Living Sustainably
Takach
March 22, 2020
When it comes to helping the planet, small acts can seem insignificant. Although, if the human race continues on the path we are headed, we will soon have to face the fact that disaster is unavoidable. Even though it’s true that large companies are doing the most damage to the earth, doing our part as individuals equals a meaningful step in the right direction. Living more sustainably may seem intimidating, but when broken down into smaller steps it becomes more realistic. Therefore, making small sustainable changes in our lives is good because it’s impactful and collectively, we are capable of initiating a revolution.
When it comes to making a change in our lives, one of the least daunting things we can start with is research. By finding the resources available in your area, you can make the transition to a less wasteful lifestyle more manageable. Zero waste blogger Kathryn Kellogg says “[i]t's not about perfection; it's about making better choices”. Adapting to a more sustainable lifestyle may seem overwhelming at first but even by starting small, we are actively choosing to make a change in our lives for the better of our planet.
If there are any zero-waste or low-waste stores in your area, you can start by looking at the products they carry and brainstorming the changes you could make in even just one of the rooms in your house. For example, Zero Waste Emporium and West Coast Refill are both great options if you live in Victoria and they have a large variety of items to choose from. From local produce to hand soap, you can purchase all of their products with no packaging at all when you bring your own reusable containers. By reducing the amount of plastic when buying groceries, we can actually make a large difference and it is wonderful to see stores wanting to help us get there.
Another great step is simply learning to buy less. Even if you purchase only what you and your family need instead of buying an excessive amount because of a sale is an awesome first step. If we consider the amount of groceries we buy from Costco and Walmart every weekend, there’s no wonder big companies like these are thriving. Not only do we buy more than our families can consume, Crescenzi from Victoria News reports that in Canada “about 2.2 million tonnes of edible food is discarded each year”. We need to learn to shop more consciously. Not only would we waste less, we would also save money in the process of discarding less into our landfills.
Another helpful tip to sustainable shopping is buying locally when possible. According to the footprint blog Terrapass, “you can reduce the carbon footprint of your food by up to 7% by eating locally”. When we shop local, our groceries aren’t travelling as far to reach our tables and therefore cutting the amount of energy expended. Even shopping at your local farmers market is another great option because you can buy things without packaging as long as you bring your own bags. Not only would shopping local mean supporting a local business, each purchase means a lot more because your purchase is going directly to support a local family.
We as consumers have the power of choice and it’s important to remember that whenever we spend our money, we are choosing who we support. Although shopping more sustainably seems difficult in a time of endless plastic packaging, there are resources out there to help us do our part. We may feel small compared to the issue, but it is possible to initiate a larger movement when we use our choice and voice to do our part to help the planet. Even just by taking one small step in the right direction, it is meaningful and it’s important to remember that we are all in this together.
Sources
“Beginners guide to zero waste living:” by Kathryn Kellogg. https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog-posts-for-beginners
“City of Victoria joins national food waste reduction program.” by Nicole Crescenzi. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.vicnews.com/news/city-of-victoria-joins-national-food-waste-reduction-program/amp/.
“Eat your way to a smaller carbon footprint.” by the Terrapass community. https://www.terrapass.com/eat-your-way-to-a-smaller-carbon-footprint.
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ReplyDeleteYou've made some great points here, Lauren.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I struggle to do my part at times. In my experience, convenience is the number one factor in determining whether people will make environmentally friendly choices.
The second factor would be affordability. For example, shopping and buying local is excellent; although, a low income family may tell you they don't have time to visit several local shops and box stores the likes of Wal-mart have better prices.
Good article, it's well done, I say!
Yea I definitely agree with you on that. Even though things like switching to reusable bags or buying bar soap instead of liquid feels like one isn't changing much, it can make a huge difference in the long run when many people are actively doing something. Everyone doing what they can is awesome. But I totally understand that sometimes places like Walmart are the most affordable.
DeleteThank you very much!