Sustainability is a fundamental principle since protecting the planet implicitly means safeguarding human life and future generations. It also means that living standards worldwide can be improved, and people will be able to live healthier lives. However, when it comes to promoting environmentalist and eco-conscious choices, most people imagine significant upheaval and monumental changes. Yet the truth is that the most important changes you can make are relatively uncomplicated. Most importantly, you can start making them now, as they don’t necessitate anything other than your willingness and commitment to help the environment.
Efficiency
One of the most important aspects of becoming sustainable is learning to become more efficient. This includes all areas, from the energy you use to your home and working environment. For example, you can start by reducing the number of electronics and gadgets you buy. Don’t replace something just because a new model has become available. You should only seek a replacement if your current appliances are old and, by extension, energy guzzlers. In this case, you can switch them for the newer models.
If you can, you should seek to have the energy you consume derived from renewable sources. Solar panels are one of the most common options, with many households installing them on their rooftops for maximum power. However, if it makes more sense to install yours at ground-level, or have a mix of the two, don’t hesitate to do so.
Decluttering can also help. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you should become a minimalist, but reducing the number of things you own can be useful. Not only does it help the environment, but it also prevents you from having so many things that are wasting your space, time and energy. You don’t have to throw away the things you don’t need. Instead, you can simply donate them to benefit someone else. It’s also important that items that could still be used don’t end up in landfills, where they contribute to the already worrying levels of pollution and greenhouse gases.
Waste management
Recycling is one of the pillars of green living, alongside reducing the number of things you buy and reusing the ones you already have. When you recycle, you reduce the need for landfills and ensure a reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. There’s also a much smaller need for extracting and using natural resources. Not only do these actions deplete the environment at a much faster rate than it can recover, the processing methods are power-intensive and require a significant amount of energy.
If you’re a business owner, you should seek solutions for your business just as you search for options for your household. Balers and compactors are one of the ideal options, one of the best solutions for business-level waste management, as they are versatile and come with different functionality options that are perfectly customised for any enterprise. You can rent or hire the machines you need, depending on their size and capacity, to answer your particular needs. The process usually starts with a no-obligation site survey, after which an expert will advise you on the best machines you could pick. The service is flexible, including full installation, maintenance, as well as adequate health and safety documentation.
Transportation
While the amount of emissions a car is responsible for varies depending on the vehicle type, the fuel used and the number of miles travelled, research shows that the average automobile emits nearly five metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly. Planes are even bigger polluters, releasing roughly one hundred times more CO2 every hour compared to a bus or train. Global aviation produces approximately one billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, more than most countries.
These troubling statistics have led many climate activists to urge the general public to rethink how they travel. And this isn’t just about the means of transportation you choose when going on holiday; it also includes the ways in which you travel around your city each day. For example, if you are within a relatively small distance from your workplace, you can walk or bike there. You can choose public transit instead of your car if you need to commute. In each case, you contribute to reducing the carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
When journeying outside your country, you can limit the instances when you use a plane and rely on the bus or rail instead.
Reuse what you already own
There’s an almost endless variety of sustainable options to shop for, and while it’s good to opt for these products, it’s also noteworthy to remember that you shouldn’t shop for things you don’t need, regardless of what they are. That’s because these items will almost always end up in landfills instead of being used, where they contribute to increasing pollution levels.
For instance, a sizable portion of clothing is bought but remains unworn. Remember to browse through your wardrobe the next time it feels like you have nothing to wear. You might find some gems that you had completely forgotten about. If you absolutely have to shop for something new, try looking for it in secondhand or thrift stores since buying these pieces doesn’t come with an additional carbon footprint. And, of course, make sure to make the most of each garment you buy. Many clothes are discarded when still in mint condition and could still be worn for several years.
Remembering to get a reusable bag anytime you go grocery shopping is also important. Single-use plastics are particularly harmful to the environment, as they take a long time to disintegrate. Even then, they turn into microplastics, which can be especially hazardous to human health. But it’s still important to remember that you must use any bags you buy, even when they’re made from biodegradable materials such as hemp, jute or cotton. That’s because there’s a certain carbon footprint that comes with creating them as well. If you throw it without using it at least one hundred times, it isn’t sustainable.
When it comes to having a sustainable lifestyle, it might seem like you have to make large changes to have an impact. But when done consistently, small things become more important in the long run.
