When you hear someone say “what does it mean to live a more sustainable lifestyle” or “What does sustainable living mean”, what do you say? What comes to mind?

Since I started my blog, in a bid to fight climate change and reduce our overall carbon emissions, I’ve learned that sustainable choices look different for everyone; it’s not a one size fits all. 

Yes, many of us care about our environmental impact but there are a few factors that affect what we individually can and cannot do; availability, trust, greenwashing, finances and peer-pressure. 

What is Sustainable Living?

It’s a way we live our life where we strike a good balance between our needs while preserving and caring for the planet for future generations.

By embracing the principles of seeking out a sustainable alternative, we, as individuals, can play a vital role in reducing the environmental impact of unnecessary waste and adopting a more sustainable lifestyle.

At its core, sustainable living recognises the finite resources available on our planet. It aims to ensure we use these resources responsibly to meet our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

If you have little ones, check out this blog about how to get children to care about the natural environment.

Why is Sustainable Living important?

It promotes a healthier lifestyle by prioritising clean air, food, and water and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. By reducing exposure to things like

• Embracing organic in a conscious way
• toxic chemicals and pollutants
• opting for locally sourced products
• adopting sustainable transportation options

The added benefit is that we can significantly improve our overall well-being and an effective way of adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle. It’s about the long term not the short term

For me, sustainable living is an investment in the future of our planet and future generations

Ultimately – we need the planet to live. 

So, I thought it would be a good idea to put together a blog post with some easy ways if you’re looking to go zero waste, reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the number of single-use items you use or take charge of your environmental footprint. 

Here’s a list of my top 100 simple tips of sustainable life hacks. 

This way, you can use what works for you in your everyday life and possibly work towards a new goal. You may even discover something that you’ve never even though of.

Sustainable Life Hacks

• Reduce energy consumption by turning off lights when you don’t need them.
• When you’re at the grocery store, make a shopping list and stick to it. This will avoid buying more than you need and reduces food waste. I’ve got a video on how I meal plan

• Take a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go, this will reduce the need to buy drinks in plastic bottles when you’re a little thirsty. 
• Ditch the car where you can and walk or cycle instead, this will help reduce you carbon footprint. Or better still, use public transportation if you can. 
• Take reusable shopping bags whenever you go out grocery shopping. In fact, take reusable bags wherever you go!
• Clean behind the fridge every 6-months, this will ensure your appliance is running efficiently and reduces unnecessary energy usage. 
• Use your washing machine when you have full loads to wash rather than multiple smaller wash loads. 
• If you’re in a restaurant, it’s OK to mention to the waiting staff that you would like your drinks without plastic straws.
• Rather than using paper towels in the kitchen, cut up some of your old kitchen hand towels into quarters – use them as cloth napkins. Once you have a pile of used ones, pop them in the wash.
• Invest in a safety razor and ditch your plastic one. The only thing you need to replace is the razor blades and the safety razor itself is a one-off cost – this will probably save you money in the long run. 
• Ensure you are using energy saving light bulbs, they last longer too. 
• While you’re waiting for the shower to warm up, collect the cold water in a bucket and use it to water you plants. It’s a great way to reuse water to good use that would have just gone down the drain. 
• Use a reusable coffee cup where you can and ditch the single-use cups. They are usually made from more than one material and it’s incredibly difficult to recycle them. 
• If you have a draught under doors, make your own draught excluder to help reduce your energy bills. 

• Use your own containers and store food leftover from a meal. You freezer is your friend. 
• Buy second hand instead of buying new items in the shop, this will save you money and charity shops are filled with amazing finds. 
• Opt for a bamboo toothbrush to reduce your plastic waste. Plastic toothbrushes can’t be recycled. Imagine your old toothbrush from 10 years ago is probably sitting in a landfill somewhere. 
• Try to reduce your meat consumption, there are loads of ideas on recipes if you’re looking to do ‘meat-free mondays’.
• Learn to repair old clothes; sew a button, darn a sock. You don’t have to be an expert, I’m certainly not. There are many videos online to help with this. 
• If you have something that is broken, have a look online to see if you have any local repair shops near you. 
• Only heat your home when you’re in it, this will mean you are using less energy by not having the heating on when you’re out. 
• Where you can, buy fruit and vegetables loose, so much of plastic packaging is so necessary. 
• Get household plants, they will help purify the air in your home. If you’re worried about killing them, here’s how I look after mine. 

