In an environment where brands attempt to emphasize fast fashion in order to make the most profit, consume sustainably is very important. It helps the environment by reducing the amount of Earth’s resources that you use in order to protect the planet. An important topic to consider during Earth Month is how to consume sustainably.
Consume Sustainably by Using Renewable Alternatives
Renewable energy such as wind and solar are great alternatives to non-renewable energy sources such as coal, gas, and oil. While many corporations, including various fashion brands, have used renewable energy in making their products, it is not exclusive to them. Solar panels can be installed on your roof as a way to offset energy costs. You too can use renewable energy in your home!
There are also other ways that you can use renewable alternatives. If you have access to public transportation, such as a bus or a train, consider using it instead of driving. Hybrid cars are also renewable alternatives because they don’t require as much oil as standard cars.
Consume Sustainably by Recycling
Three popular ways that people use to decrease their impact on the environment are reducing, reusing, and recycling. Recycling plays a big part in helping to consume sustainably. Do you get physical advertisements in the mail, or bills that could save paper if they were sent through an email? If you have no use for them, you can recycle them. However, you also have the option of receiving letters and receipts via email rather than in person.
There are also other ways to consume sustainably by recycling. If you find yourself buying a lot of plastic water bottles, they can easily be recycled into other products such as reusable shopping bags, rugs, and even flower pots. However, if you prefer not to recycle your plastic water bottles, switching to a reusable water bottle instead is another alternative. This keeps the environment clean, reducing waste as well as environmental impact.
Consume Sustainably by Reusing
Bringing home plastic bags from the grocery store that sit in your home afterwards is becoming a thing of the past. Plenty of grocery stores now charge a fee of 5 cents per bag for customers who don’t bring their own bags with them. If you want to avoid this small fee, you can bring your own reusable bags when you do your grocery shopping.
The EPA offers some helpful suggestions about how to both reduce and reuse products. Used items such as clothing can be found in consignment shops as opposed to retail stores whose brands promote fast fashion. This clothing is most often donated by individuals who have no more use for it. However, it is often still in good condition, and therefore still very valuable.
Eating Sustainably
Eating sustainably is another way to lessen your impact on the environment. This does not just mean adopting a vegetarian lifestyle! You can also grow your own food, such as herbs and vegetables. If you want to do so, keep in mind the peak seasons for many popular fruits and vegetables.
Another way to eat sustainably is to eat foods that are in season. Fruits and vegetables such as avocados, apricots, bell peppers, and blackberries are available in the summer. They can be grown out of season as well, however, this increases their price.
If you use plastic plates and utensils, there are many valuable alternatives that you can use instead! Also, using metal straws instead of plastic straws has been a popular trend in recent years. These reusable alternatives are sustainable because they last much longer than their plastic counterparts.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to read about sustainable fashion in Cuba, or you might want to find out how to be a better fashion consumer.
