Want to Start a Sustainable Living? Here's How

The green revolution is underway. With the depletion of natural resources, rampant pollution, and record-high CO2 emissions, more and more people are realizing the importance of adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle. While that might be a serious adjustment for many of us, living sustainably actually comes with great benefits for both you and Mother Earth. 

In the following guide, we’re compiling some useful tips for starting a sustainable lifestyle that will help you reduce your carbon footprint and protect the environment.  

Conserve Water & Energy

One of the simplest ways you can go green is by paying attention to your water and energy consumption at home. Whenever you leave a tap running or an electrical device on standby, it uses up energy needlessly and inflates your monthly utility bills. So, learn to not use water in excess, take showers instead of baths, unplug any gadgets on standby, and replace your hungry light bulbs with efficient and more durable LED lights. This should be a productive first step.

Create Less Waste

Most of us don’t realize how much waste we produce daily. If you want to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, you will have to learn to live with less. While society is constantly pushing us to be avid consumers, practicing minimalism can help you achieve your green goals. The experts from Puratium.com believe one of these objectives should be to strive for a zero-waste lifestyle. There are many online resources you can consult to grow your knowledge on how to cut down your waste and save valuable resources.

Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose

Say hello to your new motto! Step away from the throw-away culture and take a moment to find out how you can either recycle, reuse, or repurpose items you have around your home. This inevitably goes through ditching single-use products (plastic bottles, straws, cups, plates, etc.) and finding eco-friendly alternatives, such as bamboo cutlery, stainless steel bottles, or glass containers. This will help you save significantly as well as keep a neater, less waste-producing household.

Become Crafty

Why should you buy an everyday commodity while you can perfectly make your own? For example, instead of purchasing expensive cleaners filled with harmful chemicals, you can make homemade organic cleaners that will last you for weeks. The same goes for the body and personal care products such as soaps, shampoos, lotions, toothpaste, and more. Always conduct some prior research on what you can DIY before heading to the supermarket.

Grow Your Own Food

For those who are lucky enough to own a backyard, turn a patch of it into a vegetable garden. In truth, there’s nothing more satisfying than growing your own food; that is, you’ll ensure that it’s entirely GMO-free and pesticide-free, and hasn’t traveled thousands of miles to reach your plate. This will protect your health and that of your loved ones and help save the planet at the same time.

Shop Local

Take a moment to reevaluate your shopping practices. Many of us only go for name brands or appealing packaging as proof of quality; that is a great misconception. Instead, read labels meticulously and try to stay away from non-organic products as much as possible. Think about buying locally as a way to support immediate distribution channels and boost the local economy. Corporate giants often employ unethical and unsustainable practices to lower their costs, so don’t encourage them by purchasing their products.

Insulate Your Home

To minimize your reliance on air conditioning or heating and lower your impact on the environment, insulating your home is a formidable way to go green. Make sure to use sustainable and non-toxic insulation materials for your next remodeling project; that will go a long way in reducing your energy costs and carbon footprint.

Bike and Train, Not Car and Plane

Lastly but important, think about your modes of transportation. If you own multiple cars, think about becoming a one-car family. Use the bike to go short distances. Whenever you’re traveling, opt for a train ticket rather than a plane ticket when you have the chance. This contributes to reducing your reliance on polluting fossil fuels, which wreak havoc on the ecosystem.

These are just some easy-to-implement, practical ways you can start adopting today to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle. Changing our ways is not easy, but it most definitely pays off in the end. Plus, it’s for the good cause! Ultimately, keep documenting yourself and doing research, and don’t hesitate to share your knowledge and sensitize others around you on the importance of living sustainably. Collectively, you can make your community cleaner, healthier, and set a positive example.