We all know individuals cannot make change alone. Everyone says recycle, but with research showing that most plastic is just added to landfills, what more can we do? I have compiled a list of 10 things that can help you be more sustainable in your everyday life that don’t involve buying anything new! This is just a jumping off point so remember, do what you can but to make even bigger changes, reach out to your local politicians and demand for more environmental protections!
With that being said, here are ten ways you can be more sustainable that aren’t just recycling:
- Delete emails and unsubscribe. The energy it takes for those emails to be stored is a huge use of energy that people do not think about! Keep your emails cleaned up and unsubscribe from things you don’t want anymore.
- Keep metal utensils and Tupperware in your car for take out- don’t buy new ones, just use some of what’s in your kitchen wrapped in a kitchen towel!
- Clothing swaps! Keep your closet interesting with new pieces from friends or family
- Mend and fix things rather than throwing them out to buy new.
- Freeze food that may be getting close to its end date instead of letting it go bad and throwing it out
- Pick up litter on your walks- keep gardening gloves or a trash grabber and an easy to clean reusable bag in your car for the next walk or hike
- Convert to solid toothpaste tabs and solid soaps (once you use what you have! Never throw away what you have to make room for something “more” sustainable, that in itself is unsustainable)
- If you need to buy something, look to secondhand websites that are local like Facebook marketplace or Nextdoor
- Make ecobricks out of soft plastic waste
- Be conscious of your carbon footprint: are there ways to use less water? Rideshare? Shop local farms? Get creative!