Incorporating sustainable choices into your lifestyle...
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveAs we become more aware of the impact our actions have on
the planet, many women are seeking to practise more sustainable lifestyles. Sustainability
has grown more popular over the years, with 73% of global consumers prepared to
change their consumption habits to positively impact the planet. It’s great to
hear that we’re prepared to make the change – but where do we start?
Here, we look at the key ways you can incorporate simple,
sustainable lifestyle choices into your everyday life.
Aim to live a minimalist lifestyle
Over-consumption is one of the biggest dangers to the
planet. Platforms including Instagram have reignited our consumerist desires
thanks to the proliferation of influencers and heavily targeted adverts. They
play on our insecurities and our desires to emulate our favourite stars.
It can be difficult to change the habit of a lifetime. One
of the most straightforward ways you can cut out buying unnecessary items is to
ask if you really need it. When it comes to beauty or fashion items, stick to
the rule of only buying new items to replace empties or pieces that are no
longer wearable. Don’t forget to upcycle or recycle those items if you can –
some beauty brands including MAC will reward recycling your empties with a free
lipstick. Similarly, your clothes can be repurposed if you donate them to
textiles and fabric collections.
If sustainability isn’t enough to convince you to be less
materialistic, maybe the studies that found excessive
consumerism contributes to unhappiness will.
Ditch fast fashion for timeless, lasting pieces
The shift to sustainability is impacting the fashion sector.
Ethical brands with transparent processes are becoming more popular. This is
leading well-established labels to explore ways they can be more sustainable.
With the UN identifying fashion as the second-biggest global polluter, it’s
clear something needs to change.
Over-consumption feeds into fast fashion. It’s one of the
most damaging aspects of the fashion industry and is a particular problem in
the UK. British consumers buy 26.7kg of clothes on average every year, compared
to the lower figure of 15.6kg across the rest of Europe.
To avoid fast fashion, you can shop at eco-friendly clothing
brands which are transparent about their processes. Shopping with sustainable
brands doesn’t have to be expensive, either. Ethical fashion brand Aligne is dedicated to the fight against fast
fashion with timeless pieces at an affordable price point.
Shopping at charity and vintage shops is also encouraged.
Pre-loved clothing items might otherwise end up in a landfill – and the
ultimate goal of sustainable fashion is to prevent this. Actively look for
sustainable fabrics, such as recycled cashmere and polyester, organic cotton and
denim.
Prioritise reusable items
One of the biggest shifts we’ve seen towards sustainability
in the UK is the implementation of reusable items. Whether it’s shops
encouraging you to use bags for life or coffee shops offering discounts for
customers using reusable cups, it’s a big part of our lives now.
Like any other new habit, it can take some time to embed
these practices into your everyday life. By incorporating your sustainable
practices into the tasks you carry out daily, you’ll get used to it in no time.
Pack your reusable
coffee cup while you’re organising your handbag for work, or keep a fabric
shopping bag in it at all times in case you make an impromptu stop at the
grocer’s on the way home.
A number of brands are taking this further. In October 2020,
Asda announced a new sustainability store aimed at reducing wasteful packaging.
Customers can bring their own containers and head to ‘refill stations’ to
purchase their favourite big brand with zero waste.
Consider sustainability in your diet
Sustainable eating practices are also growing in popularity.
Veganism is renowned for its low impact on the planet. The raising of livestock
for meat is one of the biggest drains of natural resources and land, making it
unsustainable.
For those who don’t want to go full vegan, incorporating
vegan days or some key practices from the lifestyle will make a difference. In
fact, one study showed that becoming a flexitarian can help reduce
global greenhouse gas emissions by 52 per cent. Incorporating more plants
into your diet, even if you don’t go full plant-based, will help you to reduce
the amount of less sustainable ingredients you eat.
Reducing food waste will also have a positive impact on the
planet and your purse. It’s estimated that 30 per cent of all food produced is
wasted. By freezing or batch-cooking food that you won’t eat before it goes
off, you’ll reduce your own food waste production and limit wasted money.
Shopping for loose produce in zero waste stores will further allow you to only
buy what you need.
Sustainability is having a moment in the spotlight, but
we’re sure it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. As our awareness of how we
can make our lifestyles more sustainable has increased, so has its popularity
and importance. In turn, consumers and businesses alike are prioritising
eco-friendly products and practices for the sake of the environment.
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Created on Jan 8th 2021 09:03. Viewed 797 times.