Many people think that being sustainable means that we have to give up the things we love and enjoy doing. For example, no more flying, driving cars, shopping at your favourite stores, and essentially… a lot less fun to be had. But you know what I think? You don’t have to live that way, instead, make sustainable living choices to swap instead of stop. I’ve been making a few changes to my lifestyle over the years that fit into my everyday routine without any pressure or guilty feeling. Here’s what you can do as well.
Start Your Sustainability Swap With Your Car
It’s all well and good to say that we need to get rid of cars and ride bicycles everywhere, but it’s simply not practical for everyone. Commuting, taking the kids to this and that, and just quick supermarket shops aren’t so easy with a bike, especially not in winter. Public transport isn’t always reliable, either, and a car is the only way to get around for some people.
The simplest solution is to go electric. Modern EVs have great battery lives, charge quickly, are stylish, and can zip around the city or countryside just as easy as their petrol counterpart. Electric vehicles are the way forward and the sooner everyone realises it, the better. I’ve also seen photos of the smart #5 electric SUV being roomy enough to store a lot of bags and even sleep in, which bodes well for spontaneous weekend getaways.
A Sustainable Lifestyle Also Means The Little Things
There’s no denying that an electric vehicle is a big but necessary life change, but just like buying second-hand, there’s much we can do that are small swaps but meaningful.
For example, we can make cheaper and more convenient choices that are better for the environment, such as:
- Buying cleaning products and beauty items that can be refilled
- Bringing bags to the supermarket and your own coffee cup to a café
- Eating 2-3 plant-based meals every week to cut down on meat consumption
- Supporting local farmer’s markets and ethically-sourced items from independent stores
- Installing energy-efficient gadgets and lightbulbs in the home
I think you’ll agree that those are pretty easy options that anyone can start right now. Also, plant-based doesn’t just mean a tofu burger! There are plenty of yummy recipes I’ve been trying lately.
A Different, Greener Gift Idea
I like the notion that is starting to emerge of less product gifts for birthdays and Christmases, and more events and experiences. No ugly socks that will sit in a drawer and no horrible scented candles that will go in the bin, but instead something that can be enjoyed as a memory. Whether it be cinema tickets, pottery class, spa day… the options are almost limitless and it’s something you can perhaps also undertake with the person you’re giving it to as a way of spending quality time.
While I don’t expect you to never, ever buy a product again, the greener idea is simply to not pick up something random “just for the sake of it”. So often we receive items that feel like last-minute options that don’t reflect our personalities. I’d even prefer someone donate to charity than buying me some chocolate selection box.
I even know some families that have stopped giving each other gifts at Christmas because they’ve simply run out of ideas at this point!
No doubt the little ones will still want a new toy or video game, but for adults, sometimes it’s nice – even just for a year – to collectively decide that we’re just here to have fun, rather than give each other (possibly) terrible presents.
Nobody Is Asking You To Be Perfect
The idea of this article and being sustainable in general is simply to make swaps when possible. I’m trying to make better lifestyle choices that don’t hurt the planet all the time, but I’m still learning as well.
Even starting small somewhere in the home is helping, just begin thinking green today and we’ll see an impact for the future.
