5 Ways to Live More Sustainably
Thrift your clothes
Have you heard of the phrase reduce, reuse and recycle? This phrase is as important today as when it was first communicated. Every clothing item we purchase has an environmental footprint, from the materials
used to the manufacturing and packaging, which generally ends up in landfills. Thrifting your clothes will not only allow you to individualise your style, but it reduces the environmental footprint through evasion of pollution emitted during the production of a new product.
Go plastic free
I have a whole blog post on the dangers of plastic and I will link it here if you are interested in finding out more. Plastic never goes away, and around 40% of it ends up in the world’s oceans, killing sea turtles,
seals and other marine mammals. You can very simply cut down your plastic consumption through using reusable bottles and straws and taking reusable bags when you go for your grocery shop.
Be water wise
Try skipping the bottled water! These businesses try and make out that bottled water is better than the water that comes out of your tap at home, yet this is not the case. Tests have proved that tap water excels in quality and taste and the promotion and purchasing of tap water enables an increase in the consumption of plastic. Purchase yourself a reusable bottle and drink the water that comes out of your tap. Not only are you going to save money, but you are saving the oceans and animals! As well as purchasing water, it is important to conserve water and you can do this through having shorter showers, turning of the tap when you are brushing your teeth, and choosing low-water/low-flow appliances.
Drive less
Switching up your driving habits can dramatically reduce your carbon footprint. Try to walk more, ride a bike or use public transportation whenever possible. See if you can share a lift with your work colleagues and combine your errands to make fewer trips throughout the day. Cars emit a ton of harmful gasses into the air and contribute widely to pollution. If you are in need of a car, try to purchase an electric car or one
with a low emission engine. The smallest change and make the biggest difference when combined.
Green your home
This can be expensive and I admit, not everyone will want to spend money to green their homes. There are small and inexpensive things you can do however, including switching your light bulbs to energy saving ones or using a programmable thermostat for more efficient heating and cooling around the home. If you want to further green your home, invest in solar panels and energy saving windows, not only saving you money in the long-run, but helping to minimise your carbon footprint.
The dangers of plastic and reducing your plastic consumption
I am sure you have heard the word plastic more than ever recently, and there are many people advocating for single use plastic and reducing consumption. I am in no way an activist, but being responsible is something we can all do to help ourselves and our planet. My passion for caring for the planet is mostly derived from my love of animals and hearing about extinction due to human actions. So whilst we have been using plastic all our lives, why is it so important to reduce our usage now, and what are the long-term dangers?
Plastic does not go away
Plastic is a material that is made to last forever and yet 33% of all plastic - water bottles, bags and straws are used just once and thrown away. This means that it stays in the environment for up to 2000 years or longer, ending up in the oceans and in the greenery. Therefore, recycling is extremely important, as well as using reusable bottles and straws.
Plastic threatens wildlife
Wildlife become entangled in plastic, they eat it or mistake it for food and feed it to their young. This can result in impaired movement, injuries and even death. I’m sure you have seen many news articles featuring animals that have died from consuming or getting entangled in plastic. These problems have been increasing rapidly and will continue to do so.
Plastic piles up in the environment
30 million tons of plastic gets discarded every year, and only 8 percent is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills and is burned or becomes litter. The release of harmful chemicals in the air contributes towards global warming, and thus making the earth hotter and inhabitable.
What can you do to reduce your plastic consumption?
Carry a reusable bottle - Carrying a reusable bottle is a great way to cut your plastic usage and save money. There is even an app to tell you where you can refill your bottle for free
Say no to plastic straws - Plastic straws are bad for our oceans, next time you need a straw use a paper one
Avoid excessive food packaging - I know that this is not always possible, but try to buy loose fruit and veg and bring your own packaging to put it in
Avoid microbreads - The UK government have announced a ban on mircobeads, however if you still have products purchased previously, ensure that these products and disposed of responsibly
Carry a shopping bag - Since the plastic bag charge was introduced in England, there has been a massive 85% drop in their use. If you still find it hard to remember to carry a reusable bag around with you, try a foldaway one that you can carry in your normal day bag
Making these small changes can have a big impact on the amount of plastic we use on a day-to-day basis.