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5 Super Simple Ways To Live A More Sustainable Life In 2021

By – who always has time to go to breakfast, no matter how busy she is.

a woman on a mountain top with a backpack and a waterbottle

If one of your new year’s resolutions was to live a greener life, but you've been struggling a little, no shade—we've got your back. Now don’t worry, we’re not saying you need to give up your car, go vegan and never look at another plastic-wrapped product again. While going all the way is great for the environment, we get that it’s not exactly a realistic way of life for everyone.

What we are suggesting is that you make a few simple, easy-to-do swaps in your daily routine, changes that you’ll barely even notice once you make them happen, but if everyone were to do them, would make a huge difference to the world, and our future in it. 

Always Carry A Water Bottle And Keep Cup 

You probably already take a water bottle to the gym, and maybe a coffee cup to work—imagine how many plastic water bottles and paper coffee cups you could save by just having them with you at all times? We recommend keeping yourself hydrated with a stainless steel water bottle that will keep your water cool in the summer heat. And if you hate carrying a coffee mug around, you could just keep one set in your car and one at work, but why not try a collapsable number like this one

Eat Less Meat 

Before your mind jumps immediately to endless tofu, hear us out. The meat industry is one of the biggest contributors to climate change right now, and without a drastic decrease in beef consumption, as well as pork, chicken and lamb, we are heading for disaster. But you don’t have to give it up entirely. Think about it this way—if the whole world stopped eating meat for one day a week, we’d reduce consumption by 14%. Two days? 30%. Three days? Almost 50%. Get the picture? And let’s be real, you don’t need to eat a steak every night to be full and healthy, no matter what your dad tells you. Whether you opt for falafel, tofu, lentils or just a big ol’ bowl of carbs (hellooo pasta), there’s plenty of delicious ways to be a conscious foodie these days.

Remove Some Plastic From Your Bathroom 

Cast an eye over your bathroom and you’re no doubt gonna see a whole lotta plastic—most of it completely unnecessary. Seriously, why did we start putting soap into plastic bottles when a bar of the stuff works just as well? And don’t even get us started on make up removal wipes and single use cotton pads. You don’t have to give up your favourite beauty products, just swap a few of those things that maybe don’t need to come in a plastic bottle or with single use status for versions that don’t. Personally, we’re all about these shampoo bars, have given up face wash and shaving cream for these beauty bars, and swapped make up removers for these cult-worthy face washers. Already done all that and want more (because it’s so damn easy)? Here’s some more ways to make your bathroom more sustainable.

Be An Eco-Friendly Shopper 

Eco warriors, it’s time to upgrade your canvas bags from market totes to always totes. Take your cotton canvas bag everywhere from shoe shopping to ducking to the pharmacy so nothing ever comes home with you in a plastic bag. And when you’re hitting the supermarket or your local farmers market, take a few smaller cloth bags (we love these ones from Seed & Sprout) for loose produce and keep them folded up in your handbag or car so you’re never without them. Want to step it up a notch? Start shopping for things like rice, nuts, oats and even dishwashing detergent at bulk food stores, and eliminate a whole lot of plastic from your shopping cart.

Be An Eco-Friendly Traveller 

As much as we love to travel, we all need to do our bit to help reduce our footprint, be that here at home or on your next overseas adventure (whenever that eventually happens). We know giving up flying is too much to ask, but there are ways to be a more sustainable traveller—from not using (or stealing) the hotel toiletries, to using public transport instead of ubers when you’re there and choosing to carbon offset your flight. Also, all those tips above? Apply them to your travel habits too! We’ve rounded up more tips to help you out here.

You’ll find more ways to help the planet on our dedicated sustainability page.

Image credit: Bluewater Grove

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