Burning Question: What’s the best way to get started with sustainability? Why live more sustainably?
“We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
― Howard Zinn
We all know that living sustainably is important for combating a changing climate and rising pollution from fossil fuels, plastic, fast fashion, and more. But when every aspect of our lives seems to be harming the environment, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. For some, it may even feel pointless. It's important to remember that our actions, no matter how seemingly small, have a massive impact when we all do them together!
What does it mean to live a sustainable lifestyle?
For some, the question of sustainable living seems silly when a relatively small number of corporations are responsible for more than half of the world's pollution (Carrington, 2026; Cowger, 2024). It’s always important to remember that we must first live according to our own values before holding others accountable.
Living a sustainable lifestyle means:
Making thoughtful choices that reduce our impact
Making small changes over time so that we can maintain sustainable habits
Always open to learning and sharing knowledge
13 Tips for Living a More Sustainable Lifestyle
Responsible Consumption
Resist the urge to curate your lifestyle based on what you see online - Avoid buying new items whenever possible. The most sustainable purchase is the one you've already made. Try using what you have before purchasing something new; even products marketed as eco-friendly can contribute to overconsumption. We all want our homes and closets to feel cozy and reflect our personalities, but this desire to curate, coupled with rapid trend cycles, can lead to overconsumption. Thoughtful purchases reduce overconsumption and, therefore, textile landfill waste.
Learn to sew - Picking up basic sewing skills gives you the power to repair clothing for you and your community. That keeps your closet out of stores and landfills!
Get a tailor/cobbler - These professionals have the skills to make your clothes and shoes last a lifetime. Often, they are family-owned businesses, so you can support the local economy and small businesses by having your shoes or clothes repaired.
Borrow before you buy - Think about whether you really need to own something before committing to the purchase. Ask a friend or family member if you can borrow their vacuum, blender, speaker, etc. instead. Or try a buy nothing group on Facebook or Nextdoor. Reducing our consumption signals to manufacturers a reduced demand for their products, which prompts them to produce less and keeps those unused products from entering the landfill.
Small Lifestyle Changes
Get out of the disposable mindset - Instead of single-use cleaning products, opt for refillable versions of the things you buy often, like hand and dish soap, or household cleaners. In fact, using a multi-purpose cleaner reduces the various special product requirements associated with plastic waste. You can even try DIY household cleaning spray! There are unlimited ways to reuse or repair items you might normally put in the trash. For instance, packaging from items you order online can be reused as mailers and boxes for returns or holiday gifts. Reuse old clothing items that cannot be worn or donated as pet bed stuffing or use them as cleaning rags.
Conserve energy - Reducing your energy consumption is not only good for the planet, but it can save you money too. Turn off the lights when you don't need them and unplug electronics that aren't in use. You can also line-dry your laundry, when possible, instead of using the dryer.
Conserve water - Shorter showers give our local municipal water supply a cushion, which is especially useful during droughts. If you don't already, remember to turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth or hand-washing dishes. You could even take it a step further and save water (from the shower, for example) for other uses in the home, like watering plants!
Learn to sort your waste - Over 177 million tons of compostable and recyclable materials enter the landfill every year. Learning more about the different kinds of waste and how to sort them can reduce your landfill contributions. Recycling is available in most municipalities. Learn about what is accepted in your area. If curbside pickup isn't available, think about making the trip to the correct facility. You could bundle the recyclables from you and your friends and make a big trip, or one person can volunteer to be the drop-off person. Find out what works for you.
Think about your food
Reduce food waste - According to the EPA, Americans threw away 63 million tons of food in 2018. When food is landfilled instead of composted, it produces and releases methane gas, an extremely potent greenhouse gas. Try to buy only what you need from the grocery store or create an "eat this first" shelf in your fridge to reduce the amount of food that has to be tossed because it has gone bad. This remains important, even if you have composting available in your neighborhood.
Eat less meat - You don't have to be 100% plant-based to reduce your impact. In fact, reducing your beef and dairy intake is the most impactful dietary change you can make for the planet. Other low-impact foods include root vegetables, nuts, fruits, and wheat, which can have up to 50 times lower carbon emissions than animal-based products.
Reduce Food Packaging - When grocery shopping, opt for foods not wrapped in plastic when possible. When you're not cooking at home, choose a sit-down meal at a restaurant over takeout to reduce food-packaging waste.
Creating Green Space
Plant a Garden - A 2022 peer-reviewed research study on urban heat islands found that even small areas of green space “brought the greatest microclimatic benefits for the largest blocks” (Park et al., 2021). In other words, even small planters on balcony railings throughout a city can help cool the area. You could take this a step further and delve into the world of guerrilla gardening.
How do you get around?
Drive Less - Carbon emissions from single-passenger car travel are among the largest contributors to climate change. One of the most sustainable lifestyle changes you can make is to drive less and/or carpool more often. Try using a bike, scooter, skateboard, rollerblades, etc. for shorter trips whenever possible.
Conclusion
The most important tip for living a sustainable lifestyle is to start small. Pick one or two things from the list that you can maintain. That will ultimately have the biggest impact. The next most sustainable thing one can do is to hold corporations accountable for their actions. Get involved in your local community to see what's going on. Vote in local elections for politicians who say they want the same things you do. Show up to city council meetings. If you can't find an organization that fits your needs, create your own! It’s our collective actions that add up to make the biggest impact!
Written by: Jasmyne Williams
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