Our daily choices have an impact on the environment – the climate – and even other species. Everyday choices make a major impact, including what we eat, how we shop, how we commute, etc. We can do many things to reduce our carbon footprint and make room for more sustainability.
If you want to live more sustainably, the following tips are for you.
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Shop Mindfully
You will want to be mindful of your shopping spree and focus on the three “Rs” of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Every product you purchase leaves an environmental footprint from the materials used in manufacturing. Now while this might feel retro to you, it is still essential today.
Besides – the manufacturing process leaves a footprint – including the packaging that usually ends up in landfills.
The truth is that people buy more things than they actually need. Never mind that some people even spend money they don’t have on things that they don’t need. Here is what you can do – before buying anything, you will want to be absolutely mandatory that you really need it.
People naturally want to own things. However, before your every buying decision, you will want to be absolutely sure that you need it and that you aren’t buying it simply for the sake of buying. Nonetheless, if you do buy things, you will want to buy things that have minimal packaging.
Prioritize the Environment
Assess your things and see the impact that your purchases have on the environment. For instance, if you are looking to buy a new car, you will want to ensure that it benefits the environment. You will want to choose a fuel-efficient car model.
It might be a bit on the expensive side – but – there will be loads of benefits in the long run. You will save money on gas and also significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
You will want to remember the environmental benefits when buying an appliance, such as a refrigerator, washer, kitchen appliance, etc.
You will want to assess the potential purchase for energy efficiency and choose the one that doesn’t harm the environment. You could also think about incorporating environmental-friendly steps at home. For instance, you could install solar panels at home and save on energy consumption and utility bills.
Eliminate Plastic from Your Life
The thing about plastic is that it never goes away. Billions of pounds in the world are flooded with plastic – making up at least 40% of the world’s ocean surfaces. Marine life is affected by it, too – seals, sea birds, sea turtles, and ocean mammals are killed after getting tangled up or ingesting plastic.
This aspect is just one of many that explains perfectly the question of why is sustainability important. Nonetheless, for sustainable living, you might want to cut down on your use of plastic – instead of consuming water from plastic bottles, you might want to invest in a reusable water bottle that you can carry with you at all times.
The reusable water bottle will also work as a reminder for you to keep sipping water throughout the day. You will also want to eliminate the use of plastic bags – use reusable bags instead. You will also want to avoid plastic products and plastic packaging whenever possible.
For instance, you could shop locally instead of shopping online, as it would require the products to be shipped in plastic wrappings. Also, you will want to choose unwrapped items/ products when going for your weekly/ monthly grocery.
Always Read Labels
The number of choices is overwhelming for products – irrespective of whether it is coffee, fruits, and clothes. However, some companies make a serious effort to minimize adverse impacts on the environment and wildlife when it comes to manufacturing and selling their products in the market.
With that said, for sustainable living, you will want to read the labels carefully and choose products that incorporate fair trading guidelines. This way, you will also be making a conscious effort to support companies dedicated to a good cause – sustainable production.
When it comes to food, you will want to prefer buying organic food – whenever you can. Understandably, organic food will cost you a bit more than other foods – but – you will have the satisfaction of not being a consumer of pesticides and protecting wildlife, your family, and farmers.
Be Mindful of Water Usage
We know that plastic bottles and plastic in particular, are harmful to wildlife and the world in general. You will want to replace plastic water bottles at home with portable water bottles. You can use the faucet water, which is practically free and tastes the exact same as bottled water.
Conserving water is another critical part of sustainable living. The growing world’s population demands preserving the world’s natural water resources.
If we don’t use water wisely, it could lead us to droughts, which is why you will want to improve your habits by taking shorter showers, choosing low-flow water appliances, and incorporating smart landscaping techniques.
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