Written By Robert Helms / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

A sustainable lifestyle is all about being intentional in saving the environment in any way you can. However, we cannot deny the fact that starting a zero-waste life can be overwhelming - so much so that it can be anxiety-including. In this post, we will share 10 simple ways to reduce your waste and help save the planet.

Drive less

Private vehicles, like your car, are responsible for quite a lot of the carbon dioxide emissions on the road. It is already emitting about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide within a single year with just one vehicle.

Since it's not just you on the road, you can imagine just how much carbon dioxide goes into our air. That's why if you want to make a change and live a more sustainable lifestyle, you might want to drive as minimally as possible.

Public transportation is an excellent alternative because one vehicle can get people to where they need it. Thus, keeping the carbon dioxide emissions to a minimum. Aside from that, you can also consider carpooling as an alternative. You're still driving your car, but you can combine trips with other people so that you reduce mileage.

Switch off where needed

Conserving energy is a great way to become more eco-friendly in your day-to-day life. A simple way to save more energy is to learn to turn off anything in the house that uses electricity when you're not using them.

Unplug your phone once it's done charging up. Turn off the lights whenever you leave a room. This simple habit can make a difference in your energy bills and your soon-to-be sustainable lifestyle. It has the added benefit of reducing your energy consumption. Therefore, you get to save from your electricity bill.

Cut down on meat

According to the US Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 26% of the ice-free land on Earth is used for raising livestock. Even 33 percent of our croplands are for livestock raising as well.

You also might not know that all that livestock accounts for nine percent of the carbon dioxide humans produce. Therefore, it may be a good idea to reduce your meat consumption so that our reliance on livestock as a whole will decrease as well.

You don't have to completely change your lifestyle and cut off meat entirely, although you're free to do so. It only means that you should consider reducing how much meat you eat in a week or so.

Start composting

Have you ever generated some leftover food waste and wondered what you could do to it so that it's not all left to rot? Well, you can consider composting.

Composting is becoming more and more popular. So much so that there are different composting styles ideal for apartment living (i.e., vermicomposting and bokashi).

You can start composting yourself by getting a compost bin and reading up on the rules and tips. On the other hand, some people would donate their food waste to a nearby community garden. Of course, it's best to ask whether they accept food waste first and to see what rules they have regarding the food waste before you send any.

Reduce water waste

Aside from conserving more energy, it would help if you also looked at other resources you can be more mindful of, like water. Try to be as minimal as possible with the water that you use or even purchase. For example, try to avoid buying plastic bottled water or reduce the amount of water you use to wash the dishes if you don't use a dishwasher.

Choose cloth over paper

Instead of using paper towels to wipe away any spills or messes all the time, consider getting rags instead. You can even reuse old T-shirts by cutting them up in squares and using those as rags. That way, you aren't constantly throwing away paper towels as you wipe down messes, which will happen anyway.

Use eco-cleaning products

Planet Maids House Cleaning NYC recommends green cleaning products for the eco-conscious client. It's a minor change in terms of your cleaning regimen because all you're doing is changing a product.

Moreover, such cleaning products can help reduce the number of toxic solutions that get sent out into the world. Aside from that, you're also reducing the number of toxic chemicals within your household. That's because commercial cleaning products tend to be chemical-laden. With eco-cleaning products, you won't have to worry about that issue, especially if you have kids or pets at home.

Take the 333-capsule wardrobe challenge

Project 333 is a challenge for anyone interested in minimalism, fashion, and sustainability. You should pick 33 clothing items in this challenge and clothe yourself with only these for three months.

This challenge should help you get used to the idea of a capsule wardrobe. That way, you aren't hoarding new clothes that can clutter your closet and also increase greenhouse gas emissions to manufacture.

Switch to paperless billing

If you can, try and opt for digital billing. If a service provider can give you a receipt through your email, this will be better for you and the environment. You reduce the need for paper in your house which can help reduce the carbon dioxide output from the reception of these paper bills.

Shop your local small businesses and services

Local businesses and services will most likely use the most readily available resources and are locally grown. That's why it's a good idea to shop locally, as this could mean a shorter food chain. Not only are you helping a neighbor out, but you're also doing your part in making the environment better.

The 10 tips listed above can help you take steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle without missing a step in how you used to live your life. So, take the leap and show you that a sustainable lifestyle can start with small but meaningful changes in your life.

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Written By:
Robert Helms is a New York-based freelance writer. When not writing for clients, he is busy consuming content on how to make home cleaning and organization easy and simple.

Reviewed By:    

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

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