How to Be More Eco Friendly in 3 Steps
How to be more eco friendly: 3 Ways to Up your Sustainability Game
Many listeners ask how to be more eco friendly. The truth is, changing well-ingrained habits is tough. Why is that?
When it comes to sustainability, many of us hit an eco-plateau. We successfully accomplish the easiest swaps (reusable coffee mug; cloth tote bags) but we quickly find ourselves stuck as we attempt to conquer more intermediate tasks.
Chloe Lepeltier has graciously offered 3 incremental tweaks we can all tackle to crank up our eco-friendly efforts. Even better? You can decide to accomplish them right now.
(Note: This article is a summary of 3 posts from Chloe’s Habit Shift Series originally found here.)
Did you know?
You can find The Sustainable Minimalists podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
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How to be more Eco-Friendly: 3 Habit Shifts
Habit Shift #1: Buy nothing new
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Need something specific? Borrow from a friend. Shop secondhand. Utilize the Buyerarchy of Needs (below) for inspiration + alternatives.
An added bonus? Pledging to be more mindful about the items you accept into your life enables you to save an awful lot of money. If you need a push, consider pausing your spending altogether as you embark on a No-Spend Challenge for an entire month.
Love fashion? No need to head to the mall. Shop vintage online + follow the Instagrams of ethical bloggers’ closet sales. (Chloe recommends these accounts.)
Of course, there will be times when you simply must buy. When you do purchase new, consider supporting ethical brands with your dollars.
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Habit Shift #2: Eat local food for 30 days
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We worry about genetically modified produce. We’re concerned about trace pesticides + herbicides in our organic breakfast cereal.
But how often do food miles raise your stress level?
Reconnect with your food source. Forego items grown thousands of miles away that travel for days (literally!) on refrigerated, diesel-burning trucks. Instead, vow to purchase food grown within a 200 mile radius of your home for an entire month.
Join your local farm’s CSA. Frequent the farmer’s market. Eat what’s in season for your climate. Experiment in the kitchen + make long, slow dinners the highlight of your days.
Have extra time on your hands? Research the origins of just one of your family’s favorite meals. Where does it come from? How much water does it take to raise or grow these items? You may be surprised at what you learn.
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Habit Shift #3: Get (+ use!) your library card
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Libraries aren’t just for book nerds. That’s because they offer:
– Classes for children.
– Free or reduced price museum passes.
– Books, films + music for all ages + tastes.
– Classes + workshops.
– Free internet access.
– Community, friendship + clubs.
– Easy accessibility for everyone.
Love books? Me too. But I’ve though through my ‘need’ for an oversized collection: That’s because minimalism is about extracting essential information from books, filing takeaways in my brain + passing the physical item on to someone else.
Libraries enable greater appreciation for the books you do own because those you keep take center stage.
A little hint: Put library visits on the calendar. This way, you’re less likely to blow it off.
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