If you realised that you have been living a wasteful lifestyle all these years, it is something to be commended. It is from this realisation that we seek to change our ways, but not many of us realise this until it’s too late. We are living in a world with finite and exhaustible resources, and we are sharing the air we breathe, the lands, and oceans with billions of Earth’s other inhabitants. It is only right that we take only what we need and give back as much as we can to nature.
Transitioning to an environment-friendly lifestyle can often be difficult, so we will share here some easy ways to make this change smoother.
1. Eat Less Meat
Changing your dietary preferences is a simple way of making your life beneficial to the environment. Eating fewer meat benefits the Earth in a more significant way than you may think. A United Nations study reports that around 30% of the Earth’s land surface is used for raising livestock. The carbon dioxide (CO2) generated from the livestock sector accounts for 9% of the total emissions generated by human activity. In Lithuania and other Baltic states of Northern Europe, the livestock industry accounts for more than 60% of nitrous oxide, another greenhouse gas emitted from human activity, coming from these states.
Less demand for meat means fewer greenhouse gasses produced and more productive and environment-friendly ways of using land areas. We also get to eat more vegetables and adopt vegan choices for our meals. Also, we turn to seafood and fish as alternative sources of meat and protein.
2. Don’t Waste Food
Food wasted adds to the carbon footprint we leave on the planet and adds to the CO2 released into the atmosphere. In the UK alone, more than 7 million tonnes of food are wasted each year. By utilising leftovers, cooking adequate food, and preserving ingredients for future use, you are not only saving money, but you are also saving resources and doing nature a favor by reducing the CO2 emitted from landfills.
3. Hit the Off Switch More
Another easy way of reducing your carbon footprint and conserving valuable natural resources is to turn off your electrical devices when not in use. Leaving them on standby mode or plugged in still consumes electricity, which is a waste of energy. Opening your windows to let natural light and ventilation in can help you save on energy bills and prolong the lifespan of your appliances and electrical devices. Best of all, you are reducing the strain on the limited resources of the planet.
4. Invest in Zero-Waste or Eco-Friendly Items
One of the changes you can make is to replace your old and energy-intensive appliances with energy-efficient ones. It may be a costly move, but it is a wise investment as you can save more energy in the long run with this change. Use durable and eco-friendly alternatives to your everyday items, especially single-use plastics.
Purchase or make zero-waste laundry detergents, bath soaps, shampoos, and other toiletries to reduce your impact on the ecosystem. Practise the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) at home by recycling plastic containers like shampoo bottles into containers for other purposes. You can also reuse these bottles by buying refills instead of another bottle. You can reduce the use of plastic bags by using them again as containers for your grocery items.
There are plenty of smart and easy ways to make your life environment-friendly. Don’t look at this transition as something radical and overwhelming. When you want to seriously pursue an environment-friendly lifestyle, you can find creative and meaningful ways to help the environment. If you are unsure where to begin, starting with these four ways is an excellent way to get the eco-friendly ball rolling.
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