Living sustainably is not easy - or maybe it is?
Daniela Küttel-MartiShare
It is not important how big the first step is, but in which direction it goes.
5 tips for an easier start
When I decided to lead a more sustainable life a few years ago, the first thing that came to mind was a lot of questions. What's the best way to start? Should I throw away everything made of plastic and replace it with sustainable alternatives? From now on, will I only shop in unpackaged stores? These and many other questions arose and the more I looked into the topic, the more confused and overwhelmed I became. Until I decided to just start with small things. I started replacing things that were broken with more sustainable alternatives. So more and more things were replaced. To anticipate it. Even today there are still many plastic products in our house. There is definitely still room for improvement, especially when it comes to children's toys. But why should I throw away something that still works and does its job for me?
To make it a little easier for you to get started, I have summarized 5 tips for you that helped me back then.
It's important to set realistic goals when trying to live more sustainably. Set realistic goals that you can achieve and that can become part of your lifestyle. An example would be reducing your meat consumption or using your car less.
2. Pay attention to the packaging when shopping
Not everyone has an unpackaged store around the corner. Back then, the nearest unpackaged store would have been almost an hour's drive away. This didn't make sense for me with two small children in terms of time and effort. Especially since there was also the environmental component of fuel consumption. That's why I tried to buy as regionally and with as little packaging as possible in the supermarket. I often get my fruit and vegetables from the weekly market or farm shop.
3. Write a shopping list
When you throw away food, you waste valuable resources. By creating a shopping list, you can plan your meals better and prevent food waste.
4. Reduce your ecological footprint
Did you know that storing photos in the cloud or having a clutter-free email account also affects your footprint? Both require storage space on external servers that are powered by electricity. The more data there is in circulation, the more storage space is required. So why not just clean up your mailbox or the cloud?
5. Look for inspiration
There are many people on social media who (want to) lead a more sustainable life. Some of them may already be professionals, others are just beginning their journey. Find like-minded people. Maybe you follow one or two influencers or join a Facebook group (for example mine
https://www.facebook.com/groups/403030928391418/?ref=share_group_link ).
I hope my tips have given you some encouragement to start living a more sustainable life. You don't have to completely change your life overnight. Because even small changes can make a difference. As the saying goes: “Sustainability is about sticking with it, not perfection.”
Lauerz, June 20, 2023