Shopping sustainably: the most important things to consider

When it comes to shopping sustainably, there’s a whole bunch of different things to consider. There are different levels on which we’re all ready to commit to a more sustainable lifestyle, but here are some of the most important things to consider when it comes to making those changes:

FASHION

The fashion industry is the second most polluting after the oil industry, so it’s one of the most important areas where change is needed. For our top tips on where to shop for sustainable style, check out our Masterlist of companies we’d recommend. Feel good while looking good and start shopping for eco- fashion and environmentally aware designers.

FOOD

What you eat is a crucial factor to consider when trying to live more sustainably. It’s important to think about the toxic impact of the meat and dairy industry- is veganism something you’d be willing to consider? Where is your food coming from and how far has it travelled? Once you’ve selected that food- how can you make best use of it and recycle everything to prevent food waste?

TRAVEL

Travel is absolutely key to a more environmentally friendly lifetstyle- walking and cycling is of course best whenever possible; but it’s absolutely key to cut down on car usage, so using public transport whenever possible is a must. The best thing we could all do to reduce our carbon footprint, is to cut out flying whenever possible.

ENERGY & ELECTRICITY

Go for the obvious: turn the lights out when you leave the room, where a jumper and keep the heating on lower/ off, and don’t keep things plugged in for longer than they need to be. There’s things are not only great for the environment, but also for your energy bills too!

WATER USAGE

A guilty pleasure of mine is always having a nice long soak in the tub, but the more we can cut down baths and have shorter showers, the more we’re doing to help the planet. Think about when else you’re using water? Don’t pour out more than you really need to wash up, or fill the kettle more than absolutely necessary.

With a little more attention paid to these five key areas, we could all do a lot more to protect the environment.

~ Jo ~