eliminate single use items
I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but I’m going to say it again! Buying a reusable coffee cup, or using tupperware at the street vendors can hugely reduce the amount of single use plastic that’s thrown away within minutes of being bought. Imagine how much plastic could be saved if everyone adopted this! You can also make sure to bring carrier bags when you do your food shop and choose to buy fruit and vegetables that aren’t wrapped in plastic (granted this is often very difficult to find which is incredibly frustrating).
Reduce, reuse and recycle
We’re all very familiar with this concept so I won’t go into much detail here. But by making sure you’re recycling properly, you can divert waste from landfill and incineration, to recycling plants where the material can be made useful once again. Did you know, recycled plastic uses up to 88% less energy to produce than virgin plastic (depending on plastic type).
Reduce your food waste and start composting
Food has a carbon footprint associated with it, with meat having a much higher footprint than fruit and vegetables. A study in Canada found that families threw out an average of 3kg of food each week, equivalent to 23kg of carbon. In fact, over a third of all food globally goes to waste. Of course, individuals aren’t the main culprit here, with huge amounts being rejected before even reaching the shelves for being the wrong shape or size. Try planning your weekly shop meal by meal and using all your ingredients where possible. Consider beginning a compost heap for unavoidable food waste so it can be returned to something useful, leading my to my next tip…
Grow your own food
If you have a small patch in your garden, you could be making use of the compost you’re making. By doing this, you can have produce right there in your garden, free of pesticides which pollute our soils, water and air. You also completely eliminate the need for transportation as it’s right there in your own back garden! Not only could you help the environment, but you might find yourself a new hobby. If you can’t grow your own food, the try opting for organic food in the supermarket. Organic farming does not use pesticides and instead harnesses natural farming techniques such as crop rotation and compost manure as fertiliser.
Consider other modes of transport
Although driving is a very attractive option for going from place to place, it’s becoming less and less so with increasing fuel prices. Instead, try cycling or walking to places that aren’t too far away. You can also get your daily exercise in - two birds one stone!
Wear sustainable clothes or buy from charity shops
The fashion industry is one of the biggest global polluters, responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. Research sustainable clothing brands instead, or browse vintage and charity shops for hidden gems looking for a new lease of life!
Educate yourself and others
Take the time to read publications about the issue, such as IPCC reports. Read other blogs and articles online about the things you can do and speak to your friends about them. Social media is a very powerful tool and sharing useful infographics and posts about being more sustainable can go a long way. If you do decide to speak to people about it, think about who you could speak to that will make an impact. Speaking to your friend who is already a bit of an eco-warrior might not achieve much so choose someone who could learn something from you. But remember, it’s not your responsibility to change everyone so don’t stress, it’s up to someone else to make those changes in their life.