As the number of yearly wildfires and floods increases and the average global temperature rises, it’s clear that it’s essential to live a minimalist and eco-friendly lifestyle. By lowering our carbon footprint and choosing more sustainable options, we give our future generations a better chance for a healthier future.
With so many sustainable options on the market, living an environmentally conscious lifestyle is much easier than it used to be. There are also many added benefits to a minimalist and eco-friendly lifestyle:
- More space: When you live in excess, owning items you don’t need, your life is full of clutter, and you don’t have room for all your extra stuff. With a sustainable lifestyle, you’ll find that you have more space in your home.
- Easier to manage: It’s simple! A home with less clutter is easier to manage. You’ll feel less anxious and stressed when you don’t have to worry about where to throw your single-use plastic items.
- Looks: A less busy and more eco-friendly home is certainly more aesthetically pleasing than an overcrowded home full of hard to recycle stuff.
Here are some tips that may help you reduce your environmental impact:
1. Buy Sustainable Furniture
Avoid mass-produced products the next time you purchase furniture for your home. The manufacturing process of mainstream furniture usually wastes a lot of energy and has a significant carbon footprint. Additionally, some companies use chemicals that are toxic to the environment.
Try more sustainable options like high-quality wood furniture. For example, handcrafted solid wood dining room tablescost less energy to make than some mass-market furniture. And while mainstream furniture only lasts a few years, solid wood furniture lasts a lifetime with proper care and can be handed down to future generations in your family. For an even more sustainable option, you can try reclaimed wood furniture.
2. Walk More
Instead of taking your car to the local grocery store, try cycling or walking. Not only is such physical activity good for your mental and physical health, but it reduces your carbon footprint. And the next time you buy a car, consider purchasing an environmentally friendly vehicle.
Depending on where you live, your government may offer compelling incentives to buy an electric car. Aside from being better for the environment, an electric vehicle is also good for your wallet. After all, you don’t have to spend money every day on gas.
3. Avoid Plastic
Avoid single-use plastic items such as straws, bags, etc. Instead of using throwaway straws, buy a set of stainless-steel straws. Instead of purchasing plastic bags every time you visit the grocery store, take a grocery bag with you. You can even keep a few bags in your car, so you don’t forget.
Also, don’t buy new plastic containers for your food. You can reuse the ones you have, even if they have stains. However, it’s best to steer clear of plastic containers for your health.
4. Be Wary of the Fashion Industry
We’re harming our planet in our extreme thirst for new clothes. The fashion industry produces a stunning 10% of all global carbon dioxide emissions every year and uses 1.5 trillion litres of water annually.
These are four easy ways you can live a more sustainable lifestyle. Buy more eco-friendly items, walk more, and respect your environment to reduce your eco-footprint.
