You Can Do These 8 Things for a Cleaner and Greener Lifestyle

We all know that our planet is facing many issues, including plastic pollution and global warming. But it doesn’t have to be too difficult, by making some simple changes in your day-to-day life you can help with this problem! You can do these 8 things for a cleaner and greener lifestyle. 

1. Avoiding single-use plastics

Plastic is everywhere these days, but most of us are guilty of using products like straws or bags without giving them much thought. They get thrown away after one use without being recycled which means they end up polluting the environment. The problem with plastic is that after one use, it gets thrown away without being recycled. This means that single-use plastics end up polluting the environment. But by avoiding single-use plastics, we can make a big difference in saving our planet’s future. Although it can be difficult to avoid buying food packaged in plastic or cardboard containers when you’re out and about, there are lots of shops where you will find plastic-free foods available. In my experience, most supermarkets have a section for customers who don’t want their fruit and veg wrapped in cling film or covered in plastic. One good thing about this is that the prices of these items are often lower than they would otherwise be if they were wrapped in plastic.

2. DIY/Green cleaning products

Do you know that laundry and dishwashing detergents are some of the most common sources of household hazardous waste? These products contain chemicals linked to asthma, cancer, and organ system damage, which can leach into soil and water. This is because many retail stores only sell them in plastic containers or packets. As such, it is very important to read the ingredients of these products before buying them. It is always a good idea to use the best laundry strips when washing your clothes, as they are made out of natural ingredients that were sourced from sustainable resources in order to help decrease the carbon footprint. They also don’t contain any chemicals that may be harmful to our health and environment and our children’s future. It’s not hard to make your own cleaners. If you’re having trouble finding supplies, you can go to any supermarket and find the ingredients there. All you need is a few bottles of water, some dish soap or dishwasher detergent (depending on what type of cleaner you want), vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, or citrus essential oils (which are optional), and some old clothes. You can do this instead of buying products, which are often packaged in plastic.

3. Take your own bag shopping

Many of us now carry our own bags when we go shopping, which not only means that we’re reusing those bags as often as possible, but it also means that we’re storing them in the car or under the sink at home rather than throwing them away. In this way, even if you don’t buy anything from a shop carrying these reusable bags where you might normally be tempted to use a plastic bag, then at least they’ll have a few less plastic bags they need to throw out. It’s really easy to do – just remember to always take your own bag!

4. Buy clothes second-hand

Buying clothes second-hand is a really easy way for us to reduce plastic pollution. When we buy new clothes, we’re often wrapped in layers of plastic before we even get to wear the garment. A lot of people don’t realize how much plastic they use when they shop for new clothes, and the amount of time it will take for those clothes to fully biodegrade. But by buying second-hand, you are not only saving money, but many of these issues are avoided as the clothes often come wrapped instead of packaged in plastic, and most second-hand stores will accept returns if you don’t like the piece that you bought. And both charity shops and independent clothing shops will happily sell upcycled and handmade items too which you can be confident were made without

5. Eat less meat

Meat production has grown rapidly in recent years, meaning that demand for it has also grown. This is one of the reasons why there is so much air pollution today, as greenhouse gasses are one of the biggest environmental issues in the modern world. If we all reduced our intake of meat by half, it would make a big difference to global warming. When consuming meat, the most environmentally friendly option is to use locally sourced products. Eating less meat would make a big difference to global warming, as it can significantly lower the amount of gasses released into the air. Eating less meat reduces the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere, but not just that, the production of meat also requires lots of water and other resources, making it very environmentally damaging to produce. 

6. Repair/recycle broken items before buying new ones

You probably have at least one item that needs some fixing, so take care of it instead of throwing it away. The next time an appliance breaks down you can just have it fixed rather than buying a brand new one, even though we live in an era of planned obsolescence. Electronic items contain harmful chemicals that are very damaging to our environment when dumped into landfills. If your appliances are broken, take them in for recycling, and use electronic items responsibly. 

7. Use solar power/renewable energy sources

When shopping for new appliances and electronics, choose ones that provide at least partial power from renewable energy sources like the sun or wind, if such options are available and affordable for you. Renewable energy sources are extremely important for our health and future, but more importantly, they will help protect the environment from global warming. This is because solar energy produces fewer greenhouse gasses, keeps your electricity bills down, and greatly reduces our dependence on fossil fuels. The power generated by renewable energy sources is harvested from natural resources which are not harmful to the environment.

8. Start a garden to help the environment

Gardening is more than beautifying your home, it is a great way to protect the environment. You can plant flowers and trees that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects which are crucial for the growth of our planet’s ecosystems. You can also plant fruits and vegetables that you can use to reduce your carbon footprint. You don’t even need a huge yard to start growing plants, you just need some potted plants and seeds, soil, water, and sunlight. Every bit of land is useful for planting! If possible, join or create a community garden in your neighborhood or school.

If you want to live a greener lifestyle, there are many things you can do. From eating less meat and using solar power to recycling broken items instead of buying new ones, the options are endless! However, it is not always easy or affordable for everyone.  The good news is that you can do these 8 things for a cleaner and greener lifestyle, and they’re all pretty simple. From green cleaning products to planting flowers in your garden, each of these options has its own benefits, so it will be easy for you to choose which one to start with!