Finding ways to start living a sustainable life does take effort, and although it’s not always possible with every single purchase we make right now, we have to start somewhere. By doing a few small things when buying new items, the benefit to ourselves and those around us, can help in many different ways.
question ourselves
When we go to buy something, we can ask ourselves if we really need it. A good strategy to have, is to give ourselves 10 minutes to REFLECT and question. What impact will this purchase have on the environment and is what I’m buying, going to make me feel good and for how long?
Every item we buy has a journey of its own in terms of how it was made. A simple piece of clothing, no matter how small, can have a large impact on the environment. This also involves including the people who made it and under what conditions they faced when making it.
swap items with others
Some of my most favourite items of clothing were given to me by friends who no longer needed it. Often our friends have items we can EXCHANGE which saves us buying new things. This helps reduce the impact on things like the fast fashion industry.
Items like books, household furniture and even small things, might be of use to someone else. The old saying of ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ is very accurate. By swapping or giving items we no longer need to someone else, reduces the amount of new stuff being made.
offset its impact
Buying secondhand can be difficult especially when it comes to technology. Depending on what we want to achieve or even need for our job or study, buying something new can be necessary. If we can’t buy it sustainability right now, we can try to offset its impact on the environment by getting CREATIVE.
Giving away items, or finding ways to reuse other things, can be a small way to get what we need, and also help someone else get what they need as well. A lot of companies will reuse or recycle items so check a company’s sustainability policy on this one.
small changes in how we consume
Starting to live sustainably can seem very overwhelming in today’s world of mass consumption. But even small changes right now can make a big difference. If we can change just a few small things in our daily lives, it can help ENCOURAGE those around us to start doing the same.
Too much change at once can cause us to give up, but little changes make it easier and this sets a good example for other people. Just picking one thing to try, can lead to more and more change which ultimately helps everyone in the long run.
shopping local helps us all
Shopping locally can help support small businesses and create jobs in our communities. By buying local produce, we can have LESS impact on the environment as a whole due to less freight and what it takes in the process to make a product.
A lot of what we currently buy is manufactured overseas causing the product to then travel to our destination creating an impact on many areas of the environment. While it might cost us more to buy locally, the benefits can usually be seen in the quality of the product in terms of how long it will last. This then means we might not have to replace it as quickly when it breaks or can’t be used anymore.
research a product’s history
Doing research on what we buy can help us establish where a product is made and how. Many companies now have plans that outline how sustainable they are and the steps they are making to achieve this. Without too much hassle, we can check the label to instantly see where it’s from.
Using the internet to delve a little deeper, can help us understand the ETHICAL stance a company holds. This is a good way to get an idea of how a company treats its workers, and what provisions are in place to look after the working conditions employees operate under. While we might think we are supporting people to stay in employment in developing countries, we can always check to see if these conditions align with our own values and then make a choice based on this.
the choice is up to us
After doing a bit of research and asking ourselves a few questions before we buy something, we can make a CONSCIOUS decision on whether we buy a product or not. It can help us work out if we are helping or hindering the environment. Just by having this awareness, can make a huge difference in what we choose to buy.
It’s important to note that starting to live a sustainable life takes more effort, and although it’s not always possible with every single purchase we make, we have to start somewhere.
The great thing about it is, if we all do a few small things, we can all benefit from it in a multitude of ways.
All we can do is TRY.
