It might have become a millennial buzzword, but sustainability is important. Being more sustainable can fulfil our needs, while preserving the planet’s precious resources for future generations.
It can seem like a difficult feat but being more sustainable can be easier than you think. Start with these five steps and you’ll be well on your way to a more sustainable life.
1. Single Use Plastics
We know that this has become one of the biggest pillars of sustainable living. Cutting out plastic bottles, straws and packaging makes a huge difference to the environment and can save you money in the long run.
Think about paper or metal straws, refillable bottles for your daily water intake, and buying fruit and vegetables loose rather than in plastic packaging. There are so many options that don’t involve single use plastic, and taking this one small, easy step can have a huge impact on your sustainability.
2. Buy Local and Seasonal
Not only will buying locally and seasonally improve your sustainability, it is widely accepted that eating fruit and vegetables in season is better for you nutritionally.
Although it might be a nice treat to buy Spanish oranges in the depth of a British winter, the food miles and related carbon footprint you will leave with that purchase puts a real strain on the planet.
Sourcing local food helps not only reduce your carbon footprint, but it also supports local farmers, who in turn can improve local ecosystems through good agricultural practice. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or omnivorous, the sustainable choice should always be local and seasonal.
You can even make your nights out more sustainable with you drink choices. Many bars are now opting for fresh seasonal garnishes for their and then use the leftovers to create syrups or shrubs. This not only reduces food waste, but also brings the best of the farm to the cup making for a sustainable cocktail and a guilt-free night.
When discussing how you can easily make your life ecologically sustainable, one of the easiest ways to do it would be to leave your car at home. Whether you walk or cycle, use public transport or car share, reducing the number of vehicles on the roads will do so much to protect natural resources.
Improving your own health is an excellent by-product of this sustainability exercise – according to the NHS, in order to protect your health, you need to achieve 30mins of exercise every day – imagine getting that done before you start your workday?
4. Save Water
Fun fact: it is claimed that the wastewater from the 50 Best Bars could fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in just under a year!
Wastewater from inefficient cleaning, leaving taps running and even using too much ice is a problem that all restaurants and bars face. It seems simple but make sure that you are turning off taps when not in use, your toilets have the most efficient flush systems installed, and opt for a quick shower over a luxurious bath to make your water use more sustainable.
5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
We live in an age of abundance. Manufacture of clothing and other goods is relatively simple, and our disposable lifestyle means that we do not always take the time to make the most out of something once it has fulfilled its original purpose.
That glass jar you finished the jam out of could make an excellent container for pens and pencils. That bottle of gin that is now empty could be repurposed into a fashionable lamp using some battery-operated lights. Think about what you are using and find new ways to reuse what you would usually throw away.