We have all been reading about climate change, especially over the last couple of years. We are aware of the effects our actions have on the Earth and yet, we seem to not be making much of a difference. We still have a long way to go and there is so much more we can do to contribute to a healthier Earth! While we can’t suddenly become 100% sustainable, here are some ideas you can implement to be more sustainable, even by staying at home:

1. Choose Reusable Bottles and Water Filters

We drink about 8 glasses of water daily (at least we are supposed to :P). Imagine the impact you would be making to the environment if you swapped your plastic bottles or cups for stainless steel bottles!

If you’re afraid to drink tap water, consider purchasing an attachable water filter or a filter jug instead. In case you still have some plastic water bottles at home, aim to recycle them!

2. Use Glass and Stainless-Steel Containers

We’re used to quickly storing leftovers in plastic containers. We even end up using plastic boxes to pack our lunch for the office. They’re not only harmful to the environment, but also the microplastic elements from those containers could contaminate your food. Switch to glass or stainless-steel containers as storage and lunchboxes!

3. Repurpose Containers

While I understand that we may not be able to completely get rid of plastic containers as most of our products are packaged that way, we can try to reuse those containers in creative ways.

I recently reused a recyclable milk container as a vase for my flowers! I’ve even heard of people using containers as pots for their plants and bird-feeding container.

4. Switch to Reusable Bags

Almost everybody is guilty of this one – grabbing plastic bags at the grocery store. Nowadays, some of the largest grocery chains are moving to paper bags instead, but how about carrying your own reusable cloth bags for grocery shopping?

5. Skip Plastic Produce Bags

Talking about grocery shopping, we place and wrap fruits, vegetables, and herbs in different polythene bags. Did you know that some of them don’t even need to be stored in those bags? Groceries such as Apples, Bananas, and Lemons can be placed directly in your shopping cart!

6. Limit Meat and Dairy

The dairy industry is one of the biggest negative contributors to climate change. Unsustainable dairy farming can lead to a huge loss of environmental areas. The meat industry is in the same state of affairs. While turning vegan is difficult, we can try to limit our dairy and meat intake and look for alternatives. You’ll find quite some dairy-free and plant-based meat options in the market these days!

I’m actively trying to get more dairy-free products like milk, butter, and yogurt for the past one year. Remember, even little things count. 🙂

7. Select Ballpoint Pens made out of Recycled Plastic

I realize how minuscule this might sound, but only last year I started using these pens at my workplace and was quite happy about the initiative taken by the company producing them and the companies adopting these!

8. Swap Tea Bags for Loose Leaf Teas

This one is for all my tea lovers! Yes, tea bags are immensely convenient to work with, but some premium tea bags could leave tons of microplastics in your tea. I wasn’t aware of this until last year and immediately shifted to loose leaf teas.

9. Read on E-Readers Occasionally

I got back to reading a couple of months back and placed an order for a few books that I had on my wish-list. I had never read on a Kindle or on apps (PlayBooks, Apple Books) before and always steered clear of them.

In May, I got myself to read a book on PlayBooks and then another one on the Kindle and I eventually warmed up to reading books on the Kindle. Paperbacks and Hardcovers are here to stay for good (I hope they are!), but maybe reading 1 out of 5 books on the Kindle might help you lead a more sustainable life and can be cheaper too!

10. Reuse Clothes

Fast fashion allows consumers like you and me to purchase chic clothes at a reasonable price. Due to the rise in demand for fast fashion, there is excessive textile production which leads to an overwhelming amount of greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions. Repeating outfits was a strict no-no earlier and that lead to a huge carbon footprint. Reusing clothes or buying clothes made out of sustainable fabrics is back in the game and I would encourage you to be a part of that movement! Also, instead of throwing away your old clothes, consider donating them to Goodwill instead. 🙂

I’ll be honest with you, I’m not vegan, I still have Paperbacks and Hardcovers, I still eat some meat and I’m yet to switch completely to reusable grocery bags. But I’m trying my best to eat less meat and dairy, read 1 out of 5 books on my Kindle and use a cloth bag when I go grocery shopping. And that’s the point I’m trying to make – every little thing matters! 🙂