10 Ways How to Be More Sustainable

We get told that the world is in crisis a lot at the moment. That is because it is! For all of the climate change facts check out this well-written roundup.  I am going to walk you through 10 ways how to be more sustainable that will likely have an infinitesimal impact on the mammoth task of saving the planet. But, if we do nothing then we will never know if our combined energy could have made a difference. A change to our relationship with the planet at grassroots level will hopefully filter up to the people who can bring about real change in the choices they are making.  It is good to feel proactive and we actively seek out more sustainable suppliers and eco-friendly product ranges every day. We hope to steer the company towards a completely environmentally friendly future and will continue to be more socially responsible and champion suppliers who share our vision.  If you want to make a difference but are not sure where to start you can try these 10 suggestions. 

1. Energy Supply 

If you can switch to a renewable energy supply then you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Renewable energy companies use solar power, hydroelectricity, biogeneration and wind power to deliver you energy. This is clearly not a small move but it is the most impact you can have so is certainly worth costing up. 

2. Avoid using plastic 

This has had a lot of publicity so most people have taken some kind of plastic waste avoidance on board. Two great ways of ditching plastic we can think of are:

• Switch to a metal or glass sports bottle that won’t leach anything into your fluids and can be reused and refilled for years to come! 
• Stop using freezer bags and start using Beeswax food wrap for storing food. It is a reusable product that can be washed down unlike plastic bags

3. Turn things off

This might be difficult if you have teenagers at home but the act of turning lights off and electrical equipment, when they are not in use, can save you money and reduce your energy output. You can opt for timers or smart lighting that comes on and turns off when you walk in and out of a room. 

4. Use Rechargeable Batteries 

The amount of batteries that end up in landfill is significant. Rechargeable batteries can greatly reduce that waste. Make sure you always have some charged up in different sizes ready to go so you are not left without a remote for 24 hours while you wait for them to charge! 

5. Grow Your Own 

It is not possible for everyone to have room in their garden to grow veg or invest the required time and expense into an allotment. But, there are so many things you can grow easily in very little space. Tomatoes grow in a pot, lettuce can grow in a split bag of fertiliser. Here are ten other vegetables you can grow in a container:

• Beetroot
• Radish
• Potatoes
• Swiss chard
• Broad beans 
• Runner beans
• Carrots
• Chillies
• Salad onions 
• Peas

6. Eat Less Meat 

There are people that have changed their whole diet and switched to plant base but I cannot quite manage that. So instead, I substitute two meals a week, making sure they are all plant-based. I do cut meat consumption and look at other alternatives. If we all cut down we can seriously decrease our collective carbon footprint. 

7. Recycle Everything 

This is an area most people have been conscious of for a while now. Separating out your waste into different containers ensures we are not dumping as much in landfill sites that create a ton of C02 emissions. Composting food waste, recycling paper & plastics, re-using disposable items as much as we can, and creating new items out of old ones, are all methods for curtailing our disposable cultural habits. 

8. Switch to LED light bulbs

LED light bulbs last much longer and are more efficient than standard bulbs. The technology has won awards for its innovation and it is one of those no-brainer moves that everyone should embrace. It saves you money and saves the planet! 

9. Use Your Microwave 

Microwaves are very energy efficient and we often limit their use to specific food prep rather than embracing their full potential. Whipping up some steamed rice or an omelette is just the beginning of what microwave cooking can provide. We tend to look for recipes for conventional cooking methods so turn your attention to your microwave and see what you can create together! 

10. Plant Trees

This is a nice relaxing, feel good, activity. A stable and sustainable ecosystem needs trees. Planting trees will encourage the creation of micro-ecosystems that improve air quality. This is something that you can do in your garden or as part of a work project. Finding ways to extend our green spaces and plant more trees is a great use of your spare time.  Those are ten relatively simple options. How far you take them is up to you and of course, there is so much more you can be doing to reduce your carbon footprint and embrace an ecologically sustainable lifestyle. Let’s do our bit to try and save our planet in the small ways that we can.