The decisions we make daily impact the ecosystem, climate, and other animals. We may “choose wild” and lessen our impact on the ecosystem by making green lifestyle choices about our food and family size that support wild plant and animal life. No one person can make a difference, but every little bit of environmentally safe practices helps.
What Is Sustainable Living?
Contrary to what some 1970s hippies may have advocated, sustainable living does not have to mean giving up all of life’s comforts. In reality, it entails paying attention to how much food, energy, water, and plastic you use and finding ways to cut back where you can.
In reality, our unconscious decisions impact wildlife, the ecosystem, and the climate on a daily basis. There is a lot we can do to lessen our influence on the earth and our environmental imprint, from the number of children we have to the work we put into recycling and not consuming more than we need as a part of green lifestyle.
Realizing that our actions have consequences for the environment is the first step toward the benefits of living sustainably, as you now know. At first glance, reducing your environmental effect may seem like an impossible task. This is particularly true when you notice that people around you need to make an effort to form a green lifestyle. However, your strength is greater than you initially thought it would be after you divide the task into manageable steps.
And every single cent matters.
It is no surprise that there are numerous alternatives to plastic straws nowadays; seemingly innocuous items, like bottle caps and straws, may disturb entire ecosystems. Actually, you can significantly lessen your plastic waste by making simple purchasing decisions, such as switching from buying water in a bottle to using a filter and a reusable container. The more regular it becomes, the more conscious you will become and the more likely you are to consider alternative options.
Make Celebrations Easier
Celebrations like weddings, birthdays, and holidays can lead to unnecessary overspending. The average American produces 23% more trash in December compared to the rest of the year. However, the additional waste is one of many issues. Wildlife and their habitats suffer as a result of human celebrations due to the extraction of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other natural resources used to produce presents, decorations, disposable plates, and wrapping paper.
However, you have the power to reimagine your festivities in a manner that honors the land, water, and animals. Decorate with foraged plants, offer handmade or recycled gifts, and offer plant-based meals with disposable dinnerware rather than spending the next occasion with artificial décor, extravagant gifts, and only used food and beverage containers.
Exercise Caution when Purchasing
Every product we buy impacts the environment, from raw materials to pollutants during production to packaging that eventually ends up in landfills or incinerators. The harm done upstream will remain even after a product’s useful life has ended, regardless of whether it can be recycled or composted. Therefore, consider your needs carefully before making a purchase. If so, try to avoid new items wherever possible, shop for gently used ones instead, and seek out things that are eco-friendly and require less packaging and transportation.
Avoid Fast Fashion
There is a massive and quickly expanding market for fast fashion. In the last 20 years, both the annual production of new clothing and the amount of fashion consumed worldwide have surged by 400%. One major source of the climate problem is the fast fashion business, which is accountable for around 10% of the world’s carbon emissions.
Animal-based textiles like wool cause water contamination, extensive habitat loss due to deforestation, and other wildlife harm. Slow down your fashion, take better care of your garments, fix them when you can, and buy used or participate in clothing swaps instead of buying new every season. If you really must shop new, seek out long-lasting labels that use sustainable materials (rather than just greenwashing) and buy organic cotton or Tencel apparel.
Avoid Plastic Use
Never will plastic disappear. Eighty percent of all trash in the ocean is this, which amounts to at least 14 million tons each year. Seabirds, turtles, seals, and other marine animals lose a great deal of life each year due to the ingestion or entanglement of plastic. A few easy methods will help you reduce your plastic waste in green lifestyle:
- If you can help it, bring your reusable shopping bags instead of using disposable ones.
- Do your best to avoid products made of or packaged in plastic and instead use reusable ones. For example, instead of buying pre-wrapped food, try buying unwrapped fruit.
- Every little bit helps when people stop using single-use plastics and start using reusable ones.
Plant-based Diet
The production of meat is a major contributor to water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, habitat loss, and other environmental problems. Eating less meat and more plant-based foods is one way to lessen your impact on the environment.
On a related note, food waste accounts for more than any other type of trash sent to local landfills. Nearly 40% of usable food, along with the water, land, and other resources used to grow it, goes to waste every year in the US. To cut down on food waste as environmentally safe practices, plan your shopping trips ahead of time and eat all of your groceries.
Use Less Fuel
Greenhouse gases, smog, soot, and other dangerous air pollutants are produced by emissions from transportation that uses fossil fuels. However, you may significantly lessen your impact on the environment by altering the way you drive and adapt more environmentally safe practices. In every situation, try to walk, ride a bike, carpool, take public transportation, or join a rideshare. Get more done in less time by combining errands. Take part in or organize a community-wide day without using a car.
If you are in the market for a new car, consider purchasing an electric vehicle, and encourage your local authorities to fund charging stations and electric vehicle fleets. Tune-ups and tire inflations should be part of your routine maintenance to keep your vehicle in good shape. A vehicle’s fuel consumption can rise by 10% due to a tire that is 20% underinflated, so getting your tires tuned up will help you save even more gas.
Boycott Endangered Wildlife Products
The United States has made it illegal to import, sell, or trade anything derived from animals or plants that are on the endangered species list. However, this does not stop people from harming non-listed plants and animals for financial gain. Additionally, the destruction of old-growth forests and the depletion of water resources vital to the survival of riparian species are two examples of how certain products imperil endangered species and the habitats in which they live.
By being a conscious shopper and seeking out items manufactured from sustainable materials like bamboo, you can help prevent endangered animals like bluefin tuna from going hungry.
Bring Nature Indoors
Maintaining a fit house is similar to maintaining a fit car in that it increases fuel efficiency. Improve your home’s energy efficiency by installing programmable thermostats, installing energy-saving windows, and, of course, lighting with energy-saving lightbulbs. If you are in a state where you may choose your power provider, go with one that gets half its energy from renewable sources like wind and solar.
Installing solar panels on your roof or heating your water with solar energy can help the environment and save money. In several states, you can now find low—or no-cost incentives to help you green your rental or primary residence. Call your energy provider or ask a friend or family member for a recommendation about free energy audits as one of many environmentally safe practices.
Use Water Wisely
As the demand for our nation’s water sources rises due to a growing population and exceptional droughts, water conservation becomes increasingly important. Water conservation measures include repairing dripping toilets, taking shorter showers, and selecting low-flow and water-efficient appliances.
Think about xeriscaping your yard. It’s a way to landscape that uses native plants that have evolved to drought conditions. These plants will eventually need less water and upkeep and will also attract wildlife like bees and birds. Cut out the meat and dairy from your diet to help reduce water consumption, as animal husbandry is a major user of water.
Go Organic
You may lessen your influence on animals and the environment by purchasing organic coffee, fruit, and apparel. The yearly pesticide sales in the US exceed 2 billion pounds. Hundreds of species that are on the federal endangered species list are in danger of extinction due to the widespread use of pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
The air, water, and soil are all contaminated with pesticides, and the food we consume is no exception. Growing organically is a great way to keep pesticides out of your home garden. By cultivating native, pollinator-friendly plants and eliminating invasive species, you may create a wildlife habitat in your yard. This will draw in beneficial insects and deter pests. Protect yourself, your loved ones, agricultural workers, and at-risk communities from toxic pesticides by shopping organic and environmentally safe practices.
Bottom Line
No one can win the battle to save Earth on their own. We require changes in both systems and mindsets, as well as changes in how we operate. Above everything else, we need everyone’s help to adapt to environmentally safe practices. In order to achieve the change we seek, little decisions must be multiplied into larger collective actions.
