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Sustainable Living for the Un-Sustainable: Top Ten Tips to help give back to the Earth

Sustainable Living for the Un-Sustainable: Top Ten Tips to help give back to the Earth

Emma Elliott
Lifestyle, Featured
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Define Sustainable:

sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty - /səˌstānəˈbilədē/

noun

  1. the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.

  • "the sustainability of economic growth"

    2. avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.

  • "the pursuit of global environmental sustainability"

With the Amazon Rainforest burning, our oceans being flooded with plastic, and the amount of trash I see around my apartment complex when I take our dog out, I always think to myself, “how can I be more sustainable, and not contribute to this problem?” This thought stays with me for a little bit, and then I fall back into my normal routine and, if I’m being honest with you and myself, I never put in a lot of effort into being truly eco-friendly other than ordering metal straws off of Amazon and bringing totes to the grocery store.

Collage created by @me, Article @nytimes, Images @washingtonpost & @wallstreetjournal

Collage created by @me, Article @nytimes, Images @washingtonpost & @wallstreetjournal

I’ve read countless articles on sustainable fashion brands, eco-friendly fabrics being used, and I hear people on their instagram stories talk about the life changes they are making and asking their followers what they do to be better. However, for some reason, these words and stories never stick to my brain and trigger this new way of life. I am aware these changes need to be worked at and real effort needs to be made, but I can’t even get started at level one, I’m barely out of the gate and onto the track. Could it be from information overload? My short attention span? (I blame the internet for this one) Who knows, but I have decided to get real and educated on the subject by creating a top ten checklist on how I can be more sustainable in my everyday life. Also, using this blog to document my eco-journey as a way to hold myself accountable and push a simple platform that others can follow as well. Because let’s face it, to be really eco-friendly and make an impact you have to know what the hell you’re doing, and I don’t even understand the full capacity of how to recycle correctly. So continue reading if you want to prove that sustainability is not a buzzword, but a realistic and helpful way to live in order to help the planet.

Top Ten Tips

  • 1. Recycle, Recycle and, oh yeah, Recycle.

    • So this one seems pretty self explanatory but I know I’m not the only one that either, doesn’t recycle correctly or doesn’t make a serious attempt because of the uncertainty. So let me be your recycling tour guide in 5 bullet points below:

      • Materials good for recycling —> Glass, Metals (ie); aluminum & steel cans, aluminum foil with no food residue, plastics with code numbers 1 & 2 (see next bullet for EXPLANATION), organic materials, All paper items that are not contaminated by waste or food

      • plastics have numbers on the bottom with a triangle and number in the center, those indicate if it is recyclable or not. #1 & #2 are the most accepted numbers, #3 - #7 vary on city/county.

      • Always rinse out items that have had food in and on them, like glass, recyclable plastics and paper. If ITems cannot be cleaned (like pizza grease cardboard boxes) those can be composted! or put in the landfill.

      • Don’t use plastic trash bags or single use bags in recycling bins

      • Avoid one use plastics, like grocery bags, straws and plastic silverware


  • 2. Invest in re-usable products where necessary in your life and routine

    • Some no brainers are easy water bottles, coffee thermos’s, and food wraps and storage. Another re-usable item are straws, it may feel weird to be that person but it’s easy just simply say the phrase to the barista or waiter “No straw, thank you!” Then whip out your handy dandy metal or glass straw and boom. Done. Or simply forgo straws all together when you are out.

    • You can also invest in cloth napkins to substitute heavy paper towel usage or microfibre cloths to use for cleaning around your home. The cost effective alternative is using old t-shirts and socks.

      ***Another quick point, write no silverware or napkins in order comments when getting delivery from post-mates, UberEats etc. and use your silverware at home.

  • 3. Buy some dryer balls instead of dryer sheets

    • This one I didn’t even think about, but I use so many dryer sheets. Like so many. Dryer balls are addition to your laundry routine and can help you save money because they can last up to 2-5 years depending on usage.

  • 4. Re-Usable shopping bags

    • This one could fall under the reusable bullet above, but I feel like it needs it’s own moment. You can either buy a packet of them or use what you already have at home. UrbanOutfitters uses cloth bags which work great, and I’ve recieved some from other retailers or sent in the mail as a free gift. Grocery stores also carry fun printed totes for purchase, like Trader Joes, Albertsons and Safeway

      ***Fun Tip: I am an avid glossier shopper and I reuse their plastic bags for toiletries on the plane or if I want to bring any makeup or lotion to work

  • 5. Go Paperless

    • I feel like this one is a no brainer, because I can’t be the only one that hates getting a bunch of junk in the mailbox that I always throw away. If you are someone that likes getting the bill as a reminder, either set alerts in your inbox, on your computer and/or phone to know when bills are due or always recycle the paper once the bills are paid.


  • 6. Shop Vintage/Consignment

    • Fast fashion is a big contributor to environmental destruction and this is one that I struggle with a lot (I market this blog as a fashion blog… hello). I’m not saying you have to only shop second hand, but make it apart of your shopping routine. Or if vintage isn’t for you, make sure to donate your clothes to a consignment store, sell them yourself using Depop or Poshmark, and look into possible sustainable clothing options.

  • 7. Textile Recycling

    • This is something I have never done but want to get into, it takes a little more work but it will be so worth it in the end with a clean closet and an even cleaner planet

    • You can get this information on your cities or county’s website, for example where I live in Arizona gives you a list of organizations that operate and pick up unwanted items for repurposing. There are organizations that take your to far gone clothing, like bras, underwear, ratty t-shirts etc. and recycle them to be used for other things. That can range from home insulation, cushion stuffing, and even into a new piece of clothing.

      • H&M has clothing drop offs in all of their store locations, it can be any condition and from any brand (even bed sheets!): H&M Group & H&M Garment Collection

      • The Northface also does a similar program for clothing and shoes, the program is in Northface retailers and their Outlet locations: NorthFace Responsibility

      • Here is a blog with a wealth of links and information about textile recycling: Trash is For Tossers


  • 8. Washable makeup pads

    • I recently invested in these, and by invested I mean $12.50 on amazon, and they are awesome. They actually solved three issues, eliminated the amount of waste from the cotton pads I was purchasing, helped me save money on the monthly cotton pad purchase I was making at Target and now I never run out of cotton pads to help take my makeup off at night.

  • 9. Start composting!

    • I know very little about composting, and have not started doing it myself, but once set up with the bin and know what you are doing, it is an easy thing to implement into your lifestyle.

      • Composting definition: a form of waste disposal where organic waste decomposes naturally under oxygen-rich conditions. ... Once these waste items are placed in a pile, the composting process can start. The organic materials are broken down naturally by earthworms, bacteria and other organisms that live in soil.

      • The best way for apartment dwellers like myself is the worm bin method, where you use paper and cardboard with discarded food and then add worms to do all the work.

      • Or you can utilize your cities compost pick up service

      • There are a variety of other composting methods that I have linked here: How to Compost in an Apartment

  • 10. Reduce meat and dairy consumption for a few meals a week

    • Agriculture is a big contributor to pollution and green house gas emissions. There are many different methods within this industry, from arable and livestock agriculture, to factory and small/rural farms.

    • Looking at the industry in total, without making distinctions, they pollute waters from runoff, excessive water use, land use and deforestation along with different aspects of the industry producing anywhere from 6%-32% of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere

    • While these facts can be dissected and broken down by industry, an impact is still being made. Limiting meat consumption is a drop in the bucket in contributing to the funding but, it also can help your home product less waste.

Image via @Giphy

Image via @Giphy

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