Five ways to adopt sustainable living

THE choices we make every day affect the environment, the climate and other species. Any time you drive somewhere you could have walked, throw something you could have reused or leave electronics plugged in overnight, you have a negative impact on the planet. The effects of such actions may not be noticeable immediately, but they have long-term, irreversible consequences.

Here are easy and practical ways to get you started living more sustainably:

Choose reusable alternatives

Single-use products, particularly plastic ones, cause harm to wildlife and the environment. We can prevent this by choosing reusable alternatives. Start small by using cloth bags to buy vegetables, reusable kitchen towels, compostable garbage bags, reusable coffee cups and cloth instead of tissues.

Reduce your waste

From food waste to plastic, what we throw away is a waste of resources, materials, money and time. While going zero waste suddenly is a task, taking small steps to reduce waste is quite easy. Recycle when you can and take advantage of reusable containers. Opt for rechargeable batteries, reusable water bottles and shopping bags.

Grow your own produce

By growing fruits and vegetables in balconies and gardens, you can ensure that you are not using pesticides that contribute to water and air pollution. You don’t need acres of land, just a window box, corridor or corner of your yard can provide enough space to grow vegetables, fruits and edible herbs. This will also help reduce the use of plastic sheets and bags used to package food.

Use environment-friendly products

An important step towards living sustainably is committing to using green products such as bamboo toothbrushes and recycled cutlery every day. Choose to buy from local farmers’ markets and eco-friendly stores. When buying a new washing machine or refrigerator, look for the label to find the most efficient appliances.

Choose personal hygiene products wisely

Many personal care products such as toothpaste, face scrub and body wash may contain microbeads, which are small bits of solid plastic. These bits are non-biodegradable and make their way into water bodies, ultimately damaging the environment by entering the food chain. Make sure that your personal hygiene products do not contain microbeads by checking the ingredients before buying.

Taking these simple steps and adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle for yourself and your family is not only hugely important for the planet, but can also save on household bills. So choose wisely, choose green. |