Sustainable living ideas guide and tips to live a low impact, low waste lifestyle. This post is about how to live a healthier, sustainable, and eco-friendly lifestyle. Simple changes you can make today to start your journey. Below you will find sustainable living ideas and tips for beginners to start your journey on a low impact, almost zero waste, and environmentally friendly life that actually helps the planet! Going zero waste? plastic free life? or just want to make a few small changes, keep reading below and sign up to the newsletter for more tips.
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What is Sustainable Living? Low Waste or Zero Waste Lifestyle?
The goal of living a sustainable lifestyle is to reduce the impact we make individually and as a society on our environment; to reduce our footprint and the damage to our planet. Environmental sustainability relates to all aspects of our lives, from reducing pollution, sourcing sustainable food, using renewable energy, eliminating plastic consumption, reducing waste, eliminating the use of toxic chemicals, saving water, creating eco-homes, shopping for low impact furniture and clothing, and living consciously.
The personal choices we make affect all living things, people, plants, and animals. We share our air, oceans, and rivers. As such, pollution in any country affects everyone, as the ocean currents spread industrial pollutants and fertilizers to far-away places from where it originates.
Sustainable living is an ideology that aims to reduce the impact we make individually and collectively as a society on the environment. The goal of adopting a low waste or zero waste, plastic-free, sustainable lifestyle is to counteract any negative effects pollution and climate change have on our planet.
More specifically, sustainability is about preserving natural resources for generations to come. A low waste, zero waste lifestyle is about lowering the impact we make on our environment. By reducing our demand for natural resources we are in turn contributing to sustainable practices of production and helping preserve natural resources and the health of our planet and wildlife.
Why Low Impact Living is Important
As a nature and animal lover, I strive to learn and teach others about the impact we have on our environment and the natural habitats we affect with our choices. Many of our wildlife species today are living the consequences of the choices we make as a society. Many species are facing extinction due to the loss of habitats.
Adopting a low-impact lifestyle is a great way to help minimize the destruction of natural habitats and pollution.
There are many benefits of living an eco-friendly lifestyle. Just to name a few:
- A healthier you
- A better planet for future generations and wildlife
- Cleaner air
- Cleaner oceans
- Preservation of eco-systems and earth’s species
- Cost savings for you
Low Impact Living Vs Zero Waste Lifestyle
You don’t have to overwhelm yourself and strive to go zero waste overnight. The truth is that achieving a true zero waste lifestyle is nearly impossible in our current economy unless you move off the grid, but for most of us being extreme is not an option. But, going low waste and low impact is definitely within reach.
Low impact living is about reducing our footprint with daily actions and habits. Small steps make a big difference! It all makes a difference. Even the small things like reducing single-use plastic, shopping locally, eating less meat, saving water, growing your own herbs, educating yourself on deforestation. The most important thing is to pick a few small changes and start today.
The guide below gives you 38 simple tips you can implement right away to live more eco-friendly and help the planet. Remember, everything you do makes a difference. Start today!
I also write about wildlife and conservation topic in this blog. Take a look at the wildlife page to learn more about the amazing animals we share our planet with.
Low Impact Living: It is the little things that matter
38 EASY TO IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE LIVING | LOW IMPACT LIVING TIPS
**The guide below contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links I will earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
The first step to living more sustainably is to educate yourself on the consequences of the everyday choices that you make and learn about the alternative options that you have. Looking after the health of our environment for ourselves, our children, our future generations, and our amazing animals is a group effort that must be achieved at the individual level. One by one.
This guide contains many easy tips you can implement immediately to start living a more eco-friendly, sustainable, low waste, low-impact lifestyle.
1 GET EVERYONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD ONBOARD
This is the first step and the most important. Everyone in the household must contribute to achieving the goal.
2 GO PAPERLESS FOR RECEIPTS
Choose digital receipts when possible.
3 CHOOSE PAPERLESS NOTIFICATIONS
Choose digital notices such as bills, bank statements, etc.
4 AVOID TOXIC CHEMICALS
Buy green and organic personal care, household cleaners and disinfectants to avoid VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from synthetic chemicals. Many of these products contain man-made synthetic chemicals and emit gases that are harmful to the environment and your health.
5 GET A PROGRAMMABLE SMART THERMOSTAT
This is a great way to save on your energy bill. You can automatically program your smart thermostat to adjust the temperature while you are not home.
6 ADOPT DIY PROJECTS
DIY home cleaners, disinfectants, and home décor using essential oils and recycling materials is a great way to save money, live healthier, and reduce waste.
7 SHOP AT LOCAL MARKETS
Shop at local farmers’ markets to support local farmers and buy foods that didn’t have to travel far, thus reducing the eco-footprint. It is good for you and the environment.
8 USE LESS DETERGENT
Excessive use of detergent is wasteful and only ruins clothes.
