In honor of Earth Day, here are some ways I try my best to live more sustainably. I know it can be hard to stay on top of reducing your carbon footprint, but adjusting your way of living little by little can add up.
1. Buy in Bulk
Whenever I go to the grocery shopping, not only do I make sure to bring my own reusable bags, but I try to buy most of my foods in bulk. I bring jars or containers to fill up with items like rice, beans, nuts, seeds, etc. What’s great about buying bulk is you have more control over how much you’re buying, so you might even spend less on groceries.
2. Try to Do Laundry Only Twice a Month
Contrary to belief, you really don’t have to do your laundry once or twice a week, and it’s actually better to wait longer. Not only will you be limiting your water waste, but you can prevent flooding and damage to your washing machine when you have a fuller load.
3. Always Thrift
I stopped buying my clothes from name brand stores like Forever 21 and H&M because after watching the documentary True Cost I realized the dangers of fast fashion and how much waste we produce each year from cheap clothing.
Besides, thrifting saves you a lot of money, and you can add more originality to your style. Never again will you have to endure that awkward moment when you see someone else wearing the exact same outfit at school.
4. Rethink How You Organize Your Kitchen
Instead of using paper towels, you can easily use washcloths to wipe down your kitchen as well as a drying rack to dry your silverware. Mason jars and Tupperware are also great ways to store your food. Instead of using plastic straws, invest in a box of reusable IKEA straws that you can buy for less than $1.
5. Keep Your Tupperware When You Order Out
Instead of buying Tupperware, my roommates and I collected all of the Tupperware we got from ordering food and used them to pack lunches and store food. At the same time, I would limit how frequently you order food and instead try to meal prep if you’re usually in a rush.
6. Eat Less Meat
This one might come a bit as a shocker, but the meat packing industry is a major contributor to environmental disturbances. Vox released a video showing how meat consumption is harming the environment, and a plant-based diet is a great way to reverse the effect. Does this mean you need to give up meat all together right now at this moment? No way! But participating in Meatless Mondays and doing more research into plant-based diets and plant-based foods is a great start in figuring out whether a plant-based diet is something you might be interested in.