Want to learn more about implementing a more sustainable lifestyle? If so, you’ve come to the correct place.
As the most recent IPCC report demonstrated, it is critical to invest the time necessary to understand how to live sustainably and make every day living a little bit more environmentally friendly. In other words, we don’t have much time before the harm we’ve done to the environment is irreparable. For this reason, and more than ever, we are all required to do our part.
Sure, limiting your use of plastic is important, but so is learning about greenwashing, purchasing ethical fashion whenever possible, as well as making investments in sustainable beauty products.
1. CONSUME MORE PLANTS
Eat more veggies, fruits, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds, to put it another way. According to Dr. Lawrence Haddad, executive director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and chair of the UN Food Systems Summit Act, you all know they’re wonderful for you, but they’re also incredibly fantastic for the environment.
The doctor explains that both fruit and vegetables are excellent providers of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and many other nutrients that support health. Additionally, they have a comparatively low carbon and greenhouse gas footprint.
2. BUY FEWER HIGHLY PROCESSED FOODS
“This includes packaged meats,” explains Doctor Haddad. Why? From a sustainability standpoint, food preparation consumes valuable energy and produces waste due to the cardboard and plastic packaging used.
Foods like meat, fish, and dairy products should be consumed in moderation. “Foods that are from animals are essential for growing adolescents and kids, but in moderation,” says Doctor Haddad. To put it simply, “they’re not very good for your well-being or the planet,” he explains, advising you to consume processed meats like salami and sausages even less frequently.
3. REDUCE YOUR WASTE
Our guide to the best food waste apps may be of assistance if you’re trying to live sustainably and want to waste as little food as possible.
Composting aids in preventing food waste, according to doctor Haddad. “You may create your own internal compost container or purchase one for about £20. This is fantastic for reducing waste and returning nutrients to the land, he says.
4. TRY PLANT-BASED
We are all aware that one of the most serious offenders when it involves avoiding damaging CO2 emissions is the manufacturing of animal products, specifically red meat.
One method to be of assistance? “By choosing foods made from plants over animal-based ones, we can affect positive change. To ensure you’re eating in a healthy and environmentally friendly way, include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes in your diet, says Doctor Marta Antonelli, research director of the Barilla Foundation, which oversaw the SU-EATABLE LIFE Project to motivate EU citizens to adopt a healthier and more sustainable diet.
5. EDUCATE YOURSELF ON VEGAN COOKING
Veganism may seem completely daunting, but if you really commit to the effort and invest in some decent cookbooks, you’ll discover sustainable living is not that difficult. Why? Because you’ll quickly find the delicious plant-based dishes you enjoy. Additionally, you don’t have to be a vegan to eat sustainably; as was mentioned above, even a small bit helps.
“Indulge yourselves with herbs and spices, and discover every type of available veg, legumes, and whole grains,” says doctor Antonelli. When cooking, choose vegetable oil and add seeds and nuts to salads and soups, she advises. Got it?
6. TRY PLASTIC-FREE RECIPES
Some people may find it daunting to eliminate all plastic.
Fortunately, a surprising number of store items are plastic-free, according to Dolan. “Try choosing canned foods instead, such as beans, tomatoes, pulses, loose vegetables, plant milks, and foods in paper bags, including some cereals and oats. Try a nearby green grocer as well, as many of them sell loose fruits and veggies, advises Dolan.
7. GROW YOUR OWN FOOD
Along with dough starters, paint by numbers, and banana bread, what else was inspired by the pandemic? There was a huge influx of gardeners, which was fantastic for the environment.
Produce that is grown locally and organically can be obtained by growing your own food, according to Dolan. Some charity even provide gardeners with incentives, encouraging them to produce particular pollinator-attracting plants. The dwindling bee population is being supported by these.
8. CHOOSE ORGANIC
You’ve chosen plastic-free produce wherever feasible, added bee-friendly plants to your garden, and expanded your collection of plant-based recipes. Up next? Going organic is the way to go.
“Organic farming is healthier for the planet as it’s designed to honor nature and improve the health of soils, water, and air,” says McDermott, the Soil Association specialist who contributed to the definition of sustainability in the introduction. In addition to eliminating toxic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, organic farming also promotes improved wellbeing for farm animals and wildlife.
9. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ORGANIC FARMERS
Why not buy an organic, local vegetable box? Or look into options for organic home meal delivery?
The advantages of receiving a fruit, vegetable, or meat box are numerous, according to McDermott. “You’ll be joining an organization of incredible individuals, farmers, and organizations who are ensuring that how we farm and eat is more beneficial for our health, good for nature and wildlife, and also better for the climate.”
Uncertain about where to begin? You can use a useful tool on the Soil Association website to locate an organic veg box close to where you live.