9 DITCH PLASTIC STRAWS
Today this is easier than ever, as there are several options for home use and on the go. You can go with glass, stainless steel, or paper straws. I like the stainless-steel option – it reminds me of growing up in Argentina, where everyone owns a “bombilla” for the occasional mate.
10 AVOID SINGLE-USE PLASTIC SOAP CONTAINERS
Shop for local soap bars or make your own instead of liquid soaps that are harsh on your skin and come in single-use plastic containers.
11 AVOID PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS
When possible, invest in reusable grocery bags instead. I like the ones from:
ORGANIC COTTON MART
12 UNCLUTTER YOUR MAILBOX
Sign up with paperKarma to be removed from junk mail lists. This is an awesome app that you manage to instruct what mail you do not wish to receive. It costs $1.99 per month.
13 REPLACE BURNT OUT LIGHT BULBS WITH LED BULBS
LED light bulbs last longer and save energy.
14 USE NEWSPAPER OF BROWN PAPER BAGS TO WRAP GIFTS
Instead of buying wrapping paper. I am going to try this one next holiday season. I think it looks modern and good for the earth!
15 AVOID PLASTIC UTENSILS
Buy silicone or bamboo instead. Look for the FSC certification for any bamboo products. While bamboo is deemed sustainable in many instances, deforestation of the Asian rainforest poses serious threats to wildlife. FSC certification is the gold standard to ensure wood or bamboo is harvested from forests that are responsibly managed and environmentally conscious.
One really cool company I found that makes it easier to convert to plastic-free living is a box subscription from GreenUp Box. This company will send you a box every two months. Each box contains products to replace your disposable plastic and start living plastic-free. They look good and are of really good quality.
16 USE REUSABLE SANDWICH BAGS
These bags from Stasher have great reviews, are free of any BPA, PVC, and latex, and are dishwasher and microwave safe.
REUSABLE STORAGE BAGS
17 INVEST IN REUSABLE PRODUCE BAGS
They are good for the environment and stronger so you’re your bags won’t break when unloading. I like the ones from Organic Cotton Mart – they are organic cotton mesh
ORGANIC COTTON MART
18 INVEST IN REUSABLE COFFEE FILTERS
Check out the ones from coffesock.
COFFEESOCK
19 ADOPT DOUBLE SIDED PRINTING
If you must print, use both sides of the paper to save paper, ink and your money.
20 WEATHERPROOF YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS
Properly sealed doors and windows are crucial to avoid cold or heat from leaking out. You can find more information on weatherstripping and air sealing here.
21 USE THICK CURTAINS
This is another great way to maintain the desire indoor temperature.
22 AVOID FAST FASHION
Buy fair trade and sustainable higher quality clothes as opposed to fast fashion. Over time, it will save you more since it lasts longer. Keep an eye out for more posts on fair trade fashion coming soon!
23 GET A SMART POWER STRIP
This is a great way to save energy. Did you know that plugged appliances still use energy even when not in use? Smart power strips cut out power to those appliances so you don’t waste energy, even while you sleep. You can use them for printers, TVs, DVD players, or appliances that go on standby mode.
SMART POWER STRIP
24 GROW YOUR OWN HERBS
I love my herb garden – it has saved me a ton of money and the herbs are always fresh.
25 INVEST IN A RESUABLE WATER BOTTLE
Carry a reusable water bottle instead of single use plastic.
26 USE PLANT-BASED SPONGES
The disposable sponges for scrubbing dishes and bathrooms are made with plastic polymers and are very bad for the environment. I really like these from Trader Joe’s.
PLANT BASED SPONGE
27 BUY IN BULK
To avoid unnecessary packaging you can buy nuts, grains and seeds in bulk.
28 BUY ORGANIC
If possible, buy organic at least the dirty dozen.
29 USE REUSABLE MOPPING PADS INSTEAD OF SWIFFER
This actually cleans the floors much better. With a reusable mop you can rinse the floors with fresh water and remove excess chemicals that leave the floors sticky.
30 DIFFUSE ESSENTIAL OILS INSTEAD OF AEROSOL AIR FRESHENERS
Plus, essential oils have many health benefits.
31 USE SOY OR BEESWAX CANDLES INSTEAD OF TOXIC CANDLES
Some commercially-sold candles contain leaded wicks.
32 OPEN THE WINDOWS ON NICE COOL DAYS AND TURN OFF THE AC
33 COLLECT RAINWATER TO WATER YOUR NONEDIBLE PLANTS
34 USE CLOTH NAPKINS INSTEAD OF PAPER TOWELS
This will save you a lot of money.
35 USE RAGS TO CLEAN UP INSTEAD OF PAPER TOWELS
36 USE RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
The company “Greenbatteries” has many options:
37 BUY SECOND HAND
Check out thrift shops and second-hand stores
38 LET CLOTHES DRY OUTSIDE
Hope this simple guide with sustainable living ideas and sustainable living examples helps you start your journey to an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle!
Sustainable living ideas?
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