Strategies for Living Sustainably and Protecting the Environment
Every second of the day, there are thousands of decisions being made by humans that have an impact on the environment. As the world becomes more informed about the environmental impact of these decisions, many positive steps have been taken toward sustainability. This article will discuss some of the simple ways any human being can use his or her own lifestyle as a way to protect the environment.
When it comes to sustainable choices to help the environment, one of the most widely recognized and practiced strategies is to reuse and recycle materials. By recycling plastic, paper and other materials, people can protect animals and plants from pollution and other harmful impacts on their environment. While many people might think of recycling as just putting used plastic in a recycling bin to be picked up by waste management, the truth is there are many other practical ways recycling can be done. For example, metal or wood scraps left over from a project can be reused for another project, or plastic bottles can be res-shaped into plastic jars for storage. With the heightened awareness of sustainability today, many companies are even selling clothes and other products made from recycled materials.
Jordan Sudberg notes reusing food items is also a great way to help out with sustainability. By eating leftovers or using food scraps as a way to make new meals, humans can reduce waste and in turn better protect the environment. Along with eating leftovers, people can also live more sustainably by changing their diets. Switching to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle protects animals and increases the amount of beneficial plants and other wildlife that help keep the environment clean. Those who don’t feel comfortable completely switching to a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle can help out by reducing the amount of meat they eat or food they throw away.
Another way humans can do their part in sustaining the environment is by driving less and using cleaner forms of energy. While walking or biking to and from places may not always be feasible, doing so when traveling short distances has a positive impact on the environment. When driving is the only option, purchasing vehicles that run on fossil fuels or electricity helps reduce the carbon footprint left behind by vehicles traditionally running on gas.
Jordan Sudberg also advises people to be knowledgeable about all the products they purchase and the companies they purchase them from. Many companies have started making sustainability a priority, so buying products from these companies over traditional ones can be very beneficial. Buying locally can also help the environment by reducing the amount of paper or plastic used to ship a product from point a to b. Just as sustainability varies from company to company, it also varies from product to product. For this reason, it is also important to read product labels to understand which ingredients or materials go into each product and make conscious buying decisions that better the environment for now and into the future.