Tips for becoming eco-friendly and self-sustainable
We have been told for decades that we need to ‘be greener’. When the world stood still earlier this year, we were all given a wake-up call to the untold damage we were wreaking on mother nature. For the first time in centuries canals in Venice were clear, the Himalayas could be seen across India, and wildlife returned to reclaim their habitats.
But what exactly is sustainable living, and how can we make small changes in our daily lives that will have a massive impact on sustaining the planet?
What does being self-sustainable mean?
When we live in an eco-friendly and self-sustainable way we are thinking about our environmental impact and taking steps to actively reduce the negative impact we are having.
Environmental sustainability is one of the biggest issues faced by mankind. Natural resources are being over-exploited, and with a population boom, rising sea levels and uncertain crop yields, there really is no better time to start thinking about how you can start to live in a more self-sustainable way.
Become mindful of consumption
Fast-fashion has been the backbone of our society for over twenty years. We buy cheap and buy twice, leading to a market of mass production. In recent years, there has been a shift to more thrifty spending. Instead of buying the latest designs from high street favourites, we’re shopping in charity shops and online thrift sites like eBay and Depop.
Becoming mindful of where our clothes come from and curbing our desire to have new clothes every season will not only have a positive impact on the environment, but on our bank balance too.
Start recycling
In the UK household waste recycling rates have increased to 45.7%. Whilst this sounds impressive, there is still a long way to go. Plastic water bottles make up the majority of this figure. And making the simple switch to reusable water bottles will have an enormous impact including; decreasing the oil used in production and shipping, reducing the greenhouse gasses emitted, and limiting the environmental impact, particularly on marine life.
Investing in glass containers for food and cleaning products and heading to a local refill store is a great way to reduce waste, and your carbon footprint. Not only that, but you will be supporting a local independent business, and putting money back into your local economy.
Grow your own
During lock-down we all found we had more time to spend in our garden, and this new-found leisure time led to many of us discovering the joys of growing our own. Demand for fruit and vegetables seeds skyrocketed, and people rediscovered what chemical-free fresh food actually tastes like.
You can create your own vegetable patch no matter how big or small or your outside space. For larger spaces consider investing in a polytunnel to help protect your seeds during inclement weather. If you only have a balcony, there are plenty of herbs you can grow in pots too.
The key to sustainability is knowing that doing something is better than nothing.
