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How to Begin Living a Sustainable Lifestyle

Posted by Billy Yeung on
How to Begin Living a Sustainable Lifestyle

If you are interested in leading a more sustainable lifestyle but aren’t sure where you should start, there are certain things you can implement on a step by step basis per day, week or month that can put you on the right path toward healthier living.

Reusable Shopping Bags

One of the easiest and first steps to take is begin taking reusable shopping bags with you on all your shopping trips. Doing so will cut down on the number of plastic bags that are being used.

Plastic bags are often not recycled and require a significant amount of petroleum to manufacture. Reusable shopping bags come in several styles, sizes, and designs and some stores even offer a cash incentive if you bring your own reusable bags.

Ditch the Plastic Water Bottles

Another step you can take toward sustainable living is to replace the hundreds of water bottles you may use each year with a reusable water bottle. They are also a much healthier choice when compared to plastic bottles because some plastic may contain Bisphenol A (BPA) and this has been proven to be harmful to your health.

Using reusable water bottles also cuts down on the waste that makes its way to the landfill. Did you know it takes up to 1000 years for one plastic water bottle to decompose?

Bring Your Own Cup to the Coffee Shop

In the same respect, you can also take your own reusable coffee cup to the coffee shop with you and opt out of using the disposable cups they typically offer. Taking your own cup can also save you money while helping the environment because again, many places offer discounts when you utilize your own reusable coffee cup.

Try Going Vegan

A more extreme way to practice sustainable living is by trying to go vegan- even if it is only for two to three days per week. A vegan diet is more sustainable than a non-vegan diet and plant-based eating is more efficient and clean.

Going vegan can help cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, decrease the cumulative energy demand, and help with land occupation without completely depleting our natural resources.

Bypass the Plastic Straws

Finally, one of the biggest ways you can begin living more sustainably is bypassing the plastic straws that are so prevalent everywhere we go. There are many plastic straws that are still being made with materials that can ultimately be toxic or carcinogenic, posing a significant risk to your health. 

Furthermore, plastic straws are difficult to recycle since they are so lightweight. They easily drop right through sorting screens and almost always end up resting in landfills.

Millions of plastic straws have even been found to make their way into the ocean, and since they are so small in size, aquatic animals can easily confuse the plastic for food which can cause them to choke and die.

It has been predicted that by the year 2050, the oceans will have more plastic in weight than actual fish.

So, bypassing plastic straws and utilizing a more environmentally friendly option, you are actively taking a role in sustainable living and helping the environment one straw and water bottle at a time.

 

 

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