People encouraged to play a part in creating a sustainable future

We are living in an environmentally conscious age where we are required to play our part in conserving Mother Earth for future generations. There is a lot one can do to ensure they are living sustainably.

Sustainable living

Living sustainably is leading a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the earth’s natural resources and one’s personal resources. The future of generations that come after us lies in our hands. It’s up to us to ensure future generations have clean water sources, forests and other natural resources.

The earth’s natural capital is running out, and by 2030 we will need an approximate of two earths to provide enough resources for our consumption and to absorb our waste. This is very alarming knowing very well that we only have one earth.

Sustainable living is for us all. Young, old, rich or poor. We all have a role to play in creating a sustainable future. Below are things we can do to ensure we are playing our part in creating a sustainable future.

1. Replace plastic bags with reusable bags

Plastic never goes away. A plastic bags takes 400 – 1000 years to break down in the environment. Each year, plastic bags cause the death of about 100,000 sea turtles and other marine animals. We use disposable plastic shopping bags out of convenience and ignorance regarding their seriously negative consequences. The following bags can alternatively replace plastic bags:

• Tote bags made from cotton or synthetic materials can be reused many times before getting to the end of their life span.
• Natural fiber bags are eco-friendly and are made from natural materials. They are 100% plastic free. They are washable and durable.

2. Plant your own vegetable garden

Growing your own food has many benefits. By growing your own food, you are helping to reduce the high amounts of burning fossil fuels that fill our environment as a direct result of importing foods from commercial farmers. You are also reducing waste from food packaging materials such as man-made plastics and cardboard, that also travel hundreds and thousands of miles.

3. Use solar energy

Solar energy relies purely on capturing light from the sun and converting that energy into electricity or heating for your home. This means you are not producing any greenhouse gases or harmful emissions that are contributing to global warming. It can even reduce your carbon footprint by 80% in one year. Using solar panels means that you reduce the amount of energy that you use from the grid. You can even use solar batteries to keep your home powered at night. This saves energy, and also reduces the amount of pollutants being released every day.

4. Buy locally produced products

By shopping locally, you are purchasing goods produced in your local community. Conversely, when you shop at the grocery store, many of the food items you buy travel over 1500 miles to reach your plate. By cutting down on these miles, you are reducing the environmental impact of your food. Local food doesn’t create large carbon footprints through overseas plane travel or long truck trips. This cuts down on fuel consumption and air pollution. There isn’t a need for shipping facilities, packing facilities or refrigeration. By buying and eating local, consumers are able to enjoy produce that is fresh and nutritious.

5. Reduce, Reuse and recycle

Reduce

Reduce the amount of consumables and resources that you use. For example, instead of using your car you can opt to use a bus to reduce the amount of emissions on the road.

Reuse

Reuse as many items as you can, as this keeps them out of the waste stream and reduces the amount of waste that needs to be processed.

Recycle

Send as much of the waste generated in your home or office for recycling as possible. Recycling is the process of converting used items back into a reusable material and then using this to make new products. Recycling conserves natural resources and reduces the need to put waste into landfills. You can recycle paper, glass and cans, as well as certain kinds of plastic and metal.

Going green does not require big lifestyle changes. It’s the small things we do as individuals that create huge impact in the long run. Never underestimate the small changes you implement in your life.