• Embrace organic food, organic farming means harmful toxins haven’t been used to grow the food. 
• Find your local zero waste shop and buy only what you need. Don’t forget to take your own containers and this will reduce your own plastic waste. 
• When it’s time to replace your white goods, opt for energy efficient appliances. 
• Make your own compost bags out of newspaper rather than buying compost bags. Check out my YouTube video on how to do this
• Use a reusable mug when you’re at home, this means your drink will stay warmer for longer, reducing unnecessary waste. 
• Wear odd socks – here’s why I wear odd socks

• If you’re using a printer, print on both sides of the paper. It’s a shame to throw a piece of paper away where you can still utilise the other side. 
• Clean your shower head with white vinegar instead of cleaning products with loads of toxins. 
• Opt for eco-friendly cleaning products or make your own DIY toilet bombs instead of using toxic cleaners – here’s a video on how to make your own DIY toilet cleaning bombs. 

• Shop in bulk food stores, buying in bulk, if you can, will save money in the long run and reduce the amount of plastic packaging.
• You could try to grow your own food in your own garden. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, maybe start with potatoes. 
• Hand your clothes outside where and when you can, especially during the summer months. A rule of thumb I use is that if the ground is dry, the clothes will dry – something to remember the next time. 
• Rather than buying plastic water bottles to consume water, drink tap water, if you can, and consider using a filter. 
• When you need to replace your pots and pans, replace them with stainless steel instead of ones that have a telfon like coating. 
• Use your local library. Authors still get royalties when books are borrowed and you are borrowing something that has already been produced. 
• Go paperless where you can. Do you really need a printed copy of a bank statement or a bill? So many of these can be accessed online whenever we need. 
• If you’re having a de-cluttering session, think about selling or donating your unwanted items (as long as they’re in good condition). The best thing about this tip is that it won’t end up in landfill. 
• Buying food in season reduces the distance the food has travelled, plus, you’re supporting your local economy by purchasing produce from a local farmer. 

• Save water by turning off your tap when you brush your teeth. 
• Fixing leaky taps reducing your overall water use. People don’t realise how much water is wasted just by leaky taps. 
• If you have a condenser dryer or have a dehumidifier, you could consider using this water to water your plants. 
• Check your tyre pressure regularly. If the tyres are over or under inflated, it makes your car work harder using more fuel. 
• Ditch single-use menstrual products and try a menstrual cup or period pants. I swaps to period pants and it’s saved me money in the long-run and I love them. 
• Pee in the shower, this reduces the need to flush your toilet as often – obviously this is a personal preference!
• Take shorter showers. Try to aim for about 10 mins in the shower. I know there will be times where we are probably having a whole concert in there or accepting our Oscar for best supporting actress, but we don’t need to do it every single time. 
• If you want to get the heart pumping, think about using the stairs instead of the lift. 
• If you don’t need a receipt, don’t take one. They can’t be recycled – check out this video on how you can tell

• Opt for reusable cotton pads for when you need to remove your make-up. 
• Many beauty stores have a bin for recycling unwanted make-up or empty make-up containers. 
• Try out shampoo and conditioner bars instead of liquid ones sold in plastic bottles. 
• Save gift bags and reuse them when you gift someone something. 
• If you have the option, get your milk delivered. 
• If it’s someone’s birthday, instead of buying them ‘stuff’ have a day out together instead. 
• Use Ecosia when searching online instead of Google.
• Say no to plastic cutlery and disposable napkins. A lot of places are starting to do away with plastic cutlery but there are still places that include them with your food, just say no. 
• If you have a hot water tank, it would be a good idea to insulate it. 
• If you’re a keen gardener, ensure you opt for peat-free compost. 
• Wrap gifts in brown paper as this can be recycled. A lot of wrapping paper can’t be recycled. The best way to tell is to do the scrunch test. 

• Learn about greenwashing – here’s how. Some companies are using really clever tactics on selling us products they say are better for the environment when they’re really not. So when a fast fashion brand comes out with a line of ‘sustainable clothing’, is it really sustainable? Or is that greenwashing?
• Swap your tea bags for loose leaf tea. There are some tea bags that don’t degrade.
• Normalise re-gifting. Give pre-loved items as a gift, at least someone is getting some use out of it. 
• Rather than buying a greeting card, think about sending an e-card, it’s a lot cheaper too! For many people, we will get a card and it will either sit in a draw somewhere or end up in the bin. 
• When you do a grocery shop online, opt for shopping without plastic shopping bags. Many supermarkets where you can order online now have this option. 
• Buy good quality products. Although it may cost a bit more, they’ll last longer and save you money long term.
• Learn about the washing symbols on your clothes so you are able to care for them and make them last longer. 

