How to Lead an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle in 2021

October 8, 2021 Elizabeth Bower

In the US, 9 percent of people’s deaths are linked to increased air pollution. More than 5 million people die each year, or develop life threatening health conditions, due to poor air quality.

With this statistic and increased global warming, consumers are shifting towards sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyles. One way to embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle is to use sustainable products. Making small changes to what you purchase and how you live can have a big impact on the environment.

We’ve listed a few simple tips to help you live more sustainably.

Shop with Intention

Fast fashion is a major contributor to landfill waste. According to an EPA report, 80 percent of unused textiles end up in landfills. One eco-friendly approach is opting for brands that use sustainable production methods. Another approach is to rethink your shopping strategy. For example, buy fewer clothes, go to thrift markets, and invest in higher quality clothing that lasts long.

You can take it a step further by choosing to shop with zero-waste brands. Then, whether you’re shopping for clothing, beauty products, kitchen towels, dish brushes, or even a wood comb; you will feel good about your purchase.

Shop at Refill & Bulk Stores

Visit your local refill or bulk store. These stores are an excellent way to refill containers you already have and a great way to buy measured quantities of things like dried goods, spices, and other ingredients. Most refill and bulk stores specialize in non-wrapped goods and eco-conscious swaps.

Note, if you don’t have any refill and bulk stores in your area, try choosing goods that come in reusable or recyclable glass containers and jars.

Reduce Food Waste

According to a recent survey by the USDA, 30-40% of the food in the US is wasted. Supermarket chains and farms are large contributors but let's not forget the role of individual consumers. It’s common to leave leftovers in the back of the fridge, forgetting about them and throwing away perfectly good food.

The easiest way to decrease food waste is to plan meals and buy items you will cook in the next 2 weeks. In addition, plan meals around reusing leftovers and excess ingredients. Another useful tip is to get in the habit of freezing leftovers. If you know you may not eat the leftover in the next day or so, put it in your reusable silicone freezer bag, pop it in the freezer, and save it for a future meal.

Switch to Eco-friendly and Sustainable Cleaning Products

Our everyday cleaning products have a major environmental impact for two reasons. One, they wash into local water bodies, making them unfit for aquatic life and endangering surrounding plants and wildlife. Two, they come in plastic packaging which piles up in our landfills.

Keep a clear conscious, swap out your everyday all-purpose cleaners for sustainable ingredients and reusable bottles. For example these refillable cleaning concentrates are a great place to start: carpet spot cleaner refill, glass cleaner refill, lavender room spray, and multi-space cleaner refill.

Small Changes = Big Impact

Let this be the year you take a step towards living an eco-friendly lifestyle. You can start by making sustainable choices when it comes to consumption. The tips above can be a great starting point or new lifestyle changes to add to your everyday life.

By: Sa Bal
Edited By: Elizabeth Bower