5 Tips for a Sustainable Future
Making steps toward sustainability can seem daunting, but there are many small changes you can make in your daily life that can have a big impact. Here are five easy things you can do today to make a difference:
- Shop Secondhand
From thrifting to online resale, buying your clothing second hand has never been easier. When you choose secondhand clothes, you can find more unique and affordable options, reduce clothing waste, and combat fast fashion’s unethical manufacturing and workplace practices.
- Repair or Repurpose Before You Replace
A few basic sewing skills can make a big difference in increasing the lifespan of your clothes. Even hand sewing can allow you to repair holes in socks and reattach buttons, saving you money and reducing your waste. If an item is ready to be retired, consider using it as a rag for household cleaning. You can also check with your local animal shelter to see if your old clothes can be used to make beds for animals in need!
- Reduce Plastic Waste
Eliminating plastic from your life can be challenging, but opting for alternatives like reusable grocery bags and metal water bottles can make a huge difference! Americans purchase 50 billion plastic water bottles and throw away roughly 100 billion bags annually. By making these small changes toward sustainability, an individual can save 156 water bottles and over 300 plastic bags from going to waste every year.
- Limit Your Meat Consumption
The meat industry has huge environmental impacts, contributing to 14.5% of global greenhouse emissions. Consider doing Meatless Mondays, cutting meat out of your diet just one day a week. Every meatless meal you eat saves 133 million gallons of water!
- Utilize Your Public Library
While you may not immediately associate libraries with sustainability, checking out items like books, DVDs, and magazines from your local public library is a great way to reduce your consumption. Additionally, many libraries have expanded far past reading and viewing materials! Board games, sewing machines, and stud finders are just a few examples of things that may be available at a library near you. You can get what you need for the time you need it, limiting your waste and saving you money while supporting an important community resource.
Every choice you make makes a difference! By using these simple tips to be a conscious consumer, you can provide incredible support in our global journey toward a more sustainable future.
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