Living the trend: Embracing a sustainable lifestyle

What is sustainable living?

One subject stands out in a world buzzing with hot topics and trending news: sustainable living. It's a conversation that's not just a passing craze but a crucial shift in your mindset. But what does it truly mean to have a sustainable lifestyle? What factors contribute to the current prominence of this compelling issue as it continues to shape and lead discussions on a global scale?

We're going on a mind-blowing journey to reveal the secrets of sustainable living. We'll cover its principles, the enormous impact on our planet, and the small steps we can take to make a big difference collectively.

Understanding the basics

Sustainability revolves around social equity, economic viability, and environmental preservation. Socially sustainable communities promote health, connection, and equity.

Economically, sustainability ensures profit without social or environmental harm. The well-known ecological pillar minimises impact through zero-waste manufacturing and green energy adoption.

Let's break down these three pillars:

1. Social Equity – Building Sustainable Communities
   Creating sustainable communities is the foundation of sustainable living. Picture a society that actively supports the well-being of both present and future generations. That sounds ideal, right? In socially sustainable communities, diversity and democracy thrive, fostering equity, like worth, ownership, and fairness. These communities are interconnected and provide a high living standard for everyone.
2. Economic Viability – Profit Without Compromise
   Sustainable living encourages strategies that allow individuals and businesses to thrive economically without compromising social or environmental values. Enabling individuals and corporations to utilise socio-economic resources judiciously aims to create profitability without adverse societal or ecological effects. It's about making profits responsibly.
3. Environmental Preservation – Minimising Footprints
   The most recognised pillar, environmental sustainability, minimises the environmental impact of processes, systems, and activities. This pillar involves zero-waste manufacturing, efficient energy management, energy conservation, and transitioning to green energy sources. In a nutshell, you are minimising your carbon footprint.

What a sustainable house needs - small changes, big impact

Transforming your living space into a sustainable haven starts with everyday choices - it extends beyond principles to practical habits. The sustainability journey is filled with simple yet impactful choices, from reusable bottles combating ocean pollution to eco-friendly transportation decisions.

It may seem daunting, but making your living space sustainable can be a manageable overhaul. All you need is easy, practical tips for everyday living. Now that’s a hot topic!

Below, we list some simple yet impactful habits to incorporate into your daily routine to embrace sustainability and be part of the global solution in no time.

A checklist for a sustainable home:

1. Water Conservation: Use less water by being more conscious of your overall water usage. Opt to shower instead of bathing and keep showers short. Besides monitoring shower lengths, reuse water where possible.
   Use unsalted cooking water for plants and reuse shower or bath water to flush the toilets. Don’t leave taps running, especially while brushing your teeth - place a bowl under each faucet to capture unused water instead of letting it run down the drain.
2. Monitor Energy Usage: Practice energy conservation to reduce costs and contribute to environmental preservation. You can switch off lights as you leave a room and avoid using them all day. Open doors and windows to create a cool draft instead of switching on fans and air conditioners.
   Being mindful of your overall energy consumption and exploring cleaner energy options, like a gas stove, will save valuable resources and your hard-earned money.
3. Consume Fewer Products: Opt for mindful consumption and cut down on unnecessary expenses, buying solely what you genuinely need to reduce indirect environmental damage. Pre-portioning can save money, prevent overeating, and improve physical health. To let less food go to waste, always create a grocery list and check your cupboards before you shop.
4. Start a Compost Bin: Reduce waste and enrich soil by composting fruit and vegetable leftovers. Turn food scraps and inedible fruits and vegetables into nutrient-rich compost to enhance soil moisture retention and reduce water runoff. The market offers excellent compost bins made from timber or plastic - tuck it away in the corner of your garden and create your own soil from scraps!
5. Recycle Everything: Properly recycle to prevent plastic, glass, and other recyclables from ending up in landfills, contributing to pollution and global warming. Check for recycling symbols and dispose of items correctly - plastic, food waste, glass, paper, and cans. Most neighbourhoods have dedicated waste removal systems for recycling, collecting weekly along with your bins.
6. Purchase Eco-Friendly Goods: Choose environmentally friendly options for everyday items. Research sustainable alternatives for cleaning products, toilet paper, shampoo bottles, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and sanitary products. If you opt for recycled packaging instead, you will be surprised at its big difference to your pocket, cupboard space, and the environment.
7. Support Local Shops: Choose local businesses to reduce environmental transport costs and support small businesses. A brisk walk to your nearest retailer will benefit the mind, soul, and waistline! Additionally, it will boost the economy and give smaller businesses a fighting chance.
8. Use Public Transport: Opt for public transport or choose walking or cycling for short distances when possible. It will save money, improve health, and reduce pollution. Additionally, you will also advocate for green policies and healthier public transportation.
9. Environmentally Friendly Transportation: Opt for eco-friendly options, like hybrid or electric cars, to minimise your carbon footprint. While conserving energy is crucial, using clean energy ensures a minimal negative environmental impact.
10. Reusable Bottles and Coffee Cups: Combat the plastic pollution crisis by ditching single-use plastic bottles. Opt for reusable ones to reduce your environmental footprint. Take your own coffee flask to cafes and minimise the environmental impact of single-use coffee cups. Some cafes even reward eco-friendly choices with discounts or loyalty points.
11. Reusable Shopping Bags: Invest in sturdy, reusable bags to curb the demand for disposable plastic bags. Many stores offer recycling options for plastic bags. Cut down on plastic waste by taking some along when shopping and recycling bags for other uses as needed.
12. Sustainable Energy: Generate your own electricity by investing in an inverter, solar panels, and a good battery. This way, you can rely on an external power source during the day and use less electricity from the grid. You will also not be affected negatively during power outages.
13. Reconsider Your Diet: Opting for a vegetarian diet is more sustainable, drastically reducing the amount of water, land, and oil resources you consume and the pollution it may otherwise cause. Additionally, you will feel better, drink less harmful hormones, and lead a healthier lifestyle with a green life.

Embracing a sustainable future

In a world of hot topics, sustainable living takes centre stage as a proactive and impactful approach to preserving our planet. As we navigate the complexities of environmental preservation, economic viability, and social equity, embracing a green lifestyle is not just an option but a responsibility.

Don’t be the odd one out - choosing a sustainable lifestyle is trending now! So, reduce, reuse, recycle, and start the journey towards a more sustainable and eco-conscious existence. The planet, environment, and future generations will thank you.