14 ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle
People are starting to come around to the idea that we need to become more sustainable to protect the Earth for future generations. Everything you do in your day-to-day life has an impact on the planet, from the food you eat to the car you drive. This doesn't mean you should only eat vegetables and start riding a bike everywhere. Although, you could try consuming less meat and only driving when necessary.
In this post, we will talk about what sustainable living means, why it's important and how you could live a more sustainable lifestyle.
It's small changes like these that could help you to lessen your environmental impact.
How to live a more sustainabile lifestyle
1. Save energy
By using less energy, you can help to reduce carbon emissions. There are a number of ways you can save energy at home, including switching off standby appliances, turning your heating down and hanging clothes to dry instead of using a drier.
2. Eat less meat.
The production of meat is one of the biggest contributors to climate change and the pollution of landscapes and waterways. By eating less of it, you can help to reduce the impact the meat industry has on the Earth.
3. Use reusable alternatives
Single-use products, particularly plastic ones, tend to end up in landfill and the ocean, causing harm to wildlife and the environment. Prevent this by choosing to use reusable and eco-friendly alternatives instead.
4. Go paperless
To avoid wasting paper, choose to receive letters over email and only print off documents if necessary. You could also ask shops to email your receipt instead of printing it off.
5. Use renewable energy
If possible, consider powering your home using renewable energy to reduce the amount of carbon emissions you produce. Replacing your petrol or diesel-fuelled car with an electric one would also help to achieve this!
6. Recycle and reuse
Make sure you’re recycling by putting your rubbish in the correct bins. Also, try to reuse products and items as many times as possible before binning them to reduce waste.
7. Grow your own produce
By growing your own fruit and vegetables, you can ensure you’re not using pesticides that will contribute to water and air pollution. This will also help to reduce the amount fossil fuels used to transport produce to supermarkets.
8. Donate unused items
If you don’t use a product or wear a piece of clothing anymore, give it to a charity shop or someone you know would make use of it to help reduce waste.
9. Save water
You can save water in and around your home by making a number of small changes. Try installing a water butt and making use of grey water to avoid wasting drinking water.
10. Buy fair trade products
When a product has been Fairtrade certified it means it has been produced by a company committed to sustainable production. Keep an eye out for the Fairtrade mark on the packaging of products you buy.
11. Drive less
Walk or ride a bike to your destination instead of driving if it’s close enough – it’s better for the environment and your health. Using public transport is another good way to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
12. Don't waste food
If you have leftovers, don’t throw them away. Save them for your lunch or tea the next day, or even freeze them. However, if they do go off, use them to create compost for your garden.
13. Wear sustainable clothing
The fashion industry is one of the main polluting industries in the world. To lessen the impact this industry has on the planet, you could buy more of your clothes from charity shops and sustainable clothing outlets.
14. Use eco-friendly cleaning products
Some cleaning products contain chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. By committing to using green/eco-friendly cleaning products, you can help to prevent these chemicals from having a negative impact on the Earth.
At the moment, we are producing resources, using energy and creating waste at a rate that isn't sustainable. This leads to environmental issues, such as pollution and climate change, which cause harm to the environment, wildlife and humans. By making some small changes to your lifestyle, you can reduce your carbon footprint and help to tackle these issues.
In Bloom Project is inviting you to a complimentary webinar to help you live a more sustainable life.