12 Easy Steps to Live More Sustainability
“Everyone and anyone can adapt an eco-conscious lifestyle, and do so effortlessly. The trick is to establish micro-goals.”
Many people believe living a sustainable lifestyle requires drastic changes that don’t always fit into our busy lives—consequently, not knowing where or how to start, people often throw in the towel and hope their Hydroflask will redeem them. But sustainability doesn’t have to be difficult or overwhelming. Everyone and anyone can adapt an eco-conscious lifestyle, and do so effortlessly. The trick is to establish micro-goals so the sustainable transition becomes accessible and manageable.
12 easy micro-goals for the next 12 months mean you’ll be living an effortlessly sustainable lifestyle by the end of 2021:
1. Reusable bottles—keep a reusable bottle in the car and in your bag to refill wherever you go to minimize plastic consumption. You can do the same for coffee/tea, and all your liquid needs.
2. Ditch your plastic bags—keep reusable grocery bags in your car, and get into the habit of hanging them on your doorknob after you’ve unpacked groceries so that you remember to bring them back to your car. Small habits make you successful.
3. And ditch all plastic for that matter—wrap unfinished produce in wax cloth, or keep them in cotton mesh bags. Buy reusable silicone snack and sandwich bags, and swap your plastic Tupperware for glass or ceramic—nobody wants chemicals from the plastic going into their food.
4. Support local farmers markets—nowadays, most farmer’s markets are delivering organic, fresh-picked produce at the same price as non-organic grocery stores. You’re purchasing directly from the source and required to bring your own grocery bags, so it’s an easy two-for-one method to get inspired by the colorful selections of produce and hormone-free meats. If weekly is overwhelming, start with once every 2 weeks.
5. Learn how to eat and cook seasonally—adapting your diet to a seasonal diet is truly one of the best things you can do for yourself—and such a symbiotic benefit system. Eating seasonal and local is what our body was designed for, and it’s what supports a clean, healthy environment—both sides reap the benefits. Challenge yourself to learn a new recipe each week (or month) until it’s intuitive. Overwhelmed at the idea of cooking? Everything is delicious tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, then roasted in the oven. Or toss an eclectic salad together. Herbs? Dressing is as quick as googling a recipe and throwing ingredients in a food blender/processor.
6. Reusable napkins—chic for both you and the environment, any dinner party is instantly elevated by cotton napkins. You can even take this one step further and recycle old cotton clothing pieces to design custom napkins.
7. Buy in bulk—soap, olive oil, conditioner, and anything else you use regularly. Invest in reusable containers you like for your daily needs and let your recycled containers become a major design element in your home.
8. Clothing quality over quantity—clothing is one of the greatest culprits of waste. The cost of an item is not the price tag, but it affects the lives behind the clothing company and the environment. Fast fashion brands are ripping off designs from smaller brands and artists, underpaying their labor forces working in inhumane factories, and using cheap materials and construction practices. This creates a vicious cycle of consumption and waste.
Look for brands that focus on sustainable practices and invest in pieces that will last, so you’re not contributing to the massive garment waste. The best thing you can do as a consumer is purchase pieces made to last, that you can create traditions around, and pass down to your own children.
9. Upcycle and recycle your clothes—it’s inevitable you’ll eventually lose interest or grow out of a few pieces. Go through your closet at least once a year (spring cleaning and pre-Christmas are my favorites), then haul everything to a resell store or donation center. Have your neighbors and friends do the same, and volunteer your transportation efforts for the tax write-off. Certain brands will take garments back to donate or upcycle (such as Nadjarina and Patagonia). If your clothes are great condition with designer tags, check out a few resale platforms such as Poshmark, thredUP, and The Real Real—or buy second-hand items from any of these retailers, too.
10. Know who & what your consumption supports—every dollar you spend supports a business, ethical value, and practice, and this is the greatest weapon towards global sustainability. Eliminating monetary support of brands that avoid sustainable standards you believe in, together, we will dismantle destructive systems. Information is easily accessible today, so it only takes a minute to look at company’s ethos, labor standards, and overall mission.
11. Don’t be misled—greenwashing is a marketing tactic that diverts and misleads consumers into thinking a brand is sustainable. Adapting the mindset—of what you use and buy—is key in the conscious evolution of living sustainably. This is one of the hardest goals to adapt, which is also why it’s at the end of the list.
Be informed about the various terms for plastic—also labeled as polyester, nylon, acrylic, vinyl, elastane, spandex, and lycra— and stay away from them when possible. If you do choose man-made materials, opt for brands that utilize recycled materials and/or options to up-cycle the goods for you post-use to help keep things out of landfills. Fabrics that claim to be sustainable such as modal and tencal aren’t really sustainable, but easier to break down when they hit the landfills—stay informed to avoid misleading information.
12. Be kind to yourself—look at what difference you can make is just a few steps! This last step is for you—wherever you are in your sustainable evolution, challenge yourself to do just a bit more in one area each month and continue expanding your contribution.
We can’t guilt ourselves for the things we love, so we have to find that balance. We can be both consumers and conscious in preserving resources, lives, and the communities behind our consumption. Be kind to yourself and your sustainable evolution!
Lindsey Mallon is a contributing writer and the Founder of Nadjarina, a conscious luxury brand based in Los Angeles.