Save the world, save money and be healthy: three motivations to become eco-friendly.
First of all, everyone should understand that you are saving the planet by leading an eco-friendly lifestyle. Secondly, living eco-friendly is profitable, as you will review your expenses, know what you need, and stop spending money on unnecessary things. Of course, an eco-friendly lifestyle contributes to better health.
The broader and more global your motives, the easier it will be to take small steps towards sustainability. For example, any smoker knows that smoking is harmful to health, but this does not stop many. However, when there is an understanding that the stakes are higher and smoking harms not only one’s health but also the environment, the chance that a person will quit smoking increases (by the site).
Where does the path of an ecological lifestyle begin?
To change the world for the better, you first need to switch to the side of environmental friendliness yourself. Our words should not be at odds with our actions. To motivate others to lead an environmentally friendly lifestyle, we must first become an example. In addition, by practicing sustainability, it will be easier to help others, as you will know how and what to do from your own experience.
“Everything starts with oneself, simple and small, which will later lead to global changes.”
We didn’t get any rubbish for free, once we bought it in a store. Accordingly, any garbage brings us losses. We also do not receive money just like that, but in exchange for our time, experience, education, knowledge, and health. Therefore, if we start throwing less garbage, we will reduce unnecessary spending on new purchases.
Most people live under chronic stress. They do not like their work; their first-aid kit is full of various drugs, and they live in discontent with the environment. By spending less money, we can afford to work less, save our time and health, or use the freed money to pursue dreams or goals.
“Probably cavemen were the most environmentally friendly.”
It is believed that the first environmental disaster in the world was the domestication of livestock. Industrial animal husbandry is comparable to heavy industry in terms of ecological damage. Seeing ecological problems, we are accustomed to blaming factories with smoking chimneys.
But we don’t think that cow, chicken, and pig farms are just as harmful as factories. Breeding herbivores in one area deplete the earth’s resources, leading to excessive amounts of methane entering the atmosphere and an increase in the greenhouse effect. Methane comes from two sources – animal husbandry and rotting food in landfills. Therefore, if we want to stop global warming, we need to reduce the number of animal products and stop wasting food.
There is a simple “6T” concept, which, if thoroughly followed, will allow you to reach zero waste.
The first one is Rethink
Too many people spend money they earn to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like. It is necessary to think about how each of our actions can be done with the least harm to nature. Making gifts to loved ones or ourselves, we buy things. Instead of things, buy experiences. A new gadget or clothes can please you for several days, and the impressions of a trip around the world or a flight in a hot air balloon will remain for a long time and will fill you up.
Watch documentaries and feature films on the topic of ecology, subscribe to pages and eco-activists on social networks, read books and websites, and become a volunteer in environmental projects or organizations. All this will help you rethink your lifestyle.
The second is Refuse
After we have rethought and realized that there are unnecessary things, expenses, and actions in our life, the next step is to give up everything unnecessary. Unfortunately, many believe that recycling will solve the problem of garbage, although it would be more efficient and sufficient to give up some things. For example, the European Union has abandoned plastic bags, disposable ear sticks, dishes, wet wipes, and straws.
But there is no need to give up to the detriment of oneself but in the name of achieving a great goal. Choose healthy and tasty instead of a harmful product or food, abandon the fashionable and cheap in favor of the necessary and high-quality goods or clothing. Also, give up everything disposable so as not to throw your own money in the trash every day.
The third is “Repair”
When we repair, we do not throw away the thing and do not create garbage, save the money spent on the purchase, and not spend money on buying a new item. It can also become your hobby and creative way of expressing yourself.
The fourth “Reduce” is to consume less
It means to give up excesses. What you can’t refuse, you can consume less. By consuming less, you save natural resources and money while not denying yourself anything. By reducing the cost of utilities, clothing, food, or living space, the quality of life can be improved.
Minimalist life hacks: every day for a month, give up the number of things one more than yesterday.
How to consume less?
- Make a wishlist – help you avoid unnecessary birthday gifts
- Rent and rent items
- Acquiring things in common for everyday use with someone
- Carsharing
- Hitchhiking
- Couchsurfing – hospitality social network
- Foodsharing – food rescue
The fifth is “Reuse”
Things that you no longer need, but have not lost their consumer properties, can be used by others or by you, but in a different way. Donate unwanted items to charity or sell them on unique sites. Participate in earmarks, free markets, clothing parties, book crossings, and buy used items.
The sixth “Recycling” is recycling
Recycling is a last resort for reducing waste, as not all types of trash can be recycled. Most materials cannot be recycled indefinitely, and the process consumes water and energy, producing emissions to the environment.
For example, it takes two years to recycle one cigarette naturally, five years for chewing gum, 100 years for an aluminum can, and 450 years for a plastic bag. Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees, 683 gallons of oil, and 7,000 water.
Therefore, collect garbage separately, find collection points or put it in special containers, and hand over recyclable materials for recycling—separate hazardous waste such as batteries, accumulators, electronics, and mercury-vapor energy-saving lamps. Find and take them to a recycling company or collect them in designated containers.
It would be best if you thought about whether you will regret in old age that you did not have the latest phone model, branded bag of the newest collection, or did not eat enough burgers or drank a little soda. If everyone answers for themselves what happiness is, then it will not be material things but relationships, feelings, experiences, and memories for many.
