Do you feel as though you aren’t living as sustainably as you could be? If so then now is the time for you to make a change about that. This guide will show you how you can benefit yourself and others while ensuring that your children have a better world to grow up in.
Think Twice
One of the first things you need to do is think twice before you go shopping. Every product that you buy will have a huge impact on the environment. From the materials that were used to create it to the pollution of transport and more. Even if you recycle or compost a product when it is at the end of its life, the damage has been done here. One of the best things you can do here would be for you to ask yourself if you truly need the product. If you do then it could be worth trying to buy it secondhand so you know that you are causing less environmental impact. You might also want to look for products that don’t have as high of an environmental impact. Products that have minimal packaging or that are closer to you in terms of shipping will help a lot, so try and keep that in mind.
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Ditch Plastic
Another thing you need to do is ditch the plastic. You need to swap to reusable materials if you can. The main reason for this is that 14 tonnes of it end up in the ocean every single year. This means that sea turtles and birds are continually being exposed to it, but in reality, you can do something about this. You can easily start to cut down on the amount of plastic you are using and you can also make the effort to swap to reusable products at every opportunity. If you can do this then you will notice that you are making a huge difference to the environment which is huge, to say the least.
Take Public Transport
Another thing you can try and do is take public transport. The great thing about public transport is that you can go anywhere you want, and you don’t usually have to wait long for it either. If you want to help yourself here then it may benefit you to get a bus pass or for you to see if you can get a yearly train pass. The main benefit of doing this is that it will significantly cut down on the amount of fuel emissions you create, which is great, to say the least. If you want to make a change without giving up your car then another thing you can do is look into the idea of getting an electric vehicle. If you have a family then an electric SUV. When you do, you will soon find that it is easier for you to not only get the result you need but to also make a big difference to the environment.
Go Organic
It’s also a good idea for you to try and go organic if you can. Choosing organic food is always a good thing and it helps to reduce the impact on wildlife and the planet. Of course, 2 billion pounds of herbicides and pesticides are sold every year in the US, so if you can cut down on the amount that you are responsible for then this will help you quite a lot. You also need to take the time to make sure that you are building a wildlife habitat in your garden. If you can do this then you will be able to offer wildlife a sanctuary when their habitats are being torn down and you can also make sure that you are giving them a home when the cold weather hits. Of course, another thing you can do is try and grow your fruit or veg. If you do this then you will be able to keep pesticides out of your system while reducing your reliance on commercial agriculture.
Ditch Fashion
It’s also so important for you to ditch any animal-based textiles. If you don’t then you will soon find that you are contributing to the climate crisis. Animal-based textiles are responsible for up to 10% of emissions and they also contribute quite significantly to water pollution too. If you can, slow down your impact here by wearing and washing your clothes less. You may also want to try and reduce your impact on deforestation by avoiding animal products in general. Widespread habitat loss is often caused by things like this and it can also harm wildlife. Shop second-hand products if you can or even join a group where you have the chance to swap clothes with other people. If you can do this then you will notice a huge improvement in how sustainable you are overall.
Watch your Water
Water conservation is so important. Growing populations are putting more of a demand on the water sources in the country and as a result of this, the country is facing even more drought. If you want to help yourself then try and take shorter showers and make sure that you are choosing a low-flow showerhead where possible. You also need to consider treating your yard. Xeriscaping is a new trend and it involves using drought-adapted plants that do not require as much water. This means you can use less water when keeping your garden going so you can get all of the plants you want without having to put the environment at risk. A lot of bees also like these plants, and so do birds, so you know you can do your bit to help them to thrive as much as possible. If you can keep this in mind then you will notice a huge improvement overall so keep that in mind.
Why don’t you see if you can make a change today, by doing your bit for the environment? It’s never been easier to make a difference.