In recent times, sustainability is the term that is all in rage today, and it is for a great reason here. In a study conducted by EPA, the average individual in the United States generates around 5.91 pounds of trash regularly with 1.51 pounds getting recycled, and the rough average of daily waste here is 4.40 pounds. The key to reducing carbon footprint is the key to overall well-being and the health of our community. Sadly, sustainability is often complex in terms of incorporating into our regular lives as everything we use for clothing, feeding, and sheltering ourselves has held its grounds with the use of unsustainable practices.
The lengthier commutes from the textile mills, factory farms, cell phone manufacturers, oil production fields, and pest control about every household product we use in our daily lives involve the effective practices that harm our health and our environment. Considering climatic change, legislation and action from the larger corporations address the worst grievances. At the same time, each of us plays a notable part in helping reduce the overall impact on the environment.
Adopting a sustainable lifestyle is one action you can take to fight climatic change. So, how to live a more sustainable lifestyle?
There is not a single path to achieve a sustainable lifestyle as there is a specific set of metrics one would use to inform us on whether or not we can reach the specific benchmark of eco-friendliness. Instead, the definition of sustainability varies from one person to the other.
For instance, a remote worker with no kids, a smaller apartment, and easy access to public transit often leads to a more sustainable lifestyle compared to one with kids or needs to travel longer distances for work. However, both types of individuals would take effective steps in becoming more sustainable with our effective eco-friendly lifestyle tips.
Regardless of which definition we adopt, the real aim is to leave the planet in a better position than how we found it. This can be done by minimizing carbon emissions and restricting the amount of water wasted or pollution generated. It is often seamless, for sure. However, affordable yet effortless solutions contribute to a much greener environment for future generations.
However, following effective, sustainable lifestyle tips implies that we make the most eco-friendly decisions daily. Self-portrayal is the key here, as there are often many things to learn with additional changes. However, any effort is not better than nothing, as you need not aim for complete perfect of yet.
Everyone would love the idea of making eco-friendly lifestyle changes; however might find it to be intimidating at the aspect of overhauling your life. Fortunately, you need not undertake any drastic measures to leave any apparent impact. However, the major transitions are essential; however, meager adjustments can create a lot of difference. Consuming less meat, making significant efforts to minimize plastic waste, and using fewer paper towels are the changes that might appear smaller;r however are far from achieving them.
The most effortless way to initiate a highly sustainable lifestyle is by reducing plastic use daily. As reported by EarthDay.org, about 335 million metric tons of plastics are generated annually, with half of that destined for single use prior to ending up in a landfill or even in the ocean, where it remains forever, failing to decompose. To deal with this, try investing in products that are reusable, such as coffee mugs, water bottles, canvas shopping bags, beeswax food wraps, and eco-friendly eating utensils that help minimize the use of plastic and are cost-effective. For instance, investing in a single reusable water bottle can help you save an average of 1,500 plastic water bottles each year and about $3,000.
US Food & Drug Administration noted that around 30% to 40% of the US food supply leads to wastage, and the largest section of the items ends up in landfills. It is extremely threatening to the environment as it generates methane gas while it rots in landfills, contributing to climatic changes. Furthermore, it is even a loss of opportunities to feed those who need it the most. To effortlessly reduce food waste as an individual, limit shopping to only the things that you need. You have to know how to start composting at home, as composting is yet another way to minimize food wastage. In place of throwing out the food scraps, create your composting bin, participate in the town or city’s program whenever available, and drop off the waste at a designated collection site.
As the most effective eco-friendly lifestyle tips, cotton pads, straws, cotton buds, and a lot more, there are different things that we choose to implement into our daily lives. The unfortunate reality here is that about 99.99% of the land in the bin following a single use, with less than 10% of daily plastic gets recycles. It is not a smart move for our wallets and is extremely hazardous to the environment. Refrain from using any disposables and initiate by creating an inventory at home. So, which are the products that you use regularly and the products that you can replace with any eco-friendly alternative?
Try opting to invest in reusable water bottles to reduce single-use plastics while traveling and adopting a sustainable lifestyle. It does not mean that the whole home will start to appear like the home of a hippie. For instance, the washable make-up removal pads, or the drinking straws are made out of glass that appears the best.
There are numerous benefits of Renewable energy at home. Reducing electricity use can minimize carbon emissions while saving money.
