5 Tips for a Sustainable Lifestyle

Sustainability is one of the buzzwords of our modern lifestyle. So some of us may wonder what’s so special about it. According to Philippe Lasserre, the author of the book Global Strategic Management, sustainable development is a concept concerned with the respectful, careful and possible renewable utilization of natural resources and the protection of the ecological system in order to preserve the planet for future generations.

The time to take action is now

We all should be aware of the fact that natural resources are finite and that at some point they will have been fully consumed by the world population. This point in time might approach faster than we expect and is actually no news to us. Since the early 80ies people from all over the world have expressed their concerns and established a dialogue.

Clearly, nowadays there is a strong trend towards living a sustainable and hence healthy life. Even large companies and corporations have the resources to support sustainability and are mostly forced by the public to show engagement due to their impact on the environment. This way, the push towards a better, healthier lifestyle continues.

There is a clear distinction between “living green” and “living sustainable”: buying a hybrid car requires oil-based fuels (which are finite as we all know), parts are manufactured that are costly in resources and may be toxic to dispose after its usage. However, owning a hybrid car makes you live green but exchanging it with a bicycle for getting around is considered sustainable. Either way, both approaches are good alternatives to the “normal/ignorant way of life”. Unfortunately, some people may think that living sustainable means living less comfortable. This is a severe misunderstanding.

Here are 5 easy tips for your sustainable lifestyle makeover:

1. Eliminate waste

Most consumer products come with elaborate packaging. Sometimes you might wonder why specific products need so much unnecessary wrapping. The first step is to avoid buying those products. Look out for alternatives that come with a recyclable or simply less packaging. If products are used on a regular basis, you might want to consider switching to bulk purchase.
If you wrap up a gift, try to use recyclable materials, for example using a carton box that can be used again. Or just leave out the packaging and mark it up with a nice bow or tag.

2. Buy lifetime products and take care of them

Items that were made of wood and metal are now being displaced with plastic items that won’t even last a month. It is wise to buy quality products that last longer. Refillable lighters, high quality kitchenware or pens for everyday life are worth an investment.

3. Buy from local businesses

Support local business and reduce online shopping. Shipping is not only costly for you, but also has a negative effect on the environment due to transportation pollution.

4. Do it without …

… Electricity! If you find a way to avoid electricity, do it. Mostly fossil fuels (again, we will run out of them by some day!) and other precious resources are being used to generate electricity. To get started, dry your clothes on the line instead of using the dryer, use manual kitchen tools instead of the electric ones and exercise using your body and the nature instead using the machines in the gym. The same applies for transportation. Try using your bike instead of your car – stay healthy, feel well and be sustainable.

5. Think about it!

During your daily routine, there might be a lot of things you can do to be sustainable or lets say “less damaging” to the environment. Use the stairs instead of the elevator, eat ecological and healthy food, work out and support your physical fitness, turn down the radiator when you are not at home – small things that do not harm you but support your sustainable way of living.

The list could go on and on, but just starting somewhere and doing your mark will help this beautiful planet!