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It's early 2022 and I want to start living more sustainably. However, the majority of guides and articles I read seemed to suggest a pretty unattainable lifestyle – because let's be honest, we can't all just go and live completely off the grid. So, I created this step-by-step guide into how we can lead a more eco-friendly life that's actually attainable, and what we need to be able to do it.
📚Step one: get reading📚
Before we delve into eco-friendly products, it's always useful to have some pre-written guides to get us started. I've chosen a few books that Amazon reviewers have found really helpful when beginning their journey into sustainable living.
Live Green has 52 steps on how to lead a more sustainable life.
You can even change the way you clean your home with Clean and Green: 101 Hints and Tips for a More Eco-Friendly Home.
If you're considering a zero waste lifestyle, How to Go (Almost) Zero Waste is a good place to start.
🥗Step two: waste less food🥗
It's safe to admit that the majority of us probably buy way more food than we can actually eat before it goes off, and if you're living alone, trying to eat everything before its expiry date can feel like an extreme sport.
There are ways that we can make the most of our leftovers, and if we do throw our food away how we can do so responsibly.
Invest in this kitchen compost bin for any food waste to go into which can then be recycled.
These compostable bin liners will make it easier for you to transfer your food waste to the garden waste bin.
You can reseal opened bags of food using this handheld sealer so the food doesn't go off. It also has a small cutter so you can reopen the bag.
This handy saver pod will keep your avocado fresh so you don't have to eat it all in one go. The best part is you can also use the pod for dips.
Make the most of your leftovers with this Love Your Leftovers recipe book.
🧺Step three: revamp your household chores🧺
Yup, even the way you clean your home and do your laundry can be more sustainable.
With the right products you're cutting out harsh chemicals, wasting less electricity, and saving both time and money!
Replace your detergent and fabric conditioner with this refillable laundry egg that lasts up to 70 washes. It works out as just 10p per wash!
And these dryer eggs will cut down the time it takes to dry even larger loads, meaning you're using less energy. It also helps to soften your clothes.
Replace your paper kitchen towel with these Swedish dishcloths to clean up any spills. Each cloth can be cleaned in the dishwasher up to 100 times, and can absorb up to 20 times its own weight.
This popular Method shower cleaner is made from plant based technology, and its no-rinse formula means you can just spray and leave.
💄Step four: create an eco-conscious beauty routine💄
Being more sustainable also means we have to consider how our products are made and the ingredients they contain. We now have access to hundreds of completely vegan and cruelty free brands that makes this step a lot easier.
Try this Simple moisturiser if you're after a light and hydrating formula that doesn't feel heavy on the skin.
This Ecotools brush set has five brushes made from bamboo and recycled aluminium.
Replace your makeup wipes with these reusable remover pads that even come with their own laundry bag.
Exfoliate your skin with Sanctuary Spa's salt body scrub. It has a blend of coconut, jojoba oil, and sweet almond to moisturise your skin, plus you can reuse the jar.
e.l.f flawless finish foundation will give you medium coverage, as well as being completely vegan and cruelty free!
♻️Step five: shop reusable items♻️
Single use items often find that their final resting place is at the landfill, so in order to break this cycle reusable items that we can repurpose over and over again are a more sustainable choice.
Reusable doesn't mean we always have to spend serious £££, but they're of course a bit more pricey than something that is single use. That's why it's important to know exactly what is actually worth spending your money on.
Check out this pack of silicone straws. Not only are they a lot more stylish than plastic ones, but they also last for ages.
This stainless steel water bottle will keep your water cool for 24 hours, and even has a useful carry handle.
For your hot drinks, use this travel mug that you can collapse when it's not in use so it fits in your bag.
Instead of using plastic bags to bring your veggies home from the shop, check out these mesh produce bags.
And to bring the rest of your food home, these reusable shopping bags can even be folded up for easy storage.
Replace your cling film with these beeswax wraps that can be washed after use!
🏡Step six: decorate your home sustainably🏡
Items in your home can still be aesthetically pleasing while being eco-friendly. Being sustainable in the home usually focuses on saving energy and buying materials that won't end up in a landfill.
This set of coconut bowls and spoons looks perfect for that Pinterest smoothie bowl aesthetic.
Get cosy with these adorable beehive candles made from natural beeswax.
Save more energy with this pack of LED light bulbs.
👚Step seven: increase the longevity of your clothes👚
Fast fashion is a big focus when discussing climate change, so there are ways of making our existing clothes last a lot longer.
This battery-powered fabric shaver will get rid of those annoying bobbles on your jumpers.
Check out this Dr. Beckmann survival kit that has sprays to remove oil, red wine, and ink stains!
A travel sewing kit is really useful to have to fix any seams or rips quickly and on the go.
🌱Step eight: get gardening🌱
You can also get stuck in with gardening to start growing your own produce from home. You don't have to have a large garden to do so either – for instance, growing herbs can be done from your kitchen windowsill!
This self-watering herb planter will do the work for you (after you've planted the herbs of course), and will sit nicely inside too.
If you're not particularly green-fingered you might want to give this vegetable seed kit for beginners a try. It has 12 varieties of seeds that you can grow in your own backyard!
