Simple Ways To Start Your Sustainability Journey

Just like any other journey in life, your sustainability journey should be a personal one. Since even the smallest actions amount to significant steps in the right direction, there’s no right or wrong way to start living an eco-friendly lifestyle!

Being more mindful of your daily actions will reduce your carbon footprint while inspiring those around you to do the same. And in return, we’ll have a much healthier and happier planet!

Conscious living doesn’t have to be as complicated as it might seem. Any new journey feels overwhelming at first, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to be perfect. 

Start where you are, do your best, and over time, conscious living will become your new normal. Here are a few simple ways that you can get started on your sustainability journey!

Opt-Out of Single-Use Plastic

Start with the basics and do your best to stop using all single-use plastics. It sounds easy at first, but there’s plastic all around us, even if we don’t always notice it. There are plastic bags at the grocery store, water bottles at the fitness center, cups at the coffee shops, utensils in the takeout bag, and the list goes on! 

Opting out of single-use plastic is as easy as bringing your own cups, utensils, and bags wherever you go. Since single-use plastic is a convenient way to travel, keep a stash of reusables in your car so you’ll never have to say yes to plastic ever again! 

There are eco-friendly swaps for just about every kind of conventional plastic product that you can think of. For reference, if you bring your own reusable coffee mug to work each day, you can reduce your carbon footprint by roughly 80-120kg of CO2 per year. We mentioned that small actions make big differences; now you know what we mean!

Eat Consciously

Your diet should always reflect the foods that make you feel your happiest and your healthiest. To no surprise, the way that we eat has a lot to do with how high or low our individual carbon footprint is since the food industry is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. 

Reducing your intake of meat and dairy products is a great way to eat with the planet in mind. Swapping out animal protein with vegetable protein might be the best way you can help our planet since animal agriculture produces more CO2 emissions than the entire transport industry! 

Look For Biodegradable Products

Since the green movement is well on its way to becoming the new standard, it’s fairly easy to find biodegradable products at your local grocery or convenience stores! If there’s an option between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable, always choose the one that’s made from natural materials or ingredients and will eventually return to the earth.

Biodegradable products take some of the pressure off of our landfills and reduce the amount of waste that each of us produce. Say you’re shopping for a new dish sponge; make sure to grab the one that’s made of coconut, hemp, recycled materials, or bamboo so that your dishes don’t contribute to any pollution or toxic waste!

Choose Sustainable Clothing Brands

Fashion used to be the most difficult industry to navigate when the majority of brands had enormous carbon footprints, lacked ethics, and contributed to the rise of fast fashion. Now, you can find sustainable clothing options through medium-size retailers or small businesses themselves! 

Not only are sustainable and natural fibers better for the environment, but they’re also easier on your skin. Slow fashion has a set of core values that focuses on ethical production, sustainable methods, and high-quality materials that will last. 

At the end of the day, sustainable clothes are meant to last years, which is just one reason why it’s the most planet-friendly way to shop! You can reduce your waste by extending the life of your wardrobe, save money in your bank account, and feel good about your purchase. 

Starting your eco-friendly journey can be big, small, or somewhere in between; it’s all up to you and your circumstances. As long as you’re taking steps in the direction of a healthier planet, you’re doing your part to impact and support the green movement!