By: Eva Plag Fontes
We are used to people seeing new years as new beginnings. Deciding to lose weight, exercise more, focus on mindfulness, or changing career paths. What we don’t think about as much, is how a new year is also a new opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint.
Today, I suggest 10 ways on how you can make 2021 your most sustainable year yet. Some are obvious, some not so much, but one thing we can guarantee: if you implement these, your carbon footprint will reduce drastically! Ready?
Top 10 Sustainable Things To Do In 2021
1. Get A Reusable Water Bottle
Well, if you haven’t done this by now, you are already running behind. Get creative on how you get one: instead of buying a new one (which also comes with a footprint), see if one of your friends has an extra one. This also helps you reduce plastic.
2. Change Your Light Bulbs To LED
Extra tip: better than LED is just turning off your lights when you are not in the room.
3. Start Meal Prepping
This tip does not only reduce food waste but is also a great friend of your wallet – buying only exactly what you need is a money saver!
4. Shower With A Bucket
As weird as it sounds, please hear me out. When you turn on the water to take a shower, there is always a reasonable amount that goes to waste while it is warming up. If you let that water flow into a bucket, instead of down the drain, you can use it to water plants or flush the toilet.
5. Shop With Your Own Containers
Zero Waste is really becoming a trend, so it is easier and easier to shop without resorting to unnecessary packaging. Gather your old jars, sew produce bags out of old fabric pieces, and get creative! Read more about waste management.
6. Boycott Fast Fashion
The fashion industry is one of the most polluting ones in the world. We are likely to already own more clothes than we need, so it’s time to stop buying more. And when you do need to buy more, opt for second-hand stores.
Since most of us are already stuck at home, this might be an easy one.
7. Reduce Your Meat Intake
Scientists have proven that the amount of meat humanity is consuming is polluting the Earth irreversibly. You don’t necessarily have to become vegan, but our food choices matter a lot. Start with meat-free Mondays, and if you want, gradually reduce your intake from there.
8. Get A Bamboo Toothbrush
You will always need to brush your teeth, so why not do it in a sustainable fashion? Bamboo toothbrushes are compostable, so one less thing ending up in a landfill! It also helps in reducing plastic consumption. We know that in this day and age, plastics are everywhere. They are hard to get rid of. But at least we can keep trying.
9. Choose Public Transportation
Or get a bicycle. Or walk. Simply avoid using a car as much as you can and, when you do, make sure it is full, so it’s worth it.
10. Say “No”
And as easy it is to suggest, putting it into practice is way more difficult. Refusing unnecessary gifts, disposables, and anything you don’t really need can have a huge difference in your carbon footprint, and the amount of clutter in your home.
Be minimalistic! Here are some ways how to say no.
Final thoughts
These were 10 easy sustainable things to do in 2021. Big changes start small. Hope this was helpful and helped you get your eco journey to begin.
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