Sustainable Living Made Easy: 8 Simple Swaps Inspired by Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Guides

*Collaborative Post

The increase in world population has resulted in an increase in demand for certain needs. These needs include food, fashion, housing, water, etc. The world is losing its resources and is always threatened by climate change. So, our choices are putting the whole earth at risk. This point is where sustainable living comes in.

Sustainable living refers to carefully considering how our lifestyle choices affect our world and finding ways for everyone to live lighter and better. In this article, we will look at 8 simple swaps inspired by eco-friendly lifestyle guides to help achieve sustainable living.

Ditch Single-Use Plastics for Reusables

Single-use plastics are plastics meant for one-time use and intended for the owner to dispose of them afterwards. Examples include straws, soda bottles, coffee cups, and plastic baggies.

Single-use plastics impact our environment in the following ways:

• They pollute our oceans and waterways.
• They harm our marine and wildlife ecosystems, especially when they ingest single-use plastics.
• Land and soil pollution. They also accumulate for a long time in landfills.
• Incineration of these plastics produces carbon emissions.

The best way to reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics is to stop using them. Although this might be difficult to achieve, we can make small changes.

Several reusable alternatives to single-use plastics, such as water bottles, grocery bags, and straws, reduce the need for them. Other options include using bar soaps instead of liquid soaps, cooking at home instead of ordering takeout, and so on.

Opt for Energy-Efficient Appliances

Energy-efficient appliances consume less electricity. Thus, households and businesses do not have to depend so much on the grid or on petrol or diesel generators. Energy-efficient appliances help reduce air pollution. Also, reduced combustion of fossil fuels results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

There are several ways to help save energy. Some of them include the following:

• Solar energy
• Switch to energy-saving LED light bulbs
• Switch off lights and other electrical devices when they are not in use.
• Insulate your roof.
• Save energy in how you do your laundry.

These options will greatly contribute to protecting the environment and reducing the effect of energy combustion on climate change.

Embrace a Plant-Based Diet

Food production contributes to a large part of greenhouse gas emissions. The production of animal-based food has a more negative impact on the environment than that of plant-based foods. This impact is because the processes used in aminal farming make up much of the carbon footprint of most foods. Small changes you can make to your diet can help reduce the impact of meat consumption on the environment. For example, you can start with meatless Mondays or try out more plant-based recipes. Overall, you will be living a healthier life and making the environment safer for everyone.

Choose Sustainable Fashion

Recently, the conventional fashion industry has been focusing on quick turnovers and fast production. This operation has led to an increase in textile waste, which affects the environment. Apart from seriously depleting resources, it contributes to the rapid filling of landfills. Simple options such as second-hand clothing, clothing swaps, or sustainable brands can solve this problem. These options not only reduce waste but also increase the lifespan of clothes.

Reduce Water Waste

Water waste is another major problem affecting the environment today. Little but significant actions can help conserve water. These actions include promptly fixing water leaks, using water-saving devices, and rainwater harvesting. These solutions are very easy to implement and go a long way toward reducing water waste. Actions like shorter showers, using minimal water for washing dishes, etc., can make a big difference in water conservation. Other significant daily habits include turning off the water tap while brushing or shaving, monitoring water bills, and reusing cooking water to water your garden.

Mindful Consumption

In a world driven by instant gratification, most of our choices tend towards quantity rather than quality. Because of discounts and bonus deals, we steadily believe that more is better. However, living a sustainable lifestyle means making choices that add value to your life. Quality should be a major deciding factor when it comes to the things we buy for ourselves and our homes. Also, the quality of information your mind digests affects the kind of decisions you make and their impact on the environment. Therefore, you must read mindset books that will help you cultivate a more mindful approach to consumption.

Adopt a Minimalist Home

Minimalism is a way of life that encourages people to consider what possessions help them or add value to their daily lives. This lifestyle promotes sustainability by reducing clutter and waste. It also allows people to make room for more important things like growth, relationships, etc. Several books on simple living can help you achieve a minimalist lifestyle. These books provide easy and relatable ways to have and enjoy a sustainable lifestyle.

Support Eco-Friendly Brands

One way to achieve a sustainable lifestyle is to choose products from brands that focus on sustainability. It’s a simple hack to ensure that the products you buy are eco-friendly and will have a positive impact on the environment.

There are certain ways to know if a company is eco-friendly. Some of them include:

• Look at the company’s vision and mission. For this information, check their “About Us” page.
• Read about their corporate sustainability initiatives like recycling, proper waste disposal, etc.
• Look out for their sustainable or ethical certifications.
• Check if the company sources its products sustainably or ethically. Look for phrases like “Eco-friendly,” “Fair for Life,” “Cruelty-Free,” etc.
• Look at their packaging. It should be recyclable, reusable, or plant-based.

Conclusion

The importance of incorporating these simple swaps into your daily routine cannot be over-emphasized. But you do not have to try them all at once. Start with one or two changes and gradually add more.

Most importantly, you are now on a path to achieving a sustainable lifestyle.

*This is a collaborative post. For further information please refer to my disclosure page.