With the rise of social media, different people are slowly becoming more aware about how their lifestyles and daily habits impact the environment around them. Little activities that were once disregarded as insignificant in the grand scheme of climate change are slowly being pointed out as contributors to the problem, and more and more people are looking to make an effort to do something about this.
In the face of melting ice caps and overflowing landfills that infiltrate our oceans, it’s easy to think that there’s nothing any individual can do to make a lasting impact, but it’s in these little habits done collectively that can help the situation improve. They say that every little change matters, and the same can be said about living a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
When everyone lives a fast-paced lifestyle that constantly requires them to constantly be on the move, it’s important to take a step back and evaluate every activity to see where you can implement these little changes in your daily habits. Think about the things that you find yourself doing regularly, and whether or not there are ways to make it more eco-friendly.
It’s important to remember that no effort is too small to make a lasting difference, so here are three lifestyle changes that you can start with.
When Eating Out, Hold The Plastic
One of the major contributors to the growing waste issue in the environment is single use plastic, which are manufactured plastics that are only used for a very short period of time before being thrown away. Despite most of these plastics only being used once, their impact lasts for much longer as plastic takes at least a few decades to completely break down.
It’s no surprise that most of these single use plastics are created for the food industry, specifically in restaurants for dining and delivery purposes. Think about the amount of plastic utensils that you’ve used in the last month, you’ll probably see the gravity of the issue.
These are usually offered by restaurants as a more convenient and low-priced alternative to serving actual utensils that would require cleaning after every use, but a great way to avoid this altogether is to politely ask the staff to exclude any plastics and opt for your own reusable alternatives. And with more and more businesses looking to encourage more environmentally sustainable dining, you have a few easy options to choose from.
For utensils, you can either just pack some from your own kitchen or you can buy a dedicated set of cutlery that you can easily throw in your bag whenever you go out. Made from different materials like stainless steel or wood, these sets will usually include a spoon and a fork, but they may also include other utensils like chopsticks or even a knife.
Apart from being able to decline any plastic utensils offered, having your own set of cutlery can actually also give you a much better eating experience. While easy and convenient, plastic utensils have a tendency of being difficult to eat with as the plastic material might make it difficult to do certain things like digging into and chopping up food. The more durable material of these travel utensils will make eating quicker and more enjoyable.
Just Keep Sipping
Another popular single use plastic that we see on a daily basis is plastic straws. While more and more establishments are working to completely phase out the use of plastic straws, the alternatives they offer may not work for everyone. The sippy cup option offered by some restaurants and cafés may be inconvenient for people that are constantly moving, whereas paper straws tend to lose their integrity after a short amount of time.
Rather than forgoing the drink completely, you can just buy yourself a reusable straw. These straws are usually made out of stainless steel, glass, wood and other sustainable materials, but the fact that you only need one makes them a great purchase for anyone looking to lessen their plastic waste.
You even get to pick whether you want a conventionally straight straw, a bent straw or a wider straw, with some packs even offering you all three. With a reusable straw, you can still have your drink and confidently enjoy it.
If you’re looking to take it up a notch, you can also choose to get a large reusable cup that can easily fit into your bag. There are a lot of places that actually offer discounts for customers that bring their own cups, so that’s just another perk to look forward to.
Swap Plastic Bags For Tote Bags
The next time you go grocery shopping, try to bring your own reusable tote bag instead. They’re not only more environmentally friendly and less wasteful, but you might even save a bit over time depending on whether your grocery charges extra for plastic or paper bags. Not only that, but reusable bags are also less likely to break when carrying heavier products.
These tote bags aren’t just for your weekly run to get some groceries either because they’re versatile enough to carry anything else that you might have bought from the latest spring release in your favorite clothing store or some materials that you need for an upcoming project. Tote bags also come in a lot of different designs, so there’s really one for everyone.
These are only some of the many ways that you can make your lifestyle more sustainable and eco-friendly. If you’re looking to find more ways to lessen your daily waste, visit Temu! Temu is the newest online shopping platform to take over the internet with its world-class range of products sold at the most affordable prices you’ll ever find.
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