Sustainable living is a bit of a buzzword of late, but quite
rightly so. It is wonderful to see more and more of us looking for ways to live
more sustainably, and more and more of us are making choices that have a
positive impact on the environment. Our eyes are being opened to the fact that
we can’t keep going as we are, and brands and businesses are following suit,
which is great to see. But if you’re not even sure what sustainable living is,
then it will be tricky to know what to do.
So for starters, let’s talk about sustainable living. In a
quick definition, sustainable living is all about having a lifestyle that
tries to reduce your use of the Earth's natural resources and personal
resources. So from anything like not using plastic, to having an
energy efficient home, can be steps towards living a more sustainable life.
When it comes to sustainable living, it is a good idea to start small.
You can completely overwhelm yourself if not. So if you want to be doing more,
then here are some steps to help you get onto a more sustainable path.
Recycle
This seems like a pretty obvious one, and one that we all know about. But
are we doing them well? When was the last time you checked what your local
authority is able to recycle? If you just put all plastic containers
or wrappers in your recycle bin, but some can’t be recycled by your
local authority yet, then the chances are they none of them will be recycled.
So double check what goes in which bin, to make sure that it all will get
recycled, rather than going to landfill.
Choose Quality
Furniture
We often think that if we want to kit our home out, that it has to be
quick and cheap. But in reality, if you buy cheap, then you are not likely to
be buying sustainably. It can be lower quality, damage more easily, and even
have travelled from further away, meaning more of an impact on the environment,
and the workers that put it all together. So where you can, shop local. And
look for brands that use sustainable materials. If you buy cheap and have to
buy twice, then it means there is more going to landfill.
Reuse What You Have
Before you throw something out, it is a good idea to think about what
else could be done with it. Can it be recycled, passed on to someone else, or
reused in your home? This can be especially true for things like furniture. If you
need to get a new sofa, or think that you need to, then could you just replace
the foam in the cushions, for example? There are video
guides and how-tos online to help you do it too. This will mean less going to
landfill, you spend less money, and you’re making your impact on the
environment lower.
Choose Natural
Products
We all want to look and smell good, as well as live in a clean home. But
we can achieve all of those things when we use natural cleaning products. There
are plenty of brands out on the market that make a difference, as well as
making your own using things like vinegar and essential oils. These are better
for your health, as well as for the health of the environment. A lot of people
forget that each time we flush a bleached toilet, we are sending that bleach
into the environment, harming aquatic life.
You can also choose natural things like bamboo toothbrushes too; a natural and
sustainable product, over things like plastic toothbrushes. While these are
small, when they are replaced often and can only be sent to landfill, it is
having an impact. Again, it is an easy win and a simple way to get you onto a
path of more sustainable living.
Check Where
Everything Comes From
One quite simple thing that you could start doing is checking where the
things you are buying come from. In an ideal world, growing some of your own
food or buying locally produced produce is going to be best for you, and the
most sustainable. It doesn’t have to travel far, and you can check where it is
grown, and the conditions it is grown in (organic and free-from pesticides, for
example). It isn’t just our food, though. Think about the furniture you are
buying, and the clothes that you are wearing. How far have they had to travel
to get to you?
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Happy Thursday friends! I hope you had a splendid 4th of July. We did absolutely nada at our house. We just chilled at home. I hope y'all celebrated hard.
Thanks for stopping by the blog. Have a great day.
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