Sustainable living is the responsibility of all. Our current lifestyles of convenient shopping and shipping, running our energy and devices 24/7, and relying on single-use materials are detrimental to our environment’s health and future.
Saving the planet is too great a task for one person to take on alone. While most of us don’t have the time or means to live a completely sustainable lifestyle, we can make small changes every day to reduce our waste and mitigate our negative environmental impact.
We spoke with several companies to learn what simple practices we can implement to be more sustainable.
Shop Secondhand
The apparel industry contributes massively to pollution and waste. The production of clothes wastes water and leaks toxins into our earth and air. Discarded clothes and accessories end up in landfills.
Leo Livshetz, Founder and CEO of UnHide, describes how donating clothes and shopping secondhand reduces the apparel industry’s waste.
Livshetz states, “When we grow out of or grow tired of clothing items, we should give them a second life. Often, the clothes we toss are perfectly functional, and others would benefit from buying them at an affordable price. Thrift and consignment stores will upcycle our outdated wardrobe, and they’re an excellent source to build a new wardrobe. If we shop secondhand, we reduce the demand for the production of clothes, therefore reducing pollution and waste.”
Clothing production has another dark underbelly. Several companies outsource their production, and the people stitching our garments are underpaid and overworked.
Whenever possible, especially if you’re shopping firsthand, buy from sustainable brands. Research which brands produce locally, commit to ethical employee treatment and use low-impact materials. Earth.org has several blog posts discussing sustainable brands.
Shop Local
If we change our consumer habits, we can reduce our carbon footprint, encourage ethical production, and support our economy.
“When we shop locally, we support our small businesses, and fill our markets with high-quality, diverse products,” suggests Lori Price, Founder of PixieLane. “You can save on shipping costs and reduce the waste that comes with importing goods. Most of the money you spend buying local products stays in your community, and you help create jobs for community members.”
In addition to shopping locally, you can also be conscious of what products you’re buying.
Pay Attention to Labels
As a rule of thumb, the fewer ingredients in a product, the better it is for you. Many brands include unnecessary, harmful chemicals or irresponsibly-sourced ingredients in their products.
Zach Goldstein, CEO of Public Rec, explains how you can pay attention to labels to make environmentally friendly decisions as you shop.
Goldstein states, “There are several things to look out for when studying labels. First, see if the brand is certified Fair Trade. These products contain sustainably-sourced ingredients, and the people harvesting them receive fair wages. In food and cosmetic items, notice if the product contains palm oil. The harvesting of palm oil is a major contributor to deforestation and wildlife loss. Some brands are turning away from including palm oil altogether, and others are including responsibly-sourced palm oil. When purchasing sunscreen, check the label to see if the brand is reef-safe. By making more conscientious decisions as consumers, we can decrease our negative impact on the environment.”
Another way we can make our shopping more sustainable is by changing the materials that hold our products.
Reusable Bags and Materials
Instead of relying on paper and plastic bags stores provide, we can bring reusable bags everywhere we shop.
Sumeer Kaur, CEO of Lashkaraa, claims, “Many customers still rely on single-use plastic bags when we shop. These bags don’t decompose, so a material we use once will remain in our environment forever. Thankfully, there are reusable alternatives that keep the shopping experience convenient. In addition to using these bags, we can also avoid buying items with unnecessary packaging. Some grocery stores have turned away from tossable packaging altogether, offering customers the chance to refill products in glass and other sustainable containers. While this no-waste option isn’t possible for all of us, we can take the less-waste approach.”
We can carry our water and food in reusable containers, reducing our reliance on plastic. We can also decrease deforestation by moving away from paper towels and napkins and using reusable rags to clean.
Natural Cleaning Products
Many cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that damage our health and the environment.
Eric Elggren, Co-Founder of Andar, states, “Homemade cleaning products make the most of cheap, safe ingredients. Products like bicarbonate of soda and apple cider vinegar are versatile; they can kill bacteria and remove dirt and grime. Essential oils can lend a pleasant scent to any cleaning product. Unlike most cleaning products, these items are available in non-plastic, reusable containers. They’re helpful for those with sensitive skin, and they do not harm wildlife.”
For information on how to make cleaning products, you can visit Ethical.net.
Reduce Energy Use
When we use electricity, there’s an illusion that we’re not producing any pollution.
The reality is our electricity use generates greenhouse gas emissions and chemical waste. The EPA claims that we can mitigate the environmental impact of our electricity use by making energy-efficient decisions and, if possible, switching to green power.
“Ideally, we’d all be using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power,” says Karim Hachem, VP of eCommerce at Maxine of Hollywood. “However, there are other, smaller changes we can make for our daily lives to be more energy efficient. We can use LED light bulbs that use less energy. We can set our thermostat to avoid cooling or heating when unnecessary. To reduce our water use, we should only run our dishwashers when they’re full and cut down how much time we run water in the shower.”
Another way to limit your electricity consumption is by unplugging devices when you’re not using them.
Aside from our electricity use, our transportation methods are primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Public Transportation, Biking, Carpooling
Gasoline emits carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the atmosphere. In highly congested areas, massive amounts of vehicles have led to smog. People living in these areas experience lung problems and other health issues.
Ely Khakshouri, Founder and CEO of Retrospec, claims, “Almost all of us are commuters. We travel for work, errands, and trips. While it’s impossible to nix our transportation needs, we can minimize our impact. Whenever possible, we can use public transportation, carpool with others, bike, or walk. These options reduce emissions and save you money. You can also reduce emissions by keeping your car in good condition. When you properly inflate your tires and frequently smog your car, it’ll be a more efficient and cleaner form of transportation.”
We have the power to implement sustainable practices in our personal lives, and we can also encourage sustainability on a larger scale.
Use Your Vote
We will all move closer to sustainable lifestyles when we work together. We can use our votes to support environmentally-conscious legislation.
The Center for Biological Diversity claims our votes can fight climate change, protect wildlife, give access to public health services, and improve our education systems.
Jason Wong, CEO of Building Blocks, claims, “Our votes matter just as much as our daily decisions. While individuals and grassroots organizations can support the environment, government policies will ensure positive, systemic change. We can get to the foundation of harmful practices and uproot them. We can make it easier for people to make environmentally conscious choices because they’ll be choosing between sustainable options.”
None of us can solve an environmental crisis overnight. However, we can adopt simple, sustainable practices that profoundly impact our environment.