10 Tips for a Sustainable Lifestyle
The idea of living a zero-waste, sustainable lifestyle may seem daunting, but it’s actually quite easy. The key to getting there: awareness.
The alarm goes off. You roll out of bed, hop into the shower, make breakfast, and leave the house. Before you even start your work day, what impact do you have on the planet?
From the foods you eat and clothes you wear, to your transportation and how you sort the garbage – every action and decision you make affects our planet.
Becoming aware of your daily habits and routine is the first step to reducing your environmental impact. By assessing your habits and routines, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to adopt sustainable practices and solutions.
To help kickstart your journey to a sustainable lifestyle, here are 10 tips you can try today.
Choose to Reuse
We live in throw away society that places convenience above all else. From plastic bags and packaging, to cotton makeup pads and disposable coffee cups, these items are typically used once before being tossed away. However, as the demand for landfill space grows and with it greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, choosing reusable items can significantly reduce your impact on the environment.
A simple internet search for reusable household items will provide countless ideas and options to replace everyday single-use items with eco-friendly alternatives – you will be amazed by all the innovative products on the market. Give it a try. You new favourite zero-waste product is waiting to be discovered.
Eat a Plant Based Diet
“It takes 2,500 gallons of water, 12 pounds of grain, 35 pounds of topsoil and the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline to produce just one pound of feedlot beef.” – EarthSave.org
Livestock production accounts for 70% of all agricultural land use, occupies 30% of the planet’s land surface, and is responsible for 18% of global GHG emissions. Given the stats, there’s no denying that the meat industry is driving deforestation and wreaking havoc on the climate.
Opting for a meat-free diet is one of the most effective changes you can make for the planet. Not only will you help reduce GHG emissions, save trees, and reduce water usage, but your body will thank you, too. Best of all, plant-based foods can be incredibly delicious! Check out these 20 Easy Plant-Based Recipes for Beginners That Will Make You Drool.
Avoid Fast Fashion
Fast fashion: constantly changing collections at a low price, encouraging consumers to frequently buy and throwaway clothing.
The fast fashion industry is considered the second most polluting industry in the world. It alone is responsible for more carbon emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. This is why choosing to refuse it is a great way to live sustainably.
The production of fast fashion depleting natural resources.
- It takes around 7,500 litres of water to make a single pair of jeans.
- Enough to meet the needs of five million people is used by the fashion industry annually.
- Around 500,000 tons of microfibre, equivalent to 3 million barrels of oil, is dumped into the ocean every year.
- The equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned every second.
- The fashion industry produces 20% of global wastewater.
- SOURCE: UN News
When shopping for clothing, look for items that are produced ethically and sustainably, and adopt a quality over quantity mindset. Yes, a sustainably-made top may cost more than those found in $10 bargain bins, but remember the higher cost supports businesses and brands using eco-friendly materials in a safe and fair workspace.
On a tight budget? Visit your local thrift store to see what second hand treasures you can score.
Hang Clothes to Dry
Over 80% of all homes in the U.S. and Canada have a clothes dryer. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if all residential clothes dryers sold in the country were energy efficient, “the utility cost savings would grow to more than $1.5 billion each year, and more than 22 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented”.
Ditch the dryer and hang your clothes to dry. Doing so will not only reduce GHG emissions, but it’ll extend the lifecycle of your clothing, save the cost of replacing them before their time (dryer lint is evidence of your wardrobe wearing away), and eliminates the cost of running a dryer. A quadruple win!
Replace Lightbulbs
Fact: LED lightbulbs use up to 90% less energy than other bulbs, and don’t contain any mercury.
On average, lighting accounts for 18% of a household’s energy bill, which means that switching to LED is not only better for the environment, but it’ll significantly reduce your energy bill too!
Better yet, LED bulbs last up to ten times longer than fluorescents, and 40 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Compost Food Waste
When organic waste is sent to a landfill it doesn’t disappear naturally. Instead, it slowly decomposes and releases methane, a harmful GHG more potent than CO₂. Contrarily, waste that’s put in a compost pile breaks down into nutrient-rich soil, which can be used in gardens or on local farms. This simple act helps lower the demand for synthetic fertilizer, and supports local food networks and farming communities.
Composting your food scraps is one of the best changes you can make to significantly reduce your environmental impact and kickstart a sustainable lifestyle. Rather than add pollution, repurpose food waste and contribute to a circular economy.
Ready to make the change? Check out our Composting 101 to get started today.
Unplug Devices
Televisions, toasters, washers, and microwaves – some of the common household devices that stay plugged in when not in use. But did you know they continue to draw and waste energy?
Unplug your electronic devices when they’re not in use. Doing so will lower your carbon footprint, and can save you hundreds on your electricity bill each year.
Looking for a convenient solution? Plug all of your devices into a power bar, and switch the bar off before bed. However, do keep in mind that some larger appliances can cause a power surge. For more tips on living an easy, sustainable lifestyle follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Support Local Businesses
Why would you buy an item shipped from the other side of the world when your neighbourhood shop or farm can supply the same thing? By supporting local businesses you can know exactly how goods were made and limit the distance items travel before reaching you – meaning less GHG emissions associated with transport.
Equally as important, supporting local businesses contributes to your local economy and workforce. For instance, buying fresh produce from local farmers markets supports their business, and aids in creating job opportunities for other community members (market organizers, promoters, cleaners, etc). Supporting local creates a demand for goods and services in your neighbourhood, and helps communities become self-sufficient – the key to sustainability.
Plant a Garden
Gardens help clean the air, and give birds, bees and other small creatures a place to pollinate and create habitats. They allow us to grow food without pesticides, limit trips to the grocery store, and help reduce air and water pollution. This is why growing your own food is a great way to live sustainably.
Not sure what to grow? A bit of research can help determine the best choices for your garden, depending on your living space and climate. If you have space to spare though, then planting trees and shrubs are great for naturally cooling your home, and can cut air conditioning costs in the summer months.
If you have space to plant a garden, regardless of size, take advantage of it. Here are some of our favourite how-tos on eco-friendly gardening and landscaping ideas.
Drive Less
Car pollution is a massive driver of climate change (no pun intended). Since burning fossil fuels releases CO₂ into the atmosphere, trading in your traditional mode of transportation is a powerful move if you’re working towards a sustainable lifestyle.
Instead of hopping in your car anytime you need to go somewhere, choose to walk, bike, bus, or carpool instead. If you do rely on a vehicle to get around, consider investing in an electric vehicle (EV). These vehicles produce far fewer emissions than conventional automobiles, and are proven to significantly save car owners on fuel and maintenance costs. Next time you consider trading in your gas-guzzler for the newest model, see what eco-options are on the market. Your wallet will thank you.
Conclusion:
There you have it – 10 easy changes you can adopt today to achieve a sustainable lifestyle. By making these changes to your daily routine you can rest assured you’re doing your part to help keep our planet clean and green. Don’t stop there though, share your new habits with your friends and family. They may follow your lead and go green, too!
What are you favourite tips for living sustainably? Share them in the comments section, and don’t forget to follow us on social media for more eco-friendly ideas.