7 tips for living more sustainably

Text: Elana Jadallah

Being more aware of our impact on the planet doesn't have to be associated with wealth, instead, living sustainably can often honor our wallets while honoring the planet.
Many say they don’t make environmentally conscious decisions because they feel it’s too expensive/unattainable or they just don’t know where to start. Here are some ideas that don’t require any additional cost to make an impact:

1. Start with a waste analysis

An exercise I recommend everyone do is to look at the amount and most common type of waste you create. Count the number of single-use items you touch/use for one day. Keep track of it from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep. I bet you’ll be surprised! Find alternatives for the items you use the most.
One thing I found myself using all the time was packaged nut milk (for smoothies, coffee, etc.). For you, this could be something in your bathroom, plastic food packaging, or disposable coffee cups. Our lifestyles are different, but this exercise helps us be honest with ourselves and create a plan that is tailored to our own unique habits.
One book I also recommend checking out is How To Give Up Plastic (try to get it from your library or buy it second hand/locally)

2. Use what you have!

There is a big misconception surrounding the topic of ‘sustainability’ and that is that you have to ‘buy your way’ by buying a bunch of new, zero-waste tools right away. It is actually much more conscious to use WHAT YOU HAVE until the end of the item’s lifecycle and when you need to replenish, replace it with something sustainable, reusable or high quality that will last a lifetime.
Make it a habit to reuse and repurpose things you already have; look at your wardrobe, home decor and furniture. Think of ways to repurpose some of those items.
So before you buy something new, look at what you have. Chances are you have something that can be used in a new way, or at least used temporarily to accomplish a task or goal.

3. Buy less & better

In a world that revolves around consumption, simply buying less and better quality items is a far-reaching act.

4. Switch from plastic bottles to 1 reusable bottle.

Over a million plastic bottles are added to landfills EVERY MINUTE… That’s over 20,000 bottles every second.
Unfortunately, unless you know how to recycle and reuse plastic yourself, you don’t know where it goes or how it’s treated after you “throw it away.” In North America, it’s estimated that 70-75% of plastic beverage bottles sold aren’t recycled, meaning they end up in landfills and our oceans, lakes, and rivers due to improper waste management. What’s more, consuming beverages made from plastic is bad for your health – learn more about PFAs and plastic toxicity.
Opt for one of Klean Kanteen's non-toxic, reusable kegs (I especially love the ones made from 90% recycled stainless steel!) that feature interchangeable caps for different needs/uses.

5. Examine the way you eat

Something we do every day, multiple times a day, is eat. Where we get our food, how it got to our plates, and who grew it are things we are very disconnected from right now. Let’s change that. I highly recommend finding local allies who are growing, raising, and making food with intention, using sustainable and regenerative practices.

One of the best ways to do this is to find a local farmers market, butcher, fisherman, etc. to buy seasonal foods.
Reducing our consumption of commercially farmed produce is impactful and important, especially meat and fish. Find your local allies and support the people in our communities who need us.

6. Start composting

According to a report from the National Resources Defense Council, 40 percent of the food produced in the United States is never eaten, instead taking up more space in landfills every year.