Simple Changes You Can Make to Live a More Sustainable Life

With there being so many things that we can do to reduce our environmental footprint, going green and living more sustainably is now easier than ever. Supporting the environment through sustainable living doesn’t have to require a complete lifestyle transformation. Even just a few eco-friendly changes in our daily routine can make a big impact. Now, I know that starting something new can tend to get a little stressful when you don’t know where to begin. So here are 8 simple tips to live a more sustainable life: 

1. Say No to Plastic Bags

A single plastic bag can take up to 1000 years to degrade. To reduce plastic waste, choose to bring reusable bags when shopping. Reusable canvas or mesh produce bags are the best alternative to plastic and paper bags.

2. Ditch Fast Fashion

Fast fashion takes a major toll on the environment and workers. The clothes might be cheap and trendy, but this leads to mass overproduction. The fast fashion industry produces 10% of all global carbon emissions. So the next time you want to shop for your wardrobe, consider buying second-hand from online clothing resellers or your local thrift store. Alternatively, when you have pieces that you no longer need, donate them!

3. Eat Less Meat

The average American consumes an average of 274 pounds of meat per year. The production that it takes to provide all this meat is responsible for at least 37% of gas emissions. Cutting back on meat consumption can help lower the resources used to produce meat for food. Something as simple as abstaining from meat at least once a week can make a big impact. 

4. Buy Locally Grown Food

Eating locally grown food has major benefits to your health, supports your community, and is good for the environment. By buying local, you are able to help save environmental costs such as transportation and refrigeration. Visiting your local farmers market can be a great and fun way to find locally grown products. 

5. Choose Biodegradable Alternatives

An everyday essential commonly made of plastic is a toothbrush. About one billion toothbrushes are thrown away every year in the U.S which increases the amount of plastic in landfills. The best eco-friendly solution is to switch to a bamboo toothbrush. Bamboo toothbrushes are 100% biodegradable in nature and return nutrients to the soil at the end of their life span. 

6. Start Composting

Composting is a great way to turn waste into a usable material to be added to the soil and help plants grow. Instead of food scraps ending up being useless in a landfill, create your own compost pile or bin for compost pickup or bring it to a commercial composting facility. 

7. Save and Reuse Glass Jars

While glass jars are already 100% recyclable on their own, they are extremely useful to keep around when trying to maintain a sustainable home! Some of the many ways to reuse glass jars include drinking cups, preserving food, filling for bulk goods, etc.

8. Stop Using Products With Harmful Chemicals

If you take the time to read through the list of ingredients in common household essentials such as laundry detergent, then you will soon realize how it’s not as harmless as you thought. Many of the chemicals in laundry detergent are harmful to human health and all those chemicals end up down the drain and into the environment which can affect fish and aquatic life. The best alternative is using laundry detergent sheets. Laundry detergent sheets only contain safe, natural ingredients and can wash clothes as well as any conventional detergent. 

Whether you choose to switch to biodegradable products or consume less meat, we hope that you are able to find a few ideas of how you can incorporate sustainable living into your lifestyle. The smallest of changes can make the biggest difference. The most important thing to remember is that you are doing your part to make the world a better place.