Are you interested in how to live more sustainably and ecologically? We have 100+ great tips for you to help you on your way to sustainability and a better tomorrow!
What does it actually mean live more sustainably?
Sustainable living describes a lifestyle where the individual contributes to reducing the environmental footprint. This seems like a difficult task at first glance, especially when we see people around us whistling at it. But if you are sustainable living divided into smaller steps, we can find that we too can contribute to a better tomorrow without much effort.
Here are more than 100 tips to help you live more sustainably and happily, divided into areas that make up our lives. You may already be doing one of these things (or more), which is fantastic! But hopefully everyone who reads this will pick up at least a few points to help Mother Nature and humanity!
A sustainable home
1. Instead of incandescent bulbs, use LED lighting or CFL bulbs as they are proven to last longer, reducing the need to buy bulbs.
2. Instead of turning on the heat right away, put on an extra layer of clothing. Double socks can work wonders!
3. Before turning on the lights, open the windows, pull back the blinds, blinds, and allow natural light to enter the room.
4. Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
5. Stick a sign on the mailbox to prohibit the insertion of junk mail and advertising material. This will limit the amount of paper waste.
6. Instead of using a tumble dryer, hang wet clothes on a drying rack.
7. Wash clothes by hand, especially if you only have a few items to wash.
8. Start measuring the time you spend in the shower.
9. Consider a shower system that saves water.
10. Grow your own herbs, fruits and vegetables if you can, even if you only end up with a few pots.
11. Unplug all devices at night, including the modem.
12. Use organic fertilizers.
13. Buy recycled toilet paper in plastic-free packaging.
14. Instead of bags for collecting dog poop, you can pick it up with newspaper or waste paper, or with toilet paper.
Sustainable kitchen
1. Use the waste part of vegetables and fruits for juices and soups.
2. Use glass jars in all possible ways.
3. Choose washable metal straws instead of disposable plastic straws.
4. Limit the use of hot water when washing dishes by hand.
5. Use cloths instead of paper towels.
6. Make your own coffee and don't buy to-go coffee.
7. Stop using garbage bags and use only the bin. Or use newspaper instead of bags.
8. Start composting.
9. Use the dishwasher instead of hand washing.
10. Try making your own cleaning products.
11. Reduce your biological waste by eating only what you really need.
12. Invest in a pressure cooker - economlonec - and reduce cooking time and energy consumption by up to 70 percent.
Sustainable grocery shopping
1. Do not buy (plastic) bags at the checkout. Carry your own grocery bag instead.
2. Buy food at the local farmer's market or in the grocery store.
3. Avoid buying food in plastic packaging. Rather, choose those that come in recycled, paper packaging.
4. Don't buy bottled water.
5. If possible, bring your own paper or reusable bags to store your bread, vegetables, fruit, etc.
Sustainable fashion
1. Buy second-hand clothes where possible.
2. Become a minimalist and put together a capsule wardrobe.
3. Invest in better quality products that last longer. "Slow fashion" is better than "fast fashion."
4. Support fashion brands that are ethical and environmentally conscious.
5. Learn how to shop for sustainable clothing.
6. Reduce the frequency of washing clothes.
7. Give old clothes that are no longer wearable a new lease of life - use them for rags or donate them to your local mechanic.
8. Get basic sewing skills and patch holes and sew on buttons yourself. But if you have a bigger bite in your hands, take the clothes to the dry cleaners, where they also carry out sewing repairs.
9. Turn old clothes into new ones. For example, you can turn a dress that you no longer wear into a skirt or a T-shirt.
10. Shop for durable clothing at stores that offer repair after purchase.
Lasting beauty
1. Try to be makeup free for at least one week a month.
2. Reduce water consumption when brushing your teeth.
3. Make your own facial cleanser or scrub.
4. Use reusable cotton pads to remove makeup.
5. Turn off the water when you're not using it while you're cleaning your face.
6. Consider using shampoo in soap.
7. Read product labels to see what toxic or harmful chemicals they might contain.
8. Share your products with your family, e.g. deodorant spray, shampoo, etc.
9. Use multi-purpose products (eg shampoo and conditioner in one, gel and shampoo in one, toothpaste and mouthwash in one, etc.)
10. Choose cleaning sponges that are made from natural materials rather than plastic.
11. Use a menstrual cup or sanitary pads.
Durable children's items
1. Switch to cloth diapers.
2. You use stainless steel bottles (or at least plastic-free ones).
3. Opt for a natural rubber pacifier.
4. Use reusable nursing pads.
5. Find the wooden rattle.
6. Use environmentally friendly bibs (no plastic).
7. Opt for used toys.
8. If you are going to buy toys, look for ones that are made from natural materials.
9. Use coconut oil as a diaper conditioner.
Sustainable office
1. Collect waste paper and reuse what you can.
2. Turn off your computer before you leave work.
3. Get rid of your home printer. This will encourage you to use the printer only when you really need it.
4. Turn off your entire workstation overnight to reduce phantom power.
5. If you need business cards, use environmentally friendly printing.
6. Add smaller pots to your workspace.
7. Always use double-sided printing where possible.
How to reduce paper consumption?
1. Opt in to receive digital mail and notifications.
2. Send electronic wedding invitations.
3. Whenever possible, ask for an electronic invoice.
4. Use your phone or tablet to take notes.
Sustainable transport
1. Buy a used bike and use it as your main means of transportation wherever you can.
2. Take the stairs, not the elevator. It can also be a great leg workout.
3. Use public transport. It's also a great opportunity to read the news and do other things you'd otherwise (irresponsibly) do while you're driving.
4. Organize joint trips to work, to events, to various activities.
5. Use bike rental.
6. Try adopting a car-free life.
7. If you need a new car right now, invest in an electric vehicle.
8. Reduce the amount of time you spend traveling by plane. On a positive note, some airlines are already trying to implement practices to reduce waste.
Lasting gifts
1. Save gift boxes and reusable bags.
2. Give people experiences rather than gifts.
3. Create and submit original videos.
4. Make a greeting card by hand from recycled materials.
5. Instead of a gift, donate to a charity or to a cause in the name of the birthday person.
6. Make jewelry, a hat, a scarf,... from materials you have at home.
7. Offer to be a babysitter.
8. Prepare a home-cooked meal or bake a cake.
Sustainable technology
1. Use solar power to charge smartphones and tablets whenever possible.
2. Use rechargeable batteries wherever possible.
3. Recycle your old devices.
4. Donate your old and working devices to schools or other institutions.
5. Opt for cloud storage and move away from physical disks and servers.
6. Instead of replacing the device immediately, it is better to repair it first.
7. Switch to sustainable search engines like Ecosia. They channel their profits into planting trees, and they are also powered by 100% renewable energy.
8. If you need a new device, check the used device market first. If you can't find anything there, choose an energy-saving device.
A sustainable lifestyle
1. Spend more time outdoors.
2. Eat more whole foods and as many vegetables as possible.
3. Plant your tree.
4. Borrow books from the library rather than buying them.
5. Subscribe to your favorite magazine online and read it digitally.
6. Prepare a video or presentation of how you have implemented all these ideas in your life and post it publicly. Be an example!
7. Prepare meals at home and bring them to work.
8. Adopt pets rather than buying them. Many animals in need of a family are waiting for a warm home.
9. Stop using disposable cutlery and napkins.
10. When you have a cold, use a cloth handkerchief instead of paper tissues.
11. Use stainless steel bottles.
