The world celebrates this day on June 5 every year to create a better planet awareness.
This United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) initiative aims to tackle environmental issues.
This year’s event will take place in Stockholm, Sweden. But, you don’t have to go to Sweden to take part in the movement dubbed “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature.” You can promote the agency’s environmental efforts through green living.
As we celebrate this year’s World Environment Day, let’s learn about sustainable living. But first, let’s explore the meaning of green living.
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What’s Green Living?
Green living is making intentional choices and prioritizing environmental protection. This means finding solutions to your everyday needs while reducing natural resources use.
Does green living sound expensive that only big companies and governments can do? While some eco-friendly products cost a pretty penny, you don’t have to do a green living overhaul. The small steps you make towards a greener lifestyle can have a massive impact. For instance, you can reuse a product as many times as possible instead of dumping it after use.
So how does green living work? It reduces your carbon footprint hence less pollution and wastage of natural resources.
The core benefit of green living is protecting the earth’s natural resources, and it also saves money and supports healthy living.
Examples Of Green Living
Green living is diverse, and there are many ways to practice it. While it can take effort, time, and money, it is worth it in the long run. Below are excellent examples of green living.
Use Reusable Grocery Bags
Plastic bags may seem super light, efficient, and reliable for grocery shopping. However, the detrimental impacts they have on the environment are astronomical. First, plastic bags are non-recyclable, so they end up in landfills. It will take a couple of hundreds of years for them to break down and will pollute the environment for a long time.
Instead of taking the plastic grocery bag, get your reusable one. These alternative bags are cost-effective; you won’t have to spend money buying them every time you go shopping. Additionally, you will save money on cleaning up and disposing of plastic bags. Reusable bags also reduce eyesores and clutter from taking up space in your home.
Be Energy Efficient At Home
Making your home energy efficient is another excellent example of green living. Appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers make our lives easier. Yet, the amount of energy that non-efficient devices use can be depressing. The utility costs in your home and resource exploitation rate can skyrocket with high energy consumption.
Use energy-efficient lighting, HVAC system, dishwasher, refrigerator, washer, and dryer. You will reduce the bill for a greener home. Lower your energy usage by unplugging your electronic device when not in use.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Reducing waste, reusing items, and recycling are other examples of green living. Instead of buying more stuff, check if you need to buy them or repair the one you have. Cutting down the new things you buy can lower the amount of waste you generate and your carbon footprint.
Find ways to maximize and reuse items you already have and increase their life span. You can upcycle tires into cute outdoor seating, ottomans, or sandboxes. Create your Pinterest-worthy mason jars by repurposing pickle containers into storage jars.
If repurposing an item isn’t an option, you can recycle as much as possible. Collect and recycle plastic containers, metal containers, paper, food waste, and glass.
Cycle and Save On Gas
Driving your car burns gasoline and your money. More vehicles on the road create toxic greenhouse gases in the ozone layer. Furthermore, they need insurance and regular maintenance to keep it on the road.
Cycling a bike is an excellent green living lifestyle. It minimizes the number of vehicles on the road and also helps you be fit. Carpooling or using public transport is another perfect option to promote green living.
Cheap Green Living
The overpriced eco-friendly products in the market can be intimidating. It can be a hassle to shift to a green living lifestyle on a budget. But, you don’t have to let a price tag block you from achieving your sustainability goals. Below are some eco-friendly brands you can support and get unique products.
Cheap Eco-friendly Brands
Kotn
Are you looking for eco-friendly apparel or cups and bowls? Kotn is one of the companies you can try for sustainable products. This brand uses natural fibers to make their clothes which can biodegrade at the end of their use.
You can get affordable and sustainable t-shirts, towels, cushion covers, baskets, and vases.
Brewers Crackers
The Brewers Crackers produce flavorful, nutritious, and healthy crackers from spent grains. Located in Sommerville, Massachusetts, they recycle grains from beer making and ensure zero waste.
They mix the by-product with whole wheat to create yummy flat bread or chips. Their goal is to produce delicious products from what would otherwise go to waste.
Dr. Bronner’s
Dr. Bronner’s is your best bet if you’re looking for organic soaps and personal care products. This company uses pure organic oils and zero synthetic preservatives on its products. Apart from their Pure-Castille bar soap, they also produce hair and body care products.
Lundberg Family Farms
Lundberg Family Farms is also one of the best eco-friendly food companies in the country. They produce healthy food products and protect their lands through natural weed control practices.
Also, they use solar energy to power their facilities. Get your delicious rice and quinoa or pasta packed in recyclable packaging.
For Days
For Days is another fashion brand that produces apparel with the end-of-life in mind. They design and make clothes using 100% recyclable material. Additionally, their circular fashion style ensures zero waste through the closed-loop system. You can return your worn-out clothes for repurposing or recycling.
For Days also has a reward program called Closet Cash. You get 10% money back with every purchase and $5 when you return old For Days products for recycling.
Affordable Eco-friendly Living
Green living doesn’t have to be out-of-pocket reach. You can start with baby steps like recycling more and reducing waste from the source. Find and promote sustainable companies.
