Living sustainably can seem like a very daunting task. Going completely zero waste while living in modern society is nearly impossible without an entire lifestyle overhaul. On top of that, 71% of all pollution on the earth since 1988 is caused by only 100 companies according to the Carbon Major Report. Especially during a pandemic, when we're all using disposable PPE and cleaning supplies, it's very difficult to feel like we can truly have an impact. However, if we all take little steps towards a sustainable future, we can eventually push those 100 companies towards serving our interests and allowing future generations to have a healthier Earth to live on.
So I came up with a little challenge. Think of as many eco friendly and sustainable things you do regularly and write them down. Then come up with a few goals to help you be even more sustainable and write them down! You may find that you're actually doing more than you think 😉
I'll go first! Here are all the things that I could come up with that I do regularly to practice sustainability:
1. Living on my college campus and walking to class
2. Supporting sustainable skin/hair care brands (Krave beauty, Ethique, Lush)
3. Being intentional about the skincare/makeup products I buy by making sure they will actually add value to my routine and that I will use them up entirely before buying a replacement
4. Using reef safe, non nano mineral sunscreens
5. Using a plastic free shampoo bar
6. Using reusable cotton rounds for toner/makeup removal
7. Turning off the faucet while brushing my teeth
8. Turning off lights when I'm not using a room
9. Using energy saving bulbs in my lamp and using that in my dorm as my primary light source (as well as natural lighting from the windows) instead of the overhead lighting
10. Not idling my car (turning off the engine when waiting in line at the drive through or simply parking to do a pickup or dining in when there isn't a pandemic)
11. Getting food from the farmers market and local bakers (buying local and in season)
12. Prioritizing organically and locally grown food at the regular grocery store
13. Eating fewer snack foods that are packaged in plastic and opting for more fruits or fresh baked snacks
14. Consciously minimising food waste by being intentional about the food I buy and finishing my leftovers
15. Using reusable grocery bags
16. Using tupperwares and reusable silicone stasher bags instead of plastic ziplock
17. Saving old bread bags to store other foods in later
18. Recycling everything that can be recycled (and cleaning it first!)
19. Using old salsa jars as water glasses and to store food
20. Cooking my own meals instead of buying premade
21. Going meatless
22. Using reusable water bottles/mugs/smoothie bottles
23. Using reusable straws (even for boba!)
24. When at a restaurant, being sure to ask if they will be putting a straw in your drink and if they will, asking them to withhold it
25. When at a restaurant or cafe, asking for less or no ice in my drinks (surprisingly, ice takes up a huge amount of energy and it's mainly a US thing to have ice in our drinks all the time)
26. Taking my own reusable cutlery set everywhere to avoid using disposable plastic cutlery
27. Using bar soap instead of liquid hand soap to go plastic free
28. Eco friendly house and glass cleaners in reusable bottles with plastic free refills (Blueland)
29. Using reusable rags to clean surfaces instead of disposable wipes
30. Plastic free laundry detergent (Dropps)
31. Using reusable wool balls instead of disposable dryer sheets
32. Plastic free dishwasher detergent (Trader Joe's powder detergent in a cardboard box)
33. Using notebooks from previous classes for new classes up before buying new notebooks
34. Buying/renting used textbooks (to avoid having new ones printed) or ebook versions (for the same reason plus avoiding shipping)
35. Using recycled pens (made from plastic water bottles, Amazon) *yes, maybe pencils would be better but they contribute to deforestation so it's a tossup imo
36. Supporting sustainable clothing brands that use recycled fabric/recycled plastic as fabric, water saving methods, etc instead of "Fast fashion" brands (Manakai swimwear, Roxy)
37. Supporting environmental protection and cleanup organizations such as the National Parks Service and 4 Ocean
38. (At home, done by my family) using a low-flow toilet
39. (At home, done by my family) not using pesticides or herbicides in our yard/garden and only using natural fertilizers like tagro (and sparingly, to avoid lake eutrophication)
40. Taking the time to educate myself and others about environmental issues and steps we can all take towards sustainability
Improvements and future eco swaps I can make!
1. Eco friendly toilet paper (Who Gives A Crap recycled bamboo toilet paper) *I can't do it at my dorm, but maybe I can convince my family to get a bidet!
2. Eco friendly recycled bamboo paper towels (Who Gives A Crap), or cloth napkins
3. Asking cafes to make my drink in my reusable water bottle (at least once we're not in a pandemic)
4. Carpooling to the farmers market and local bakeries
5. Maybe getting a bicycle so that I can bike to the nearby grocery stores and my volunteer job instead of Ubering or taking a Zipcar
6. Using biodegradable trash bags instead of plastic ones
7. Using reusable/washable menstrual pads
8. Making my own salsa/guacamole to avoid more packaging
9. Unplugging electronics when they're fully charged and when I'm not using them or using a room (ex. Unplugging my lamp or pencil sharpener when they're not in use)
10. Participate in environmental protests, beach cleanups, or other local sustainability projects
Now it's your turn! How are you taking time to care for our lovely home? Make your own post or reblog with your list! 🌎🌱
