Sustainable Living: 6 Easy Ways to Maintain it Without Affecting Your Life

Sustainable living is the new dope. Activists talk about sustainability as the present generation’s responsibility to use natural resources in a way that they are available for the coming generations.

The whole concept arises from our over-dependence on non-renewable energy resources: fossil fuels. If we consume it all, what resources our coming generations will feed on?

When we discuss sustainability the term carbon emission/footprint pop-ups. It refers to the number of harmful greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere. Sustainable living is indirectly proportional to carbon emissions.

We need to change our approach to make sustainability a reality. Do you wonder how? Let’s ponder over 6 easy ways to achieve it.

Table of Contents

• Practice Repair Over Replacement
• Prefer Quality Over Quantity
• Practice Sharing/ Renting/ Second-hand Purchase Over Fresh Buying
• Go Organic
• Do Your Research
• Think Long Before Making Buying Decisions
• Conclusion

Practice Repair Over Replacement

The first step to sustainable living is to reduce consumption. Ensure reducing waste and promoting recycling. Often, we buy new products when the old ones can be repaired and reused. This adds to the massive carbon emission of the ecosystem.

Before purchasing any product, think twice. Do you need to buy the product or do you like the idea of buying something new?

Try buying stuff that makes your life easy and not abundant.

Prefer Quality Over Quantity

Have you ever noticed that some clothes bleed color more than others?

Have you ever compared the price of these items with the rest?

Generally, cheaper clothing uses low-quality raw materials including dyes. They bleed out every time you wash your clothes. This leads to their early wearing out and rejection.

This is an important disadvantage for the environment. It leads to water pollution as well as toxic health effects on the workers.

Practice Sharing/ Renting/ Second-hand Purchase Over Fresh Buying

Money is an illusion.

When we have plenty, we tend to overspend on the things we do not need. When the idea of sustainability kicks in, we realize there is more to life.

The concept of rented furniture and other home utilities is a perfect example. Often, home products or specific pieces of clothing are used sparingly. Renting out such items can be a great saving trick along with leaving fewer carbon footprints.

The concept of buying pre-owned books is historical. You can now buy pre-owned clothes too. If that idea doesn’t charm you due to hygienic issues, you can share these items in a closed group. My sister and I always share our shoes. It adds to the variety too.

Go Organic

Organic products are considered less damaging to our environment. For instance, organic food is free from any chemical pesticides or fertilizers that are harmful to soil and aquatic system health. 

Although they are a bit more expensive than their alternatives, their benefits outweigh the cost. Their chemical-free nature ensures better absorption of nutrients and antioxidants.

Do Your Research

Make sure you research well before buying any product if protecting our environment is your motto.

With increasing awareness, corporate sectors have come forward to contribute their 2 cents to the environment. Some companies like Mama Earth plant trees for every purchase you make.

Companies like Procter and Gamble donate a fixed amount when you buy their products. Companies like Marico, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Bisleri offer buyback of used product bottles in Maharashtra.

I prefer to buy these products and feel good about my participation in sustainability without lifting an extra finger.

Think Long Before Making Buying Decisions

Buying decisions should be based on long-term utility and not short-term pleasures.

My father had to buy a new phone last August. He insisted on buying a 5 G-enabled phone even when it wasn’t launched in India. He usually uses a phone for 3-4 years. He avoided wasting a perfectly operating phone just to switch to high-speed internet.

While making a buying decision, think about your longer-term needs. For instance, a 128 GB mobile may seem great for you now, but not 2 years from today. You will be forced to buy a new phone when hanging issues start to pop up due to storage limitations.

Wouldn’t it be better to shell out an extra thousand bucks now than spend tens of thousands on a new phone later?

Conclusion

You don’t have to make big changes to do good. A small step goes a long way.

Sustainable living is a pressing priority to ensure essential resources don’t outrun us and our coming generations. Achieving a carbon-neutral approach may seem a mammoth task given white-collar meetings taking place all over the world. In reality, it is achievable by bringing minor changes to our lifestyle.

Go Sustainable!

To keep reading more of such tips and tricks, click here.