4 tips on how to introduce more sustainability to our everday lives
Since May 2020 mankind’s ecological footprint on earth has started to exceed the natural renewable resources available on our planet. And yet this is not the only reason why the subject of sustainability has become the focus of attention. We alone will not suffer from environmental pollution, the generations to come will feel the impact as well. Each and everyone of us can do something to minimise the impact. In the following you will find four tips on how we can master everyday life in a sustainable way.
1. Buy organic, regional and seasonal foods
Integrating sustainability in our everday lives is easier than one would assume when purchasing food and items of everday life. It is important to pay attention to the quality, Fairtrade and sustainability seals and to make sure the products are produced and processed in the region. With food in particular one can purchase in a sustainable way, by buying seasonal products and if possible fruit and vegetables from organic farmers or at the weekly market. You can carry your shopping home in cloth bags you take along with you or bags designed for multiple use thus avoiding unnecesssary carrier bags.
2. Use returnable bottles
When doing your shopping it is not always easy to differentiate between multiple-use or returnable bottles and single-use bottles. So you should take care to buy returnable bottles – one guideline for this: if the bottle costs more than 15 cents, it is a reusable product. Outside of the supermarket we also have the capacity to make a difference by purchasing glass or stainless steel bottles which can be used for school, at the job and in your free time. They are environmentally friendly and cheaper in the long run.
3. Beware of hidden plastic
For changing diapers, hands and surfaces, wet wipes come in really handy and are the ideal companion in everyday life. However, they often contain hidden microplastic which is a serious polluter of our domestic waterways and oceans. Most consumers know nothing about this! As of 2021 there will be a legal requirement to label single-use plastic in these products. As of now, however, there are alternatives already available on the market: cellulose-based fibers of the VEOCELTM brand are produced in a sustainble way from the raw material of wood and are biodegradable. Anyone looking out for the VEOCELTM logo on the pack when making a purchase, can therefore rest assured that the product does not contain any plastic and does not pollute the environment.
4. Use public transport, go by bike or on foot
On average humans use their cars for between one and two hours a day. For short distances it is really not necessary to take the car. One alternative is to go by bike or public transport or to go on foot. If you have to take the car, make use of car pools or car sharing opportunities.
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