Why not make 2017 your best year yet? Why not strive to make leaps towards a more ethical and sustainable lifestyle all around? We’ve compiled a list of ten practical starting points that you can slowly incorporate in your life to make sure you’re living your best life yet. Small changes here and there will really start adding up to a big difference in your life and in the lives of many throughout the world.
- Eat less meat. It might sound strange, but you don’t need steak every day. ;) Perhaps just one day per week cook a vegetarian meal and test your skills in the kitchen!
- Buy a reusable coffee mug and a reusable water bottle. Many coffee shops are now offering small discounts if you bring your own cup, and there is nothing cheaper than tap water!
- Mend or repair your clothes/household items. Sew the button back on your shirt, repair the crack in your kitchen table, call a repairman for the overheating fridge and take your car to the mechanic for that weird noise you hear when you turn left. There is still some life left in your things, as the Swedes know!
- Take leftovers from restaurants and EAT THEM to reduce waste. We all know restaurant portion sizes have been increasing. So as not to also increase your waistline, cut your food in half and immediately package the rest to go. (Bonus points if you bring your own tupperware!) It’s not kosher yet everywhere in the world, but rapidly filling landfills with perfectly edible food is reason enough to be a little socially gauche.
- Love fresh flowers in your home? Choose a plant instead of cut flowers! They last longer, freshen your home and cut out the need to fly flowers half way around the world from where they grow. Is that rose really prettier than a spider plant?
- Hang dry your clothes. No need for expensive and wasteful energy use! Plus when you avoid the dryer your clothes last longer - win win.
- Start a compost pile for your old newspapers, kitchen scraps and packaging materials. It really isn’t as hard as it sounds, and you can add the resulting compost to your new house plant.
- Bring your own bag to the grocery store. I know you’ve heard it a million times before, but it bears repeating because how often have you shown up to the grocery store, smacked your forehead and said, “Darn it! I forgot my bags!” Never forget your bag again when it clips to your keys.
- Take public transportation. Unglamorous? Maybe, but who cares! Here are some things you can do on the metro that you can’t do while driving: people watch, write a letter to your grandmother, find coins between the seats, read a book, take a nap, do your taxes or write your grocery shopping list.
- Shop ethical clothing. Look at the label on your clothes. Do you know who made your clothes? As you need new clothes opt for ethically made clothes that respect the environment and the people who are making them. VIRTU has you covered.
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