Funstainable 101: A beginner's guide to sustainability!

Climate change has been a popular topic recently, and it is threatening our future. Every day, we do activities and make decisions that impact our environment, other living things, and the climate in one way or another. It’s possible that some people are not aware of that, but it's the reality. If we don't act quickly, we may reach a point where we can't go back.

So what can we do? It’s not very hard but worth trying, just simply changing our lifestyle to be more sustainable.

What is sustainable living?

Simply described, it is a way of living limiting consumption of earth's natural resources to reduce carbon footprint and save future generations. It could also mean replacing the resources we've spent and reducing waste. In more simple words, it’s living in a way that won’t kill or damage our planet.

Why is it important to live with sustainable lifestyle?

Living a sustainable lifestyle helps the planet's health and the health of all living things on it. Less pollution, less greenhouse gas emissions, less waste, healthier oceans and forests, and so much more can all be attributed to a sustainable lifestyle. Furthermore, as more people make the transition to sustainable living, more businesses work harder to adopt sustainable manufacturing methods, and more policymakers promote better environmental practices.

What can you to do live sustainably?

Once again, everything we do impacts the environment.It is now up to us to decide whether or not we wish to help plants and wild creatures by changing some of our behaviours. Living more sustainably may appear overwhelming at first, but it isn't that difficult. While significant changes may be beyond our control, we can still reduce our environmental impact by making minor changes.

It's easier to reduce your trash and reduce your environmental effect at home. However, it may appear complicated at first because it is also where you will be making the most adjustments. Don't let this put you off. Examine your home in sections; you have a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, a living area, and so on. Then pick one sector to work on first and begin changing items one by one.

On the kitchen section, for example, tea towels and cloth napkins can be used instead of paper towels and napkins. Reusable food wraps can also be used to replace foil and clingfilm. When you go shopping, bring your own canvas bags that can used repeatedly. Invest in a stainless-steel set if you don't have any Tupperware, but if you already have any plastic boxes, don't throw them away; use them until they break.

On the bathroom, switch to soap and shampoo bars for your hands, body, and hair, . Purchase a reusable safety razor; the blades are recyclable and significantly less expensive than single-use plastic razors. You can also use a bamboo toothbrush instead of a regular one.

The essentials listed here will vary depending on what you need on a regular basis. Before you buy something, think about whether you actually need it or if it's just something you want. You don't need a reusable coffee cup if you only drink coffee or tea once in a while. If you want a drink, though, simply pour it into a glass or mug.

Remember that no one is perfect, so don't be too hard on yourself if you use a plastic bag or a single-use cup by accident. It occurs to the most well-intentioned of us. And, at the end of the day, it's the desire to do better next time that counts!

Source:

Brown, Daria. “The Ultimate Beginner's Guide toSustainable Living”. SWAAY. November17, 2020

Jennings, Laurie. “A Foolproof Guide to SustainableLiving”. Good Housekeeping Institute.April 5, 2021

Reader, Sam. “Sustainability in Your Day to Day Life —A beginners guide to sustainable living”. WONDR.July 20, 2018

“Sustainable Living for Beginners – A Starter Guide”. Learner Vegan. October 18, 2019

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