Veganism, zero-waste lifestyles, and sustainability: living an environmentally conscious existence can be overwhelming. After all, it’s evident that living a clean life would be nearly impossible, especially with leftists advocating again for Green New Deal to significantly transform our lifestyles (1). To become a caveman, one would have to remove meat from their diet, sell the automobile, refuse to travel by plane, and stop using electricity - in other words, and everyone must become a caveman (at least, that’s how most people see it). So, what is the situation? Do we want to rescue the environment and live in the modern world? Fortunately, there is a method to accomplish both. Changes must be made, yet even the slightest changes can lead to long-term sustainability. Here’s a list of simple methods to help the environment.
1. Get Rid of the Straws
Plastics are the most useful material ever devised. They are so convenient that we contaminate the oceans with almost 8 million metric tons of plastic every year. That’s a significant amount of plastic. I’m not suggesting that you quit buying everything made of plastic (let’s face it, many of us wouldn’t make it), but there are some simple things you can do.
Plastic bottles, straws, and silverware are a handful of unnecessary products, and they’re not even of good quality. Get rid of those kinds of stuff. When you think about it, straws, water bottles, and plastic utensils aren’t necessary. Use a reusable bottle, metal and silicone straw, and some portable silverware as an alternative (2). You can’t afford any of them, can you? If you’re able, drink without a straw; if not, choose a metal or bamboo straw. For the other two, bring a refillable plastic bottle and silverware from home and eat using your hands if it’s not too dirty.
2. Recycle
Recycling may appear to be a difficult task, but it is rather simple. Paper, metal, plastic, and glass are all accepted by most recycling organizations. There are workarounds if they don’t. Recycling your completed assignments, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and just about anything else is a good idea. The good news is that most companies will pick up recycling when you collect it if you reside in a town or city. It is worth a chance.
3. Automobile use
Vehicles are fantastic, as we all know. As we speak, four people are sitting on the driveway. The problem isn’t with the car (though, if you don’t have one, they aren’t the best for reducing carbon emissions). Here are a few things that can take to reduce your carbon footprint while still getting around:
4. Carpool
Multiple automobiles are unnecessary when going on a lengthy vacation or going out together with friends. When individuals ride together, the carbon emissions are shared by everyone in the car. As one might expect, this is a lot more eco-friendly, and it reduces carbon footprints without too much effort.
5. Make use of the cruise control
Some individuals hate it, while others adore it. But let’s get down to business. Cruise control allows the vehicle to maintain a constant speed rather than constantly “gunning it.” The truth is that when driving without continuously speeding and braking, someone saves petrol. Using fewer gas results in lower CO2 emissions as well as cost savings (3).
6. Walk and ride a bike
When you have the opportunity, take a walk or ride your bike. You don’t need to drive if you’re only going a short distance away. The most effective technique to reduce emissions is to not emit anything at all. It may appear challenging, but it is well worth the effort. (Obviously, this does not include applicable to those with disabilities; do what work for you).
7. Unplug
It’s one of those things that people overlook, but it makes a difference. Just because something isn’t in use doesn’t mean it isn’t wasting power. You waste vital electricity and increase carbon emissions by leaving chargers and other needless items like lamps plugged in. It’s certainly easy to leave everything plugged in, but unplugging takes only a few seconds.
8. Don’t Throw Out the Food
It’s something we’re all guilty of. It’s so easy to throw food away with trash, but that’s not a smart idea. Because of the high concentration of garbage, this food ends up in a landfill, in which it struggles to decompose. If you have anything you can eat later, save it and do so. Outside, toss any leftovers you won’t eat. Almost all of the time, this food serves as soil fertilizer (4).
9. The Small Things Make a Difference
Every one of these things isn’t crazy. They only require a small amount of effort each day, but they are well worth it in the end. We don’t need a few ideal people to save the planet; we need millions of imperfect people to do it.
Conclusion
Start by slightly modifying your daily routine and utilizing what you currently have when you’re ready to be an imperfect environmentalist. The secret to success is to take little steps toward big goals. Also, remember to do what works best for you. You don’t have to jump right in if all your friends are vegans, but you regularly eat meat. If you want to reduce your meat consumption, do it over time. Pay attention to both mind and body. Overall, your journey towards sustainability could be bumpy at times and fall short of your objectives. Smooth sailing will seek you if you accept your blunders and your path. Even a small shift in awareness will instantly place you in one of the most interesting communities: the eco-community.
References
Cohen, B., & Winn, M. I. (2007). Market imperfections, opportunity and sustainable entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing, 22(1), 29-49. doi:10.1016/j.jbusvent.2004.12.001
Mcgowan, P. J., Stewart, G. B., Long, G., & Grainger, M. J. (2018). An imperfect vision of indivisibility in the Sustainable Development Goals. Nature Sustainability, 2(1), 43-45. doi:10.1038/s41893-018-0190-1
What is your commitment to sustainability? – Imperfect. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://help.imperfectfoods.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037319574-What-is-your-commitment-to-sustainability-
Why It’s Important to Be an Imperfect Environmentalist. (2021, February 24). Retrieved from https://brightly.eco/imperfect-environmentalist/
