12 Eco-friendly Habits for a More Sustainable Life
Our planet and environment are threatened by the rapid growth of population and unsustainable
consumption patterns. The key to a sustainable future is in our hands, but it will take time
for us all to make changes that are necessary on an individual level before we can see any
real change at large scale levels. One of the most important things you can do
for our environment is to live a more sustainable and eco-friendly life. You don’t have to
be an expert on living a green lifestyle, but there are some simple habits that anyone
can incorporate into their daily routine. These 12 eco-friendly habits will not only
make your life more sustainable and healthy, but they’ll also help keep the earth clean!
1. Reduce food waste and compost waste that you can not avoid
Food waste is one of the biggest problems when it comes to sustainability.
According to the USDA, Americans throw away an estimated 30% to 40% of the food supply
at retail and consumer levels. Food waste is costly in many ways. In addition to wasting
money, it wastes the resources used to produce and transport food: land, water, labor, and
energy. When you throw away food, it ends up in a
landfill where the decomposition process releases methane gas into our atmosphere and contributes
significantly to global warming. Composting is one of many ways that we can
reduce this problem by turning your organic waste (food scraps) back onto earth as fertilizer
for plants! You’ll be able to use compost on everything from houseplants or vegetable
gardens at home, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused through landfills across
America every year with just an hour’s worth of work per weekend day spent doing so! It
doesn’t take much effort but will make such a big difference when done consistently over
time – plus, there are some great benefits: better soil quality, healthier crops, and
nicer gardens. 2. Wash clothes in cold water and don’t
use a drier Wash clothes in cold water and hang them to
dry instead of using the drier. This will save on energy costs, reduce your carbon footprint
by not heating a whole house for just one load! It also saves money because you don’t
need as many loads if they are all washed together at once rather than every day or
two as most people do nowadays. And it’s better environmentally too, since less heat
means fewer greenhouse gases emitted into our atmosphere from power plants that produce
electricity used during drying cycles (and we know how important those emissions can
be!) Plus, there is no risk with mold growth when hanging them outside, which happens often
enough inside due to time constraints, such things being done daily) so this does make
sense economically AND environmentally. 3. Replace plastic containers for food storage
Replace the plastic with biodegradable containers for food storage like glass, stainless steel,
or ceramic containers. These are better than plastics because they don’t leach chemicals
into the foods and liquids stored inside them, then seep out when heated up in microwaves
(and we all know how often those things get used!) Plus, these materials will break down
over time, so there is no need to worry about toxic substances building up on your plates!
And if you’re really worried that it might not be safe enough, make sure any container
has a tight seal around its edges by using silicone seals as well – this way, nothing
leaks from within while still being able to use the microwave safely without worrying
too much of what’s going onto our plate. 4. Reduce the use of single-use plastics
Bring your reusable water bottle to fill up at the office or school’s drinking fountain
instead of buying a plastic one every day. This will save you money besides being more
eco-friendly! -Use cloth napkins and towels for drying hands, dishes, etc., rather than
paper ones which are often thrown away after one use (and usually end on landfills). These
can be washed over time, so they’re always ready when needed without having any waste
involved whatsoever! Plus, these materials dry quicker, too, because there is no need
to wait around while waiting for them to air out before using again as some disposable
products do. Another eco-friendly habit is using reusable
shopping bags instead of plastic ones from supermarkets. Plastic grocery store bag use
has increased dramatically over time because it is so cheap compared to other materials
such as paper (which would cost more). This means a lot fewer trees will needlessly die
because we’ve stopped buying their product while still getting what’s needed: groceries
wrapped up nicely into one convenient package on our doorstep every week.
5. Avoid using harmful chemicals to “clean” your home.
Start by switching from chemical cleaners such as bleach or ammonia into natural ones
made specifically designed to clean and disinfect surfaces. Chemical cleaners contain many harmful
substances that can harm your health and the environment.
Natural cleaners are made with ingredients that can be found in your kitchens, such as
lemon juice or vinegar to clean surfaces like counters; baking soda for scrubbing ovens;
white distilled vinegars mixed of different strengths (such a half-vinegar/half water)
is perfect when you need something more powerful than just soap but not too strong either.
These natural products have been used by people worldwide without any harmful effects on their
homes! Plus, they’re also safe around pets, which means no worries about them getting
into it while cleaning up after themselves outside!
Natural disinfectants include essential oils – these work great because there are so
many varieties available, from lavender oil being calming yet antibacterial to other essential
oils with many benefits for cleaning your home and for your health.
6. Avoid using toxic beauty products. This includes anything from shampoo to toothpaste.
Many beauty products can contain toxic ingredients like parabens, which have been linked to cancer.
Natural beauty products are better for your health but also the environment – they’re
made with ingredients that can be found in nature and don’t contain any toxic chemicals
or artificial fragrances! The best thing you can do is make your products at home, which
will be cheaper and healthier for the environment too!
7. Buy used clothes Fashion is an industry in which capital, energy,
and other natural resources are required to produce one article – the aftermath of these
processes can be seen as environmental pollution that menaces our planet’s delicate ecosystem!
