Sustainable Solutions For Everyday Problems

Finding time to be sustainable in our busy jammed packed lives is hard. It’s easy to get lost in the fast-paced, quick, and easy nature of disposable culture. And can you blame us? We’re too busy raising our kids, putting food on the table, making sure there’s a roof over our head to worry about which kind of plastics are recyclable and which aren’t. Right? Well,l that may not exactly be true. For one, living more sustainably is a very time and cost-effective way to live one’s life. Furthermore, the reward you feel for helping the planet and environment in a positive way is great for your wellbeing and will have a ripple effect in other areas of your life! Living sustainably is important now more than ever. So here are a few tips and tricks to lower your carbon footprint (and the cost of your weekly shop!) 

Ditch fast fashion for better quality clothing

Clothes are an extremely expensive commodity, especially in this day and age. What’s worse is you’re going to end up having to buy a new pair of $40 jeans every six months because the last pair you bought got ripped (and not in the places you’d like). That is because much of the clothes we buy are made cheaply and sold at exorbitant prices, only staying on the shelves for a short time before the next trend is in fashion. This is known as fast fashion. Many of the clothes we buy and get rid of end up in landfills and amount to a large percentage of the plant waste. In order to lower the amount of clothes waste you produce, consider opting for clothing made from higher quality materials. These may be more expensive but are more sustainable in the long run. For one, you won’t need to bin them as often, as fabrics such as 100% cotton last longer and also biodegrade a lot faster than nylon and polyester. If you want to be extra sustainable, consider buying your clothing from thrift and charity shops. You can end up finding some real gems, and they’re a lot cheaper too!

Grow your own produce

Whether you have green fingers or not, growing your own fruit and vegetables is a fun and affordable way to be more sustainable. If you’ve never grown your own before, don’t be intimidated; it may seem daunting, but all you need is some soil, a pair of hands, some seeds, and a whole lot of patience. Many gardening centers will be happy to help you get all the necessary equipment you need to get your vegetable patch up and running, and of course, there is a plethora of useful and informative information out there on the internet so that all of your worries will be taken care of. Growing your own fruit and veg is not only more nutritious (you know exactly what’s going on it and can use them when they are at their most fresh) but also limits your impact on agricultural farming, which is incredibly costly for the environment.

Recycle your oil

Now, what do you do with your used oil? It’s been a head-scratcher for many years now, and most people wouldn’t be able to give you an answer. Definitely don’t pour it down the drain, that’s for sure! The oil and grease that we throw away find their way into the sewer system and clogs up our pipes. Obviously, you could just fill up a plastic bottle with your used oil and throw it in the trash, but did you know used oil can actually be recycled? There are companies that offer a collection service of your oil waste to be used in other industries to make useful products or dispose of in an environmentally friendly fashion. If you own a business and produce a high amount of oil refuse, visit https://gfcommodities.com/our-services/yellow-grease-uco-pickup/.

These are just a few ideas on how to turn your lifestyle into a more ecologically friendly and sustainable one. There are so many more things you can do like walking or cycling to work and reducing single-use plastic. Making a small change in your life can make all the difference. If everyone was to make a small change like this, we would be on our way to a healthier and happier planet for our children and our children’s children to enjoy! For more tips on being sustainable, including tips on Sustainable parenting, check out our other blog posts!