Living a more eco-conscious lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight: it’s a gradual process of becoming more mindful of what we consume and waste, and, one-by-one, modifying our daily habits to leave a softer, more gentle footprint on the earth. So, you may be wondering exactly how to be more eco friendly – and the answer is simple: start small, but start somewhere.
There’s a lot of ways you can start to be more eco-friendly, and yes it can be overwhelming. Just remember that a small action can have a big impact. The smallest step towards being more eco-friendly can have a huge ripple effect. Take a look at this list of ways you can help heal the earth. Remember, every eco-conscious choice makes a difference.
Buy Local
Support your neighborhood farmers and enjoy more flavorful, nutritious fruits and veggies. Buying local saves energy consumption during transport and unnecessary supermarket packaging. This is a great starting point when considering how to be more eco friendly.
Choose a Plant-Based Diet
Climate change fact: worldwide, agriculture produces more greenhouse gases than transportation—approximately 18-percent of gas emissions! And cattle-breeding is a major contributor. Not only does animal agriculture have an effect on climate, it also uses up mass amounts of water. Swap out meat for veggie-based proteins and reduce toxic pollution in our atmosphere. Even eliminating meat from 2 meals a week is a great way to start and will certainly answer your question of ‘how to be more eco friendly’,
Reduce your Food Waste
Meal prep is a huge trend right now that’s only getting more popular—it’s convenient and helps prevent us from purchasing too much food. Food waste is also a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions – starting a meal planning ritual every week is a great way to live a more eco-conscious lifestyle.
Start Bulk Buying
If you are lucky enough to live near a local market, Bulk Barn or Whole Foods, bring a few glass jars and fill them up with rice, beans, coffee and nuts in the bulk section—this saves money and (again) excess packaging! Bulk buying is another easy way to start being more eco-conscious.
Cook your Meals at Home
There are few restaurants that have an eco-conscious business model. If you want to know how to be more eco friendly, cooking at home is probably the easiest way to start. Restaurants rarely save or recycle uneaten food, so by cooking your own delicious meals you’re reducing waste and supporting local farmers.
BYO (Bring your own)
Eco-conscious tip! Keep a stash of metal straws, reusable bags, bamboo utensils, travel coffee cups, reusable water bottles and other low-waste items in your car or bag. You can only imagine how much you can avoid things going to a landfill in just one day with these items on hand!
Reduce Water Consumption
Using a filter over water bottles, taking shorter showers, doing less laundry, and turning off faucets are easy ways to make your day-to-day more eco-friendly
Shop at Secondhand Stores
Another thing to consider how to be more eco friendly is to shop and sell secondhand items. Keep perfectly usable clothes, electronics, furniture, and more from ending up in landfills by purchasing goods secondhand.
Start a Garden
One of the more fun ways to be more eco-conscious is to start your own garden! A personal herb or veggie garden is a fun way to bring nature therapy and eco-consciousness into your routine—it’s a win-win! Whether you have a yard in a house or a windowsill in an apartment – gardening is for everyone and is a great thing to do especially when you’re wondering how to be more eco friendly.
Shop Consciously
Each time you choose to purchase ethically, sustainably produced goods, those choices help to reduce excess waste in the world and eventually will establish new eco-conscious habits within yourself.
Invest in Quality Products
Buy less and try to invest in things that will last. Quality over quantity—always.
Mend your Clothes
Another eco-conscious tip! Sometimes even the best quality items can wear out over a long time of use. But before investing in a replacement, check if you can put your repairing or mending skills to use! If you’re still wondering how to be more eco friendly – learning to sew and preventing more clothing from ending up in landfill is a great way to start!
Avoid Cars and Planes
Airplanes and solo car rides use tons of excess gasoline. Try biking, car-pooling with friends or co-workers, or take the train or bus.
Don’t use Pesticides
If you want to know how to be more eco friendly, try to avoid weed killers and pesticides. A lovely lawn is possible without introducing carcinogens into your outdoor space. Try an eco-conscious alternative like vinegar or organic herbicides.
Use Essential Oils
If you’re someone who loved to run into candle shops and smell all the beautiful scents, it can be disheartening to learn that most traditional candles contain lead and paraffin wax—a dangerous petroleum-based carcinogen. But don’t fret – you don’t have to give up beautiful scents! Try a more eco-conscious alternative – essential oils!
Stop Buying Single-Use Items
This one may be one of the hardest ones on our list when you’re considering how to be more eco friendly. Unfortunately, single-use items are everywhere. Try to start small by making these eco-conscious swaps. Instead of paper towels, use rags. Instead of plastic straws, get a metal one.
Choose Non-Toxic
Toxins from hair products, soaps, and deodorants not only affect our bodies, but also the environment through our water. Scan ingredient labels for traces of plastics, parabens, and sulfates, and choose plant-based products instead. This is a sure way to start being more mindful and eco-conscious.
Wash your Hair Less
To all the ladies with long locks, washing our hair everyday requires a lot of water – some might say, too much. Try a more eco-conscious approach. Keep your hair feeling fresh and fragranced between washes with natural dry shampoos made from arrowroot powder and essential oils – like our DIY Natural Dry Shampoo on Instagram!
Exercise Outside
Exercise and how to be more eco-friendly go hand in hand. Whenever you can, take your workout outside into the sunshine and reduce excess electricity usage at the gym.
Enjoy Nature
Lastly, take time to slow down and truly observe nature—in person; not through screens. Spending quality time outdoors helps us become more mindful of the earth and passionate about protecting the beauty and precious resources it offers us. When you connect with the earth, you connect with yourself and will hopefully be inspired to be more eco-conscious.
We hope you enjoyed / learned something new from this list. These are a few simple, eco-conscious choices that can help you leave the earth a better place than when you found it. If you’re still wondering how to be more eco friendly – don’t worry, we’re always here to help! What are some ways you are leading a more eco-friendly lifestyle?