Sustainable, biodegradable, ethical, conscious, or eco-friendly products, clothing, businesses... We hear or read these words more than ever before, but it can get confusing, especially if all of this is new to you. Although this trend has been here for quite some time, it has evolved into a necessity in the past five years. As environmental pollution becomes an increasingly important issue, more and more people are looking for eco-friendly options for their lifestyles. If you want to join this sustainable revolution but are not sure how don’t worry; we get you.
Let’s start with the three main ‘R’s of sustainable living: REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE. These three words are essential to sustainable living, as they help us cut down on the waste we create daily.
- REDUCE is all about creating less waste and lowering the greenhouse gas emission footprint. You can start by buying more bulk products and choosing products with less or no packaging. Only buying what you need and consciously shopping for more quality products ethically sourced and produced will impact the market demand for some items. By unplugging all your devices when not in use and shopping for energy-efficient bulbs, you can reduce the demand for fossil fuels and, in turn, lowers carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
- REUSE looks at how you can use certain items repeatedly before replacing them. Ditching plastic bags, single-use cups, lids, straws, bottles, and the rest of the single-use plastic seriously impacts the amount of waits that ends up not only in landfills but also in the oceans. Invest in cute reusable bags and remember to bring them when shopping, choose reusable cups for your favorite coffee and refile your water bottle instead of buying more plastic. Think about how you can reuse the items you already have instead of throwing them right away and purchase new ones. Buy second-hand products and clothing, donate the outfits that outlived their purpose and try to restore the favorite ones, and give them new life.
- RECYCLE is putting old products to new use. Make sure you separate items that can be recycled and put the right materials in your recycling container. Paper, cardboard, metal cans, plastic bottles, and glass jars are some of the materials that can be recycled and repurposed, but always make sure recyclables are empty, clean, and dry. One dirty item can contaminate an entire truckload, or a single plastic bag can cause delays and damage the recycling equipment. Check-in with your local waste treatment facility and follow their guidelines so everything gets sorted correctly.