10 Easy Ways to Live More Sustainably
The concept of ‘living sustainably’ may seem daunting; however, there are actually tons of easy ways to be more environmentally conscious in your everyday life! Here are a few simple ways to live more sustainably:
1. Replace Single-Use Plastic with Reusable Straws, Utensils, Thermoses & Water Bottles
Say no to disposable forks and spoons! It’s actually quite easy to do and affordable (and will make you feel fancy.) Try out these bamboo utensils or these stainless steel ones from Amazon — they come with cases, straws, and straw cleaners!
Also, make sure to purchase your own reusable water bottle (preferably stainless steel or glass), thermos, and a reusable travel coffee cup! Switching from single-use plastic to these items will significantly minimize plastic waste and heavily reduce your contribution to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Sure it requires a little extra planning before leaving your house, but the few minutes you spend searching for your water bottle is a small price to pay compared to the immense benefits the planet will reap.
2. Eat Local Foods
The closer the food is to your front door, the less energy is needed for transport. During your next grocery store excursion, look for items that are made and manufactured nearby! For example, if you live in New Jersey and you buy apples from New York (rather than apples harvested halfway around the world), you are saving both energy and fuel.
The trip from New York to New Jersey is obviously much shorter than a trip from Europe, for example. When one less plane trip is needed, CO2 emissions are lessened. Aviation comprises about 2% of the world’s CO2 emissions — so reducing the number of flights can have a tremendous impact on the atmosphere.
Also, if you buy products made nearby you are more likely to be supporting a local business rather than a massive conglomerate — an added bonus.
3. Recycle & Donate
I’m sure you already know about the importance of recycling. If you have an item that can be recycled in your city or town, go through the necessary steps to make sure it is actually recycled. According to National Geographic, recycling aluminum cans, steel, tin cans, paper, plastic, and glass can save between 60 and 95% of energy compared to making products from virgin materials. In fact, the energy saved from recycling a single glass bottle is directly comparable to the energy needed to power a light bulb for four hours — imagine that!
Also, instead of disposing of your old furniture or clothes, consider donating these items to a local secondhand store. Someone will make great use out of them!
4. Turn Off Lights When You Leave the Room
When you leave a room and know you will not return for at least 10 minutes, switch off the light. Not only will you reduce carbon emissions, but you will also save a good amount of money on your utility bills.
While we’re on the subject of lightbulbs, the most energy-efficient bulbs are CFLs or LEDs. Do not purchase incandescent lights if you can avoid it — they release about 90% heat and 10% light, making them extremely inefficient.
5. Carpool Whenever Possible
If you are meeting some friends at a restaurant and you live relatively close to them, carpool! The fewer cars on the road, the less Greenhouse Gas (or CO2) emissions. You may just feel like a speck of dust in comparison to the entire planet of vehicles, but if everyone carpooled just one day a week, the number of cars on the road would considerably decrease. Also, fewer cars on the road results in less road maintenance, saving energy as well!
6. Grow Your Own Herbs
Growing your own herbs is way easier than you think. In fact, you can buy basil, parsley, chives, rosemary, and more already planted and potted — all you have to do is keep them alive! Having your own mini herb garden in your kitchen window or on your porch will add a zing to your cooking — the fresher the herbs, the better the flavor!
Growing your own food rather than buying herbs at the store will significantly reduce the harmful chemicals polluting the environment. You can choose to sustainably nourish your plants by using natural fertilizers and environmentally-friendly products.
7. Line Dry Your Clothes
I know it may not be convenient (tossing clothes into the dryer is definitely easier), however, according to The Spruce, line drying your clothes will reduce your carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds a year! It will also save you a pretty penny on your electrical bill.
Hanging your clothes up to dry is a peaceful and stress-reducing activity. Your clothes will smell great and be free of additional harsh chemicals!
8. Opt for Plastic-Free Products
During your next jaunt to the grocery store, make it your mission to find as many plastic-free food items as possible. There are many products that have unnecessary amounts of plastic in the packaging. Those cucumbers wrapped in plastic — what’s up with those??
Try to find products with metal or cardboard packaging instead of plastic. Also, buy glass-bottled if possible! Bring your own mesh bag to toss your fresh produce into and, of course, don’t forget to bring reusable grocery bags.
Going completely plastic-free can be expensive and make shopping more challenging — make the changes where you can — some plastic-free products are easy to find and will have no effect on your wallet.
9. Use Reusable Cloths Instead of Paper Towels
Switching to reusable cloths will save you a lot of money (in the long run.) You don’t even need to buy them — just cut up your old clothes into little square rags. You can use the rags to wipe surfaces, dry dishes, clean windows, and more! No more bulldozing through dozens of rolls of paper towels per month — using cloths will help keep excess plastic and paper out of landfills!
10. Shop Secondhand
Going hand-in-hand with donating and recycling, buying secondhand items is another easy-breezy way to live more sustainably. Essentially, purchasing secondhand clothes helps decrease the excess plastic and other waste. Also, you can find some high-quality and super cute clothes at thrift stores!
