5 Practical Ways You Can Start Living More Sustainably NOW
What use is it to care for ourselves if we do not take care of our home? Part of living a healthy lifestyle includes being conscious of our planet and creating habits with long-term impacts. There is so much waste that can easily be avoided by you and me with little to no effort. Let's join hands and be the change we want to see. Here are 5 practical and easy ways you can start living more consciously today!
** Disclosure: Some of the links below may be affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you when you make a purchase.
Make Compost
Making compost can feel like a very hard thing to do if you do not have the right tools, so in order to create compost successfully and easily I recommend that you gather all the tools you need first. There are different ways to go about this, but the easiest one is to buy a container like this one - and fill it up with kitchen scraps as you go. You do not need to do much to it other than every time you add new scraps you make sure to spin in once or twice for a good mix. Here is what to keep in mind. To make good compost make sure to use produce scraps only and avoid adding cooked food (aka lasagna & pizza slices) to your compost bin. It is also helpful to keep it moist so it breaks down quicker. When I water my plants I typically also water my compost! Finally, if you really want to make some good compost to later for your spring/summer garden - I totally recommend you get some compost worms! These little guys will do wonders and break down your scraps so quick! If you do get worms, it is imperative that you do keep your compost moist as they need moisture to survive! With compost worms you typically want to avoid mixing in any salt. Avoid dumping cooked foods or left overs from dinner and think more produce scraps such as:
Watermelon rinds
Potato skins
Strawberry leaves
Pineapple rinds
Any type of leafy green!!
Carrot skins
If produce started to get bad in your fridge you can put it in your compost bin. Compost will break down easier when you don’t throw huge chunks of food (aka a whole pineapple vs. chopped up pin-apple).
This may sound a little complicated to you, but it honestly is second nature once you get started. Another benefit that I have noticed from starting to compost my food is that I am much more eager and motivated to add a good amount of fresh produce to my meal plans because consequently I will have some good food scraps to add to my bin!
Some people also have a compost bucket to keep in their kitchen with appropriate filters and compost bags to keep the odors and scraps contained. I have not really tried doing this since my kitchen has limited space. Typically when I am cooking I just put all the scraps into a bowl/plate and take it out to the bucket right outside my deck when I am cleaning up.
Compost helps return nutrients to the soil and help maintain its quality and fertility. This organic matter can be used in gardens, landscaping, horticulture and agriculture to improve plant growth.
2. Stop Junk Mail
I bet you hate getting all that junk mail anyway? This waste of paper can clutter your home so easily. Did you know that you can actually opt-out of getting so much of it? Here are a few steps you can take to stop junk mail. To be removed from marketing lists visit DMACHOICE.org or to reduce credit card offers use OptOutPrescreen.com. Both services are independent of each other, so make sure to sign up for both. For more specific details, click here.
3. Reduce Plastic Waste
I am always surprised at just how much plastic is in the world. It is hard to avoid it. I am not perfect at it. I often feel like I can’t escape it without having to give up a lot of money or time. But there are very easy steps you can take to start living a more plastic-free life now:
AVOID K-CUPS or single serve plastic pods. I get the convenience. We owned a Keriug for 4 years, and honestly it was just okay. Coffee takes just as good, if not even better when made on a regular coffee pot maker, french press, aeropress, or Chemex. I prefer to buy gadgets that are made of stainless steel vs. glass just because I find them to be so much more durable, especially if you have littles!
AVOID plastic bottled drinks. This is easily a bad habit that can be hard to break if you are used to buying water bottle packs, soft drink packs, juice packs, etc. Families typically get 24 packs at Costco, Walmart, etc. They are an easy and convenient way to have water ready to go! They are also nice to have for when you have guests over, etc. At some point in culture, and in trend, making all hosting items ‘disposable’ became the social norm and know I cannot remember the last time that I went to a social event and actually had a meal on porcelain plates or glass cups? I personally find it a little sad to think we have made plastic/paper cutlery the norm for social events because they just look tacky no matter how expensive you get them for. The alternative to plastic bottles is implementing the habit of taking a reusable water bottle with you in the car, to work, etc. So much cheaper and so much better for the environment! Check these out: Double Stainless Steel Insulated Bottle, Simple Bottle To take in your large purse, and this one as a fan favorite!
Take your own shopping bags to the grocery store. I don’t really know why it is SO HARD to consistently remember to take your own reusable bags to the store, but it can be! The trick is remembering to take the bags back to your car once you put away your groceries. However, it is a simple thing anyone can do to avoid unnecessary plastic use. Especially if you use the self-checkout lane, it will feel like no inconvenience at all. When I am out shopping for just a couple of things like a notebook, or a pair of earrings, I always opt out of a bag and it is now pretty-second nature for me to say, “I don’t need a bag, thanks!” Reusable shopping bags are available for purchase anywhere, even inside grocery stores so they are easy to get - harder to implement when you aren’t as used to it.
4. Switch to natural products
One of the best things you can do for your body is to switch to more natural based beauty, personal and household products. Green and toxic free products are not only better for you and your family in the long run, but also better for the environment as these product can highly affect the environment upon disposal. My number one advice is to simply use less (turns out we don’t need so many lotions, candles, nail-polishes) and shop from brands that use simple ingredients. I love recommending Thrive Market and the Just Ingredients website and blog as great places to shop and learn more about natural products.
5. Avoid Fast Fashion
One of the best ways to combat waste is to say NO to fast fashion (trends and cheaply made clothes) and to shop for your clothing in a sustainable and minimal way. Did you know that the average American gets rid of 82 pounds of clothes every year most which is not biodegradable and will end up in landfills? There is so much clothes, and so much textile waste!
I personally enjoy thrifting, but I do not think it is a necessary aspect of living more sustainably. You can choose to buy less and from more ethical brands. Because ethical brands tend to be more “expensive” you will likely choose to buy exactly what you need.