The PBS research team conducted a study that discovered that over 20% of all US emissions are directly attributed to consumption in a household. It is important to initiate by identifying the ways in your residence to minimize the use of energy with DIY Energy Audit. Furthermore, establish a few manageable goals for yourself, such as energy reduction by 10% over the year.
Different states help you select the source of energy; therefore, it is important to contact your energy provider for more details on discovering ways to use renewable sources of energy at home. Other energy-saving tips for households include unplugging electronics whenever not in use, turning off lights whenever you are not in the room, and hanging your laundry to dry during the warmer months instead of using a dryer.
According to the US Bureau of Reclamation, about 3% of the water on Earth is freshwater, with less than 1% being safer for consumption. Conserving this natural resource is the key to benefiting the health of animals, humans, and plants; however, it is effective for the environmental reduction of water use, saving energy, and minimizing the greenhouse gas emissions required for cleaning that water. There are several effortless modes of conserving water right at home: turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, taking short showers, and watering your garden with watering instead of using a hose.
Selecting organic products can minimize the overall impact on the planet and wildlife. More than 2 billion pounds of pesticides are sold in the United States annually. Pesticides are prevalent in fish and wildlife habitats, proving hazardous for the survival and recovery of numerous federally enlisted species.
Pesticides even have the potential to pollute water, air, and soil, contaminating the food we are consuming. If you are gardening, refrain from the use of pesticides at home by choosing organic growing. Establishing a wildlife habitat around your yard by growing pollinator-friendly plants and removing invasive species often allures the beneficial insects that keep any unwanted pests away. Whenever you choose to go organic, you would keep the harmful pesticides right out of the water and land, safeguarding the farm workers, riskier communities, wildlife as well as your family.
Numerous lawn-focused eco-friendly concerns that we stated earlier even apply to agriculture. Here, you can add energy-intensive shipping into this mix. With grocery prices constantly growing, there is nothing better than incentivizing you to start an eco-friendly garden to grow your food’s harvest. As already discussed, you can use a compost to boost your garden. Also, ensure that vegetables, fruits, and flowers are included in your meals along with flowers for the sake of biodiversity and the local pollinators.
If you lack sufficient space for gardening, you can shop at the local farmer’s market. As food is often grown close to your home, this reduces the greenhouse gas emissions associated with transporting it. Never forget to use reusable shopping bags.
The three Rs can effortlessly help reduce the amount of waste entering landfills, save energy, conserve natural resources, and reduce greenhouse emissions. So, how does this practice or following sustainable lifestyle tips appear in our daily lives? Refrain from purchasing a new table lamp if you can repair your existing one for just a fraction of the price. Replace plastic bottles with empty glass or wine bottles to store water.
Studies have found that North American officegoers often throw away around 2.5 million plastic bottles each hour. Instead of using plastic or single-use bottles, you can easily advocate for glass bottles or even water pitchers at work. Refrain from using single-use cutlery or plates at the next house party, and keep a reusable set in your office that is handy whenever you order in. If you are heading out for an office dinner and foresee the leftovers, carry the containers from home to get your food back.
The recent recycling rate in the United States is about 32%. If you get the rate of 75% it appears similar to the removal of 50 million passenger cars from the roads of the US. At work, you would play your part by encouraging colleagues to turn paperless. You can start using the digital notes and sending out the presentation decks a day in advance and not printing them for those in the meeting. Whenever required, you can use both sides of the paper while you print the documents. You can take the initiative of asking your office to install different bins encouraging the segregation of waste while you are organizing the recycling drives along with your co-workers.
An EU study revealed that people giving up private car ownership contributed to reducing the carbon footprint by 40%. Although it might sound static, consider carpooling once every week and prolonging it over time. Sharing the rides, living closer to your walking place where you can bike or walk, and using public transport whenever possible contribute to lower emissions by cutting down on costs.
There are several things that you can incorporate into your life by following our sustainable lifestyle tips. You can implement them in the work you are performing regularly. But there is a thing that we all have in common, which is the requirement for sustainable transitions into dealing with the environmental complexities. But, it is impossible to influence any sort of changes on your own.
However there has to be everything with the involvement of the state as well as the bigger businesses. All the efforts are nothing but a small drop of water into the ocean. However, it is good to inspire the rest of the drops. You can even teach the younger generation the real essence behind sustainable living and sustainability, which is the core necessity since they are future entrepreneurs and employees inspiring sustainable transitions within the organization.