8 Ways to Live Sustainably
“THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR PLANET IS THE BELIEF THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL SAVE IT.”
– ROBERT SWAN, AUTHOR
I am by no means an expert on sustainable living. But what I am is a regular joe living a regular life like many of you, just trying to do my best to make better decisions. I think we all have so much room to grow. Trust me, I don’t reserve any time for shame on this journey and I don’t think you should either. I do, however, love to share what I am learning and the incredible resources I have found along the way!
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT LOWERING YOUR IMPACT ON THE PLANET ISN’T ABOUT BEING PERFECT, IT’S JUST ABOUT TAKING ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME
1. USE WHAT YOU HAVE
Take care of your stuff! In this world where we treat most objects as disposable, Jon and I have this motto that we have started using regularly: “start with what you have”. Before you decide you want or need a new pair of pants, kitchen utensil, piece of furniture, etc. assess the things you already have in your home. How can you repurpose or update things you already own to consume a little less? Do you have things in your home or in storage that you haven’t gone through in a while? Do you take good care of the clothes and items you already own so they last a bit longer?
2. DONATE
Instead of just tossing things you no longer want or think aren’t useful, try sorting out the things you may be able to donate first! It may take a bit more time, but some of the things you think are junk could actually benefit someone else a lot. You never know where people are at or what their needs may be, and donation centers are great at deciding what may or may not be useful to someone. It’s a great way to limit waste!
Did you know that Goodwill has programs serving FOURTEEN countries? When you donate to them you are donating to a cause that goes well beyond resale. You can learn more on their website: https://www.goodwill.org/
3. RECYCLE & COMPOST
I don’t know what your system is for recycling, but in Grand Rapids, MI our recycling is FREE. That encourages us to recycle more than we are throwing away. Sure, it takes a bit more thought in the moment (and you have to know what you can and can’t recycle) but when you’re in the habit of recycling it starts to happen a lot more naturally! Also, composting is a great way to reuse your veggie scraps and coffee grounds. You can even compost in small spaces, so if you live in an apartment you can check out products like this Kitchen Compost Bin that you can keep right in your kitchen (and that’s made out of bamboo which is a great renewable resource!)
Check out this Tok Tok video from @her.atlas on how they sort their waste and recycling in Japan!
4. THRIFT, RESALE & REUSE
I know I know, some people are uncomfortable with reusing something that someone else has user/worn/etc. but hear me out. Shopping resale is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to reduce both your carbon footprint and limit your spending on unethical goods. Also I have to say, some of my favorite pieces of clothing are from resale shops. I have a sweater that was at least 15 years old when I bought it (for $1) and I have had it for 10 years now. What does that say about how they used to make clothes?
Here is a photo of my 25 year old sweater (and my BFF Emily)… I am telling you, some of my most beloved clothing items were found at the Salvation Army
4. SHOP LOCAL
Choosing to buy from local makers, shops and manufacturers is a great way to know you are getting something that was created ethically by people in your own community. I am sure you know this, but it’s great to reiterate how much it gives back to your local economy. It’s also a great way to get to know the people behind your products. This is especially great with food: shopping at your local farmers market not only supports small farms, but it also reduces a TON of shipping and packaging waste! Also, farmers markets and farm shares can be a really cost effective option as well.
5. DO A LITTLE RESEARCH
I do realize that sustainable living can be an overwhelming rabbit hole, BUT there are a ton of great resources out there that do some of the heavy lifting for you. I mean look, I am sharing this with you even now! Sometimes a simple google search reveals a lot more than you may expect, but for some more insight, here is a list of some good resources as well:
To search for fair trade companies: https://www.fairtradecertified.org/
A great resource for sustainable fashion and lifestyle content: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/
Also check out my blog post on sustainable and ethical goods: https://rosecolor.co/designjournal/ethical-and-sustainable-but-make-it-fashion
6. BORROW & SWAP
Let’s be honest, a lot of times we just want to own our own stuff and I get that. But what about that giant suitcase that you needed for ONE trip? Or the hiking gear you needed for two hikes? Or the tent you bought when you only take one camping trip a year? Or the power tools you needed for one week on a home project? We live in such an individualist society that I think we feel the need to be self sufficient in these situations but hey… what’s the harm in borrowing from your friends or community? Also holding things like clothes swaps can save you a trip to Goodwill AND you could end up with that cute shirt your roommate has that you have been eyeing.
Check out this article from Oprah.com on how to host a clothing swap.
8. THINK ABOUT PLASTIC
Okay this one may sound a bit overwhelming, but we have already come a long way from where we once were as a society #SaveTheTurtles. My biggest tip is to do one thing at a time:
Take a silicone or metal straw with you when you go out (if you feel the need to drink out of a straw like me haha)
Switch over to taking reusable cups with you when you get “to-go” drinks, start taking your own bags with you to the grocery store (or better yet… the farmers market) to avoid using plastic bags
Purchase a few reusable ziplock bags or glass containers for food storage
Switch to using compostable trash bags, avoid using disposable cups, silverware and plates (remember when we used to use REAL dishes on picnics and at parties? Wild)
Take a water bottle with you when you travel rather than buying bottled water
Shop bulk items (foods, toiletries, cleaners, etc.) whenever possible and use your own containers and bags.
As a list this can be overwhelming, but if you take it one change at a time it is totally doable!
Here are some great companies and products that can help make living sustainably a more beautiful, creative and simple journey:
The Final Straw - Reusable, collapsable straws
Net Zero Co - Food storage, home and MANY more products
Hydroflask - Metal water bottles…
Bamboozle - Bamboo products! So cool
Litterless - A guide for zero waste grocery shopping!