Sustainability is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days. It means something different to everyone, but the general idea is to reduce your use of resources to lessen your environmental impact.
The good news is that there are tons of ways in which you can live a more sustainable lifestyle, including reducing waste and investing in products made from renewable and sustainably-harvested materials.
Here are a few simple ways you can live a more sustainable lifestyle:
Reduce your food waste.
Food is expensive, and it can be a real bummer to throw away good food you've already paid for. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where you have access to garbage disposals, use them! They can help prevent some of the unnecessary waste of food.
If you don't have a garbage disposal, try freezing or preserving what might otherwise go bad instead of throwing it away. In fact, if possible, save any fruit or vegetables that are bruised or damaged—these foods may be good enough for freezing!
You might also consider having a compost pile at home so that any vegetable scraps can decompose naturally into nutrient-rich soil for future plantings without clogging up landfill space.
Reuse wherever you can.
You've probably heard the phrase "reduce, reuse, and recycle" before. It's been around for decades and is a simple way to remember the best ways to live more sustainably.
You can reduce your waste by only buying what you need, reusing items instead of throwing them away, or even recycling whatever can't be reused or reduced. For example,
- Reuse plastic bags as garbage bag liners
- Reuse jars with lids on top of cereal boxes to store loose-leaf teas or coffee beans
- Use containers with lids instead of single-serving yogurt cups (which are often made from plastic)
Choose quality over quantity.
While you may be excited to have a lot of things, in the long run, it's not worth it if those things are cheap and break quickly. Instead, buy things that last (and look great) for years instead of those that fall apart after a few months.
When possible, buy natural materials instead of synthetics. Natural materials are better for our health and the environment because they don't contain toxic chemicals like phthalates, which can leach into your skin over time and disrupt hormones like testosterone or estrogen.
Look for well-made items with high-quality stitching and seams, so they'll hold up longer—it's worth spending more money upfront if something lasts longer than its cheaper counterparts!
Consider buying items that can be repaired instead of throwing them away when they break down or wear out. You'll reduce waste by keeping things out of landfills and lower your carbon footprint by reducing the amount of resources used to make new products.
Many items can also be recycled or reused through charities like Goodwill that accept donations from individuals, companies, and households alike—a process that reduces landfill waste and supports those in need at the same time!
Also, keep an eye out for well-designed products. If the product is only aesthetically pleasing but doesn't offer enough benefits, you should keep looking for another. One perfect example is our Harmoni standing desk. It is crafted from strong and sturdy birch plywood, which makes it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a standing desk that is both beautiful and offers many benefits.
Avoid single-use plastic.
Avoid single-use plastic. Plastic bottles, bags, and containers are a significant source of plastic pollution. If you can't avoid using them, try to reduce your use of them as much as possible. For example,
- Use reusable containers instead of plastic wrap or storage bags for lunchboxes and leftovers.
- Reuse your grocery bags at the store (or hit up the communal bins when you get there) rather than buying new ones each time you shop. This saves money and prevents more unnecessary waste from entering our landfills!
- Bring your own coffee mug to avoid buying disposable cups each time you need one in the office breakroom—a switch that will save both money and space in landfills!
Shop locally at farmer's markets and organic when possible.
When you shop locally, you are helping yourself and the environment.
The produce at a farmer's market is usually fresher and more nutritious because it does not have to travel as far to get to your plate.
Think about it, since local produce does not have to travel as far, buying from local vendors will also save you money on gas!
Local producers also create jobs for people in your community, so supporting them helps keep your neighbors working in their chosen fields. If they can't find work locally, they may have to move away or risk losing their homes. You might want that kale salad at Whole Foods, but not if it means someone else suffers because of it!
Carry a reusable water bottle.
Carrying a reusable water bottle with you everywhere you go is one of the easiest ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
When you're out and about, fill it up from any nearby drinking fountain instead of buying bottled water. Buying plastic bottles is expensive but even worse for the environment; 1 million disposable plastic bottles are thrown away every hour in the UK alone!
Additionally, those plastic bottles aren't great for your health either: BPA (Bisphenol A), an endocrine-disrupting chemical found in hard plastics like water bottles and food storage containers, has been linked to breast cancer, prostate cancer, infertility, and other diseases—not to mention it can be found in trace amounts in tap water as well!
There's just no need to waste money on bottled water when there are plenty of reliable options right at your fingertips (or at least within arm's reach). If possible, carry a reusable metal or glass bottle with you.
Choose natural over synthetics.
When choosing fabrics for your clothes or home, opt for natural fibers over synthetic ones. Natural fibers are made from plants, such as cotton and wool, whereas synthetic fibers are made from petrochemicals and plastic. While both materials have pros and cons (cotton has a high carbon footprint but is easier to clean than wool), it's generally best to choose natural fabrics for clothing and home furnishings whenever possible.
Wool does not contain any dangerous chemicals that can be harmful to health if released into the environment during washing or dry cleaning like many synthetic fabrics do. In addition, most synthetics take more energy to produce than their respective natural counterparts, which means they have a higher carbon footprint than the latter too!
Choose companies that care about the environment.
Shopping from environmentally friendly companies is vital for a lot of reasons. The first is that it's good for the environment. When you buy products from companies with strong environmental policies, you're doing your part to reduce waste and pollution in our world. This can help us all breathe a little easier, and it means that future generations won't have to deal with some of the same issues we have today.
Another reason to shop at environmentally friendly companies is that it's better for your health. Many of these companies have policies that ensure their products are safe for humans and animals alike, which means you don't have to worry about what could be hidden in your clothes or other items when you buy them from these stores.
At Harmoni, we are standing up for the environment. Sustainability is at the core of who we are. We use sustainable materials for all of our desks and standing mats. We ensure no toxic waste is created through the disposal of our goods. We also carefully select local producers so we can limit our carbon footprint as much as possible.
Conclusion
Living a sustainable lifestyle may be challenging, but it will get easier as time goes on. You can start with small changes and then work your way up to more difficult ones. Once you've made these changes, they will become easy habits to keep up with.
The key is remembering why you are making these changes and that living sustainably doesn't have to be expensive or tedious. You can still enjoy life while being environmentally conscious!
Shop from our collection if you want to surround yourself with sustainable products for better health and create a healthier environment for future generations.