How to Lead a More Sustainable Life

Living more sustainably is something we’d all like to try, but the idea of change is often too daunting to contemplate. The good news is that you only need to make a few small changes to create a significant impact on the world around you. Plus, the more sustainable habits you adopt, the sooner you’ll realise how much cheaper, simpler and more rewarding this lifestyle can be. Learning to be self-reliant is a challenge, so it’s a good idea to start with one area of your life before moving onto another. Here are some ideas for sustainable living to help you get started.

Choose Ethical Home Decor

The benefits of minimising what you bring into your home are plentiful: you’ll be more mindful of your spending, there’ll be less clutter on display, and you can showcase ornaments, cushions, and furniture that are truly one of a kind. If that weren’t enough of a pull, bespoke items tend to be far more beautiful and unique than anything you’ll buy in a homeware store. If you want to dress your home beautifully and sustainably, visit Banbayu.com for beautiful, ethical home and lifestyle pieces.

Stop Buying Cleaning Products

You’d be amazed how simple it is to clean your house with items from your pantry. Water and vinegar create the perfect glass cleaner, while baking soda is the most effective all-purpose cleaner money can buy. Adding essential oils to your homemade cleaning solutions will give them a pleasant smell and get your home feeling fresh in no time. You can also use lemon rind and rosemary springs to create sweet-smelling sprays, and mix toothpaste with baking soda for the perfect water ring remover. Once you get started, you’ll never want to buy ammonia-based cleaners again.

Shop Locally

We all know how convenient it is to shop online, but by supporting the smaller, independently owned businesses in your area, you’re helping the local economy as well as making new friends in the area. Local greengrocers and butchers tend to use less packaging than supermarkets, too, so your actions could help tackle the plastic crisis. It’s always rewarding to know exactly where your money’s going, and if you’re buying from a local villager rather than a huge corporation, chances are the money you’ve spent is helping to feed his family and clothe his kids. What could be more sustainable than that?

Reuse and Recycle

Next time you go to toss something in the bin, think about whether you could reuse or recycle it. Most big supermarkets have recycling points for old clothes, batteries, plastic carrier bags and even broken electrical items, so think twice before you throw any of these things away. You can also donate good-condition items to charity shops or pass them on to friends and family – anything to save them ending up in a landfill. The Internet is also chock-a-block with tutorials showing you how to find new uses for old, disused items using simple craft and DIY skills. With any luck, you could find a new purpose for each of your unwanted items and start a rewarding new hobby in the process.