• Unsubscribe to unwanted newsletters, each email sent has a digital carbon footprint. It may take a while to unsubscribe to these emails but imagine a time when you open your emails and all you have is emails you wanted and not a load of unnecessary emails you need to delete. 
• Learn to store you food correctly so they last longer – store mushrooms in a cotton/paper bag, store carrots in water to keep then crunchy. 
• Delete old unwanted emails. These take up a lot of storage on servers, making them work hard and therefore using more energy. 
• Use leftover vegetable peels to make a soup or broth.
• Plan errands so you ensure you can get everything done in one journey.
• Install a water butt and capture rain water to water your garden plants.
• If you’re on a video call, consider turning off the video – it will use less energy. 
• If you’re not a fan of weeds in your garden, learn how to make your own DIY weed killer recipe, it’s kinder to the environment.

• If you’re offered a freebie, think whether you actually need it, it’s OK to say no thanks. 
• If you use products that come in squeeze tubes, cut open the tubes and use every last bit. 
• Avoid cling film and use containers to store food or a plate to cover a bowl. 
• If you live near a beach, go litter picking. Actually, you don’t have to live near a beach to do that, you can litter pick on your road or your local park. Join a litter picking group and get the kids involved. 
• Make lunch for work in a reusable container. 
• Opt for loofahs instead of plastic scrubs, proper loofahs can be composted.
• If you have a farmer’s market, buy what you can from there. 
• If you’re at a buffet, don’t overfill your plate, take a little, you can always go back for more. 
• Look for companies that support good eco-friendly and ethical practices. This can be hard sometimes, but there are some good ones out there!

• If you have seen something you like, think about if you really need it. Maybe wait 30 days before making the purchase, you may feel differently after a month. 
• When buying clothes, look at the labels to see if it’s made from natural fibres like cotton, organic cotton, hemp etc. 
• Learn what the recycling symbols actually mean, you may be a little surprised. 
• Charge your phone on airplane mode. It charges quicker because the phone isn’t using any background apps while it’s charging. 
• Get outside and enjoy nature, go on walk, hikes, and involve the family. 
• There has been a growing trend on upcycling workshops, learn how to make something new out of something you no longer need. 
• If it’s cold, put on a jumper, avoid turning up the thermostat. 
• Repurpose old Christmas cards into gift tags. This sustainable tip will also help to save you money from having to buy gift tags the following year. 
• Find like-minded people who care about the environment. 
• Grow your own sunflowers in the garden, they bees will love it. 
• Use a fountain pen, they’re better for the environment.

• When having a celebration, please avoid balloons. 
• Find ways to repurpose what you already have.
• Embrace rewearing an outfit you’ve already worn to someone’s wedding.
• If there is no-one else to learn from, be the change you want to see. 

There are other ways like installing solar panels or installing a heat pump or even buying an electric car but let’s be honest, the up-front cost for these are just too much for many of us and it’s just not a possibility for the vast majority of us. Don’t get caught up on the big things, you can only do what you can do. 

One of the areas I found a lot of strength in is finding other like-minded people who share my passion about the environment. In these instances, social media can really be a source for good and allows people to connect to each other and fight for what is right. 

Also, something I wanted to add is that there is no such thing as perfect. If you’re looking for the perfect way to do something, you will be hard pressed to find it. Our infrastructure hasn’t been designed for people to live sustainably easily. A lot of what we do in our lives are reliant on other people and other companies to provide a service, that service may not be environmentally friendly. For example, how we heat our homes. For a lot of us, we rely on energy companies to provide us with the energy to heat our homes and cook our food but this could be from fossil fuels. Big companies don’t make money from people who are self-sufficient. 

This is why there is no such things as a perfect environmentalist. I refer to myself as an imperfect environmentalist. 

When you take your first step, it doesn’t matter if it’s a big step or a small step, a change, any change is a good thing. I always say – start small, do what you can, build from there. 

Every day should be seen as Earth Day.