Did you know that 77% of Americans want to live more sustainably?
Becoming more eco-friendly isn't easy, and when you have so many other things to think about in your busy life it can be easy to let it slip to the back of your mind. If that sounds like you, you're totally not alone!
Luckily the first step to creating a sustainable lifestyle is easy; research! By learning more about the little changes you can make daily to help our planet, you'll help slowly shift your mindset into one that's more eco-conscious.
To help you out, we've put together our top tips for living sustainably. Check them out and let's save the planet together!
Switch to Renewable Energy
Switching to renewable energy is easy these days and can help you live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Change your electricity supplier to one that uses renewable energy, like Bulb, to quickly reduce your carbon footprint and prevent fossil fuels from increasing. If you have a car that uses gas, switch to an electric one instead and instantly make a difference!
Use Less Energy
Even once you've switched to renewable energy, make sure you're using as little as possible. Turn off appliances on standby, switch off lights when you're out of the room, turn down the heating, and leave your clothes to air dry rather than using the dryer. These are tiny differences that really won't affect your life, but could secure the planet's future.
Eat a More Plant-Based Diet
When it comes to how to live sustainably, eating a plant-based diet can have a massive difference. Animal farming is responsible for more carbon emissions than all the transport around the world and, if we keep eating meat, our planet is going to last (or we're not going to last on it, anyway!).
So, cut down on meat and dairy, and opt for tasty alternatives instead; there are so many out there that it's easier than you think to do.
Why not give a vegetarian or plant-based diet a go for just one month and see what you think? You'll be instantly lowering your carbon footprint.
Start Using Reusable Products
When it comes to sustainability, lifestyle means everyday life. The small changes you can make every single day can have a massive difference for our planet, especially if we all work together to make them! One of these changes is cutting down on throw-away, single-use products and switching to reusable instead.
Here are some examples of easy switches:
- Throw-away cotton pads to reusable cotton rounds
- Single-use food containers to a reusable eco-friendly lunch bag
- Bring a reusable water bottle with you when you're on-the-go (preferably not plastic)
- Start using reusable coffee pods in your machine
- Sanitary tampons to a menstrual cup
It's also good to check if there's a zero-waste food store nearby, helping you cut down on single-use plastic packaging.
Shop Small and Local
Every item you buy has a carbon footprint attached to it. You can buy more eco-friendly products by shopping locally, such as buying fruits and veggies straight from a farm store instead of shipped from Europe, for example. It's also better to buy from smaller stores where you can look into their eco-friendly values, as these often have less of a footprint than large corporations.
Grow Your Own Produce
If you want to take your shopping one step further, why not start growing your own produce so you don't have to buy it? In your garden, start growing seasonal vegetables and fruits and eat much more sustainably! Even if you have limited space, you can do a lot when you put your mind to it and can even grow tomatoes on a window ledge!
Donate Old Items
We live in a world where throwing things away is normal, but this fills up our landfills and means that when someone else wants that same item, a whole new one has to be made! Break the cycle by rethinking everything you throw away and seeing if you can donate it instead. If it's in good condition you could even sell it and make a buck or two, which is a win-win.
Plant More Trees
Planting trees is a brilliant way to help our planet survive despite all the human activity going on. Trees soak up carbon dioxide in the air, helping reduce pollution and let us all breathe a little better. If you can't plant trees in your own garden or the local area, donate to initiatives that plant them for you.
At DaCosta Verde, we plant a tree in the Amazon Rainforest every time one of our eco lunch bags is purchases. Buy them for yourself, your friends, and your family and let's rebuild the Amazon!
Small Changes For a More Sustainable Lifestyle
There are so many ways we can help the planet by living more sustainably. Here are a few bonus tips for inspiration:
- Say no to unnecessary receipts at ATMs and self-service checkouts
- Start using products that come in glass instead of plastic
- Don't eat more food than you need to
- Always carry a reusable grocery bag
- Start home cooking instead of buying things in plastic
- Buy organic products
- Start composting your food waste
- Research companies before shopping and only buy from eco-friendly brands
Seriously, you can make so many changes every day to help the planet, so start today!
Let's Save the Planet
Almost everything you do has an impact on the planet, from cooking a meal to watching TV. If you start to think more mindfully about everyday activities and consider the impact they have on the planet, you'll notice how many things you could be doing differently to live a sustainable lifestyle.
Start your journey now with an eco-friendly lunch box and bring food with you instead of buying on the go. Remember, 1 lunch bag = 1 tree planted in the Amazon, too!