Thrift shops or resale websites offer a great way for you to save money and help reduce
many resources by reusing clothes – when we reuse clothing, it helps preserve them
too! When people buy used items, they’re saving on production costs because there isn’t
any need to create new materials from scratch; this means less waste generated during the
manufacturing process, so more goods get recycled into products again without being thrown away
first. This will result in lower carbon emissions due to reduced transportation needs since
fewer raw materials have had their journey started.
8. Recycle, recycle and recycle The most important eco-friendly habit of all
– recycling! This one seems like a no-brainer, but it’s so easy not everyone does their
part in keeping our planet clean. It only takes an extra few minutes every day or week
(depending on how often) that could save us years down the road when we’re running out
of space because more people are living here than ever before with less room leftover as
well… Please recycle everything possible: bottles,
cans/cans, tabs /plastic containers, etc., newspapers & magazines; cardboard boxes…
9. Start a garden without chemical fertilizers and pesticides
Gardening is one of the best eco-friendly habits you can have. It’s a great way to
get your hands dirty and enjoy the outdoors while making sure you’re eating fresh, healthy
food. Growing vegetables is one of my favorite ways
because it doesn’t require much space at all – even in an apartment or small backyard!
You’ll be surprised how quickly they grow when given just enough water & sunlight.
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are responsible for many environmental issues like water pollution
and greenhouse gas emissions. Organic fertilizers are made from natural
sources like compost, manure, and plant material. They provide nutrients to the soil for a healthier
garden that’s better able to resist pests naturally.
Start composting organic waste from kitchen scraps like vegetable peels /fruit rinds/coffee
grounds, eggshells, tea bags (if not using paper filters) to make rich soil for plants
that need more nutrients than what store-bought fertilizers provide! Compost also helps reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane produced during decomposition, which would
otherwise accentuate global warming. Organic pesticides can be used in place of
chemical ones as well, but they’re more expensive, so it may not always work out financially,
but you’ll have peace of mind knowing your food is safe! And if all else fails, there
will still likely some organic produce at local farmer markets or grocery stores even
though these days most everything has been grown with chemicals, too 🙁 …so do what
we say, don’t just take our word on this one! 🙂 ….and remember: “An ounce (or
two) o’ prevention saves pounds!” ;). 10. Walk or bike instead of driving.
There’s a crippling consequence related to personal carbon footprints – it takes
up tremendous amounts of natural resources and pollutes the environment. If you want
to live more sustainably, you need to reduce your environmental impact by reducing your
vehicle usage and taking public transportation or walking/biking whenever possible. In addition
to the environmental benefits, walking or biking to work is a great form of exercise.
The average American spends over half an hour each day commuting to and from their job,
which means that they spend about ten hours per week in the car! This can be reduced by
walking or biking instead – it’s good for your health (and you might even lose weight!)
as well as having less impact on our environment than driving does. It also saves money because
gas prices are high these days! 11. Preserve the most precious resource…water
Water is the most precious resource on the planet. Did you know that it takes about 2500
gallons of water to produce one hamburger? That’s a lot!
The average American uses around 100-150 liters (or 25,000 – 37 500 ounces) per day for
drinking and cooking purposes alone. This is an enormous amount compared with other
countries in which people use as little as 20% or less than what we do here!
Preserving water became a necessity, especially with the water scarcity in California and
other parts of the world. Here are some ways to conserve water:
– Turn off your faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving (or use a low-flow showerhead).
This can save up about 20 gallons per day! This is equivalent to what it takes for two
loads in an average washing machine! You will also be saving money on utility bills.
– Install water-saving showerheads Showers, though necessary, waste so much water.
Install a low-flow showerhead to cut down on the water used.
Install a rain barrel Rain barrels are an excellent way of conserving
and reusing your precious natural resources, especially in areas where it is not uncommon
for them to be scarce or even nonexistent! Rainwater can also help you save money by
reducing how much electricity is needed from other sources like gas-powered pumps that
would otherwise have been necessary. Installing one will allow homeowners with gardens (or
those who want their lawns watered) access more than enough fresh drinking quality H20
without having any adverse effects! It’s important, though, when installing these containers
– make sure they’re installed properly so as no leaks occur, which could lead up
costing hundreds if left unchecked over time. 12. Keep an eye on your energy consumption
in the home Reducing energy use in the home is one of
the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Use energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances
in the home, turn down your refrigerator and your thermostat, install a programmable thermostat
to automatically adjust the temperature in your home when you’re not there or asleep,
and set it so that temperatures are lower during peak hours of electricity usage (between
noon-midnight). Use power strips with on/off switches for all electronics – this will
help reduce phantom loads, which can account for as much as 20%+of total household electric
consumption! Unplug appliances like televisions at night if they aren’t being used; even
small things such as light bulbs left plugged into an outlet add unnecessary strain onto
our electrical grid. If possible, install solar panels: these renewable sources produce
no emissions while providing clean H20! And lastly, make sure any new appliance is Energy
Star rated before purchasing them.