You probably saw a lot of Plastic-Free July messaging in your feeds last month, and personally we loved how many people got behind it! The whole purpose of the movement is to make a positive change in our habits, to ensure our planet has a future. Now that the month is over and people are no longer actively talking about it, it’s easy to let old habits creep back in.
We, as humans, have the power to make a real difference in the future of our planet, and even the smallest changes in our day to day lives can have an enormous impact. And here’s the thing — it doesn’t have to be a difficult process, it just requires some minor changes by each of us.
Here are 6 easy changes you can make to your daily routine to live more sustainably:
1. Single-use Plastics
Who hasn’t heard about the battle against single-use plastics? How many plastic bottles do you drink from each day/month/year? Our guess is a lot! Small changes in your drinking habits can have an enormous effect – rather than buying a plastic water bottle on the go, plan ahead and bring your refillable and reusable bottle with you. At a café or restaurant? Say no to plastic straws, either bringing your own reusable straw or simply don’t use one! Don’t forget to bring your Keep Cup either! When it comes to supermarket shopping, bringing your reusable tote. Got leftovers? Choose glass Tupperware over plastic. Or opt for beeswax-based products that sustainably store food, are easy to wash, and are reusable.
2. Electricity
One of the easiest ways to be more sustainable is to reduce your consumption of energy in the home. Leaving the room? Turn off the light. Feeling warm? Turn off your AC and open a window.
3. Food
A lot of energy is used in the farming and production of our most basic ingredients. Put your green thumb to the test and grow your own herbs and vegetables! If that’s not an option, try shop for your fresh produce at local farmers markets, supporting local community and fair trade practices.
4. Transportation
No surprise that transportation emits a large amount of pollution, and while it might not be possible to completely give up motorised transport, consider taking the more eco-friendly options; bicycle, public transport, walking (our favourite), or car sharing (Uber, GoGet, ZipCar).
5. Fashion
The fashion industry is one of the largest industries in the world, however it is unfortunately also one of the largest polluters in the world, second only to oil (disgusting, we know!). Fast fashion is the culprit, and globally we consume billions of pieces of new clothing each year, of which the majority ends up in landfill. Trends come and go, and each season we’re after that new dress and pair of sandals only to forget about what we so adored last year. Don’t take this the wrong way – we’re not asking you to stop buying new clothes, just be a little bit more conscious of where you’re buying them from. Try to opt for fair trade, vintage, pre-loved items, or items made from recycled goods.
Wink, wink, nudge, nudge – we at MOTU are so proud to use fabrics that are made from waste found in our oceans, including plastic bottles and fishing nets. Not only does this prevent the production of new swimwear but helps reduce the amount of plastic fibres that regular swimwear fabrics release into the ocean.
6. Waste Management
How we dispose of goods is really what’s causing most of our environmental issues. We can keep cleaning our oceans and land of rubbish, however we need to prevent it from getting there in the first place. Most people are aware that recycling is ‘good’, but the direct impact isn’t really understood, or what happens when you skip it. How do you typically dispose of waste? Are your food scraps just going to the bin? Why not start composting! It’s super easy and will do wonders on your garden!
Start making these changes today! It can be so simple.
Got any more tips you'd like to share? Let us know!
