Simple Ways to Build Sustainability Into Your Everyday Life (2024)

Summary.

The fight for protecting our planet is not going to be won alone. Organizations and policymakers aren’t the only ones responsible to bring about a change. It is crucial that individual choices get compounded over time into collective action if we are to see the change that we desire. If you are serious about sustainability, here’s how to implement solutions that are inexpensive, low-effort, and valuable.

• Start small: Question your consumption. What materials are your everyday items, like your toothbrush or wastebasket, made of? Opting for sustainably grown, durable products that can be recycled helps in reducing your carbon footprint.
• Make meaningful purchases: Pay attention to how your clothing items are produced. Organic cotton production, for instance, emits significantly less carbon than traditional cotton and improves farmers’ access to clean water and sanitation. Another option is to frequent thrift stores and boost the circular economy.
• Make wiser food choices: Non-consumed food accounts for 8% to 10% of global GHG emissions. To reduce food waste, you could organize potluck evenings or team lunches where colleagues are encouraged to get creative with their leftovers.
• Move around responsibly: Sharing rides, using public transport when possible, and living close enough to your place of work to walk or bike are all ways of contributing to lower emissions while cutting costs.