Easy sustainable changes to make in 2021
The first month of 2020 felt apocalyptic in Australia - the east coast had been shrouded in smoke for months as unprecedented bushfires destroyed masses of land, extinguished species, and claimed 33 lives. Even living in Australia’s largest city, shielded from the firefront by concrete and ocean, ash snowed from a sky permanently tinted orange and black. Months of bushfires were followed by devastating floods, and in between, Australians took to the streets to protest the lack of action on climate change in Australia.
As the world watched Australia burn, many took matters into their own hands, making changes in their own lives to reduce their personal impact on the climate. Though some might argue that individuals should not bear the responsibility to change as just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions, sustainable changes are nevertheless habits for a new green world and are a reminder that the ‘cumulative environmental impact of millions of seemingly innocuous individual choices can be staggering’ (Saylor, A., Prokopy, L.S. & Amberg, S. What’s Wrong with the Tap? Examining Perceptions of Tap Water and Bottled Water at Purdue University. Environmental Management 48, 588–601 (2011)).
Making sustainable changes is not always accessible, as it may increase up-front or ongoing costs, or be unavailable geographically or culturally. The suggestions below are included as I have found them to be the easiest changes to make. The bottom line is to use and reuse what you already have, as that is the most sustainable thing we can do.
Food & Drink
Get a reusable water bottle - this is probably the most common sustainable change recommended because it is easy to do and creates a sizeable impact by reducing consumption of plastic water bottles. S’well water bottles my favourite as they are insulated and come in some cute designs, but they cost a pretty penny. Hydro flasks have also become popular thanks to Instagram and Tik Tok. However, any refillable water bottle will do, and it is always better to use what you already have. You can also often find water bottles in second-hand stores.
Keep a reusable coffee cup on hand - disposable coffee cups are (deceivingly) not recyclable, as they are lined with a plastic film. In Australia, this means that each year 1 billion disposable coffee cups end up in landfill. If you work in an office, taking a regular mug down to your favourite coffee shop is not uncommon as you would think, and helps reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. If you’re after something more sturdy, a Keep Cup or Frank Green are popular vessels for coffee on the go. I adore my Frank Green as it never leaks and I have a horrible habit of throwing my coffee into my backpack as I race out the door to make the train to work.
Learn how to store your food - learning how to store food properly may help extend its life, avoid unnecessary food waste and save you a few dollars. There is an abundance of resources on the internet on how to store everything from raw produce and meat to cooked meals and dry goods.
Personal
Make your period sustainable - the best change I have made was switching from tampons to a period cup (I personally use a Lunette, but there are so many to choose from), which has so far been much less of a hassle. However, period cups are not for everyone, and other alternatives include period underwear (like Thinx, Modibodi, Tomboy X, Pyramid Seven and Bonds) and eco-friendly tampons and pads.
Switch to a reusable razor - if you shave, you would know the cost of disposable razors really adds up. Earlier this year I made the switch a Leaf razor and cannot believe I didn’t switch sooner. I like the Leaf razors as they have a pivoting head which helps to get a closer shave and avoid cuts. There are also plenty of reusable safety razors and eco-friendly razors on the market.
Switch to recycled toilet paper - instead of dragging a bundle of plastic-wrapped toilet paper home from the store, I have switched to Who Gives A Crap and have recycled toilet paper shipped in bulk a few times a year. There are plenty of other brands who now ship recycled toilet-paper sustainably around the world, including Bambu, No Issues and iCare.
Home
Opt-in to carbon-neutral energy - most energy providers in Australia will allow you to opt-in to carbon-neutral energy for no additional cost.
Switch to renewable energy - for those of us unable to install solar panels, switching to renewable energy may be an option available through your energy provider. My household switched to 100% renewable energy in 2020 which increased our quarterly electricity bill by approximately 30%. Some providers will provide an option to use 20% or 50% renewable energy.
Shop sustainably - when grocery shopping, choose products free of plastic where that option is available. Depending on where you live, you might have a bulk store or zero-waste store which you can take your own containers and bags to fill with items and avoid packaging altogether. When shopping, don’t forget to take your own bags to fill in place of plastic bags!
Switch your internet browser to Ecosia - Ecosia is an eco-friendly alternative to Google. Ecosia is solar-powered and uses its income from ad revenue to plant trees (116 million trees planted to date).
There are so many more changes we can make in our lives to be more sustainable, including switching your superannuation and banking to more ethical companies, reducing our use of cars and air travel, and shopping locally to ensure products do not have to travel internationally. But these kinds of changes are not always easy to do nor are they generally accessible, so focus on what you can do and make little changes - from little things big things grow.
If you are looking for more guidance on reducing your impact on the Earth, sign up to 1 Million Women and challenge yourself to reduce your carbon footprint! You can also follow content creators Sustainably Vegan and Shelby who make videos on low-impact living.