Living sustainably does not mean having to give up your comforts, it means minimising the use of the earth’s resources.
It is a conscious choice and effort you make in your everyday life, from riding a bike instead of driving a car to buying locally sourced food instead of imported ones.
To make living sustainably simpler and more efficient, here are some tips and tricks to kick-start your eco-friendly lifestyle. Remember, small changes can make a world of difference.
1. Composting
Composting food scraps from the kitchen, whether it is a teabag or an orange peel, creates an excellent natural fertiliser that makes plants grow healthy and vegetables really flavourful.
Composting helps to reduce the volume of waste in landfills that could potentially release methane and other greenhouse gases. These harmful substances not only threaten the environment but also human health.
Composting also reduces the need for chemical fertilisers that are known to affect the quality of the soil and the produce.
2. Thrift shopping
The concept of thrift shopping is often misunderstood, perhaps because people assume second-hand clothes are dirty or unhygienic. Don’t worry, as the clothes in thrift stores are usually pre-washed and sanitised.
It’s important to note that the fashion industry, especially fast-fashion, is highly polluting and the materials used could be hazardous to health. So, when you shop in a thrift store, you are helping to keep things out of landfills by reducing the excess unused clothes.
3. Saying no to plastic
Every time you take a plastic bag to pack your groceries in or use a plastic straw to drink your favourite beverage, you are jeopardising the lives of marine creatures. On top of that, using non-biodegradable plastic ware can be harmful to your health, as some of the compounds in plastic can cause cancer or mess up the hormones.
Switching to reusable or paper shopping bags will help to preserve the environment, and using bamboo straws is exceptionally stylish, eco-conscious and would make any drink Instagram-worthy.
4. Eating a plant-based diet
A few studies show that switching to a plant-based diet can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Studies have also shown that reducing meat and dairy consumption can save about 45% of water use.
That being said, you don’t have to instantly and completely change your diet. Start by reducing your meat and dairy intake whenever you can.
5. Growing your own food
Growing your food means you get to eat the fruit and vegetables of your choice, and also get to decide what goes into the soil and on the plants.
It helps avoid plastic waste and reduces your carbon footprint, because you are eating vegetables and fruit that have travelled a few metres from your garden rather than produce that has been trucked or shipped hundreds or thousands of kilometres.
The best thing about growing your own food is that you can get to literally reap what you sow and enjoy the fruits of your hard work (pun intended).
6. Minimising energy consumption
Uncontrolled energy consumption is contributing to global warming emissions. Although it may not be evident, it has been proven that energy usage and the environment are connected.
The more energy you use, the more toxic fumes are released by power plants. Opt for energy-efficient appliances wherever you can to ensure that you get to be efficient and save as much energy as possible.