You don’t need to break the bank to live a sustainable life. This is only a myth. The solution to living consciously is not extravagant purchases and throwing out ‘unsustainable’ products. Being mindful simply requires you to make minor sustainable swaps in your daily life. Here is a list of the simple changes you can immediately make and create a big difference with minimal effort.
Ditch Plastic Bags
Carrying your own cloth bag to the grocery shop is a good way to practice this. These days, tote bags are not only a sustainable option but also a style statement.
Get a Reusable Tumbler
Instead of getting takeaway plastic or paper cups from restaurants, get a reusable tumbler that you can always carry around. Make your coffee runs more fun with this alternative, and your barista will happily provide you with your drink in your own cup.
Reusing Food Waste
Avoiding food waste is so much better than throwing that waste away. Food waste can be used in so many different ways for example, making vegetable broth or using leftover coffee grounds as fertilizer.
Switch Your Straws
It is a well known fact that plastic straws are harmful for the environment as well as wildlife on land and underwater. Bamboo straws, on the other hand, are recyclable and compostable, making them easy to break down. Alternatively, you can utilise steel straws, which are our persona favourites.
Instead of using plastic toothbrushes that are thrown out regularly, switch to bamboo or electric toothbrushes.
Save Water
Turn off the tap while brushing, reuse the water used to wash veggies to water your plants and check for tap leaks in the kitchen and toilets regularly.
Refurbish Unwanted Items
Reselling items is one of the most impactful ways to reduce your footprint. However, repairing old clothes instead of throwing them away by adding extra details to them or simply taking it to the tailors reduces is much more impactful. Easiest way to get a new wardrobe is to swap clothes you don’t wear anymore with your friends and family, so they can add to the story of each garment.
Ride, Don’t Drive
Great for the body, better for the environment. Choosing to ride a bicycle for smaller distances is not only going to reduce air pollution but also keep you fit and allows you to saves on fuel money ;)
Choose Cloth Towels
Cloth towels create less waste than paper towels that are hard to recycle and get stuck in landfills for years. It's a reusable as well as a cost effective swap!
Minimise Single Use Plastics
Glass containers keep your food healthy and fresh for a longer period of time. Plus, single use plastic containers are not microwave friendly and a long term solution for kitchen storage.
Travelling Mindfully
Choosing to carry your own water bottle instead of buying plastic bottles, using public means of transport and packing zero waste items are some ways to be mindful even when travelling.
It is high time we take the matter of the well being of the planet in our own hands. Let’s start with small steps which will eventually make the planet a better place.