You may come to think of sustainable living as an expensive lifestyle that may not be accessible and affordable to all. However, sustainability is more than just buying new products. It is about the awareness that the environment is an exhaustible resource and that we must use these resources more consciously for the betterment of the planet and those who live in it.
Here are 12 easy lifestyle choices that are sustainable and won’t cost you a single rupee:
Turn off your appliances when they’re not in use. It can help reduce your carbon footprint. Instead of using lamps and tubelights, choose to have natural light through your windows during the day. It’s the simplest way to do your part to save the planet.
One of the typical middle-class habits that is sustainable and saves you money, air-drying clothes uses less energy as compared to dryers. It also helps extend the lifespan of your clothing.
Globally, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute. Be it bags, straws, containers: single-use plastic does more harm than good. They come at an extra cost to the environment, if not your bill.
When compared to food service and retail, households are said to have maximum food wastage in India. To fix this, you can try recipes that use leftovers to reduce the amount of kitchen waste that goes in the landfill.
When you can’t cook your leftovers, you compost them. Composting promotes a zero-waste lifestyle and is a sustainable way of maintaining healthy plants.
Did you know you can regrow plants from kitchen scraps? You may have noticed sprouts on vegetables like potatoes that are simple to regrow. Another easy-to-regrow scrap is ginger root.
Upcycling requires creatively reusing what you already own. Be it turning waste materials such as plastic bottles into cute planters or redesigning a used kurti into a co-ord set, upcycling is all about using your skills to give old belongings a new sense of purpose.
This will cost you nothing + it will give you a better insight to adopting a sustainable lifestyle. Beyond sustainability-themed books, you can also borrow novels and other books you’ve been waiting to read.
Hosting a clothes swap event among friends and family can be a great way to improve your wardrobe at zero cost.
Paper makes up for 25% of landfill waste. Going paperless is convenient and helps reduce carbon emissions. Say no to bills, receipts and junk mail every time that you can.
Save water while you brush, wash your hands and take a shower. Did you know? If you turn off the tap when you brush your teeth, you can save upto four gallons per minute. While washing dishes, wash them all in a sink full of water instead of scrubbing each dish one by one under a running tap. Turn off the tap every time you can!
Choose to skip the car or even public transport when you’re travelling short distances like going to the local market. It’s economical, environmental and good for your health!
The list does not end here. You can also read about 14 sustainable ways that will save you money. The Good Route can help you discover more about conscious living. Start your sustainable journey today.
