SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND ITS BENEFITS

 

Sustainable living and its benefits

For your questions as to why are we experiencing abnormal climatic conditions, unpredicted rains and floods, abnormal surges and dips in the temperature, etc. you can find a convincing answer here.

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Exploring the term Sustainable living
3. Advantages of sustainable living
4. Minor disadvantages
5. Importance of sustainable living
6. What is zero-waste living
7. Minimalism and Conscious Consumerism
8. Sustainable transportation
9. Eco-friendly home and lifestyle
10. Sustainable food and agriculture
11. Ethical Fashion and Beauty
12. Eco-travel and tourism
13. Community awareness and activities
14. Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

I appreciate your efforts in finding me on this topic of Sustainable living.  I also welcome you all to go through this article right from top to bottom, which shall throw light on the importance, ways and means to adapt sustainable living in your day-to-day life.

 

In this article, I have tried to provide you necessary feeds like the importance of sustainable living, its advantages, and some tips to practice in our daily routine.  I have also depicted some valuable resources which may go a long way to help to lead an eco-friendly and sustainable life, which shall not only save humanity, animals, and other beings on the planet but also pave the way to enrich the lives of our next generations.

 

Do you wonder how we are going to meet the challenges which the world is facing now like environmental changes, abnormal climatic conditions, biodiversity loss to resource depletion, and mounting pollution? 

 

The answer is only sustainable living, which shall enable us to overcome the impacts on account of the above challenges. 

 

In this blog post, I have covered a wide range of topics like Zero Waste living, Minimalism and conscious consumerism, Sustainable transportation, Eco-friendly home and lifestyle, Sustainable Food and Agriculture, Ethical Fashion and beauty, Eco-friendly travel and tourism, Community awareness and activities.

 

Now let us explore the term Sustainable living and how everyone can adapt? 

 

Having seen what I am going to discuss on the topic of sustainable living and its benefits, it is unfair on my part if I do not say what does sustainable living mean?

 

Leading a life to reduce the wastage of every commodity will have an overall impact on one’s environment so that the natural resources are used minimally and waste is reduced. 

 

This way of leading life involves adapting practices and behaviors in promoting a healthy planet, with a clean society added with the flavors of a healthy economy.  This can help the present and future generations across the globe.

 

Therefore, it can be said that sustainable living is a motivational factor in balancing social, economic, and environmental considerations to create an equitable world.

 

Here below I shall give five examples of sustainable living:

 

Renewable Energy:

 

Renewable energy - Solar power plant

As we all know, we use electricity, petrol, and other energy resources in our daily routine for various purposes.  As an alternative, we can switch over to using renewable energy sources like solar power, wind power, and hydropower energy systems, which are naturally available and they do not pollute in the process of production and also at the end-user level.

 

Waste Management:

 

Waste management plays a major role in sustainable living.  While we are practicing living with reusable containers, composting food and other agricultural wastes, and recycling them to get the required product, it greatly helps in waste management techniques thereby saving our resources.

 

Reducing transportation costs and resources:

 

Reducing transportation costs and resources

When we think of reducing the cost of transportation and in terms of reducing the consumption of resources, it comes to our mind that we need to adapt ourselves to sustainable living. 

 

Instead of using a car for commuting to the office/workplace for a single individual, it will be an option to commute by bike/scooter, bicycle, public transport, etc. so that the dependency on fuel can be reduced, besides avoiding air pollution, time and other factors.  This concept has been considered the origin of the invention, production, and usage of electric vehicles.

 

Support to local businesses:

 

Consumption of Organic products locally available can enhance the economic condition of local businesses and also prioritize sustainability and ethical practices.

 

Using locally available products shall fuel the growth of the economy amongst the local population.

 

When we buy and use produce from the local area will not only benefit the native vendors but also helps in saving money for ourselves.

Advantages of Sustainable living

 

There are several advantages of sustainable living, as it is the demand of time to adapt to this system of lifestyle.

 

• Sustainable living minimizes the use of natural resources and wastes, thereby resulting in helping to maintain the resources for others of the present and future generations.  This provides for a reduced environmental impact.

• One of the ways of sustainable living suggests that we use energy-efficient appliances and practices, which prevent the draining of enormous energy potential.  Besides, this also helps in reducing energy bills and enhances our economic conditions over some time.

• Consumption of naturally available foods and using natural cleaning products help in maintaining a healthier lifestyle.

• Conservative usage of naturally available resources such as water, and eco-friendly materials, can preserve the planet’s resources like water, forests, minerals, and other valuable materials available in plenty on the earth.

• Sustainable living reduces habitat destruction and supports sustainable land use practices.

• Usage of local community commodities and supporting local businesses and initiatives promotes community engagement.

• Therefore, it is a fact that sustainable living benefits widely for both individuals and also the planet, resulting in creating a more sustainable, and equitable future for all.

 

Minor disadvantages of sustainable living

 

• Though we had covered a few examples of the advantages of sustainable living, there are some minor disadvantages to such practices.

• Suppose we go for effective energy-based appliances to reduce energy bills, it may add to your budget slightly by providing alternative energy sources such as solar panels, etc. 

• This may, in the initial stage, cost a little more investment.  To mitigate this situation, most Governments are giving subsidies to compensate to a great extent.

• Also, government agencies are encouraging those industries that are manufacturing sustainable products by way of subsidized interest rates, tax concessions, and many other benefits.

• It can be a challenge for some individuals to switch over to sustainable living, as we are used to traditional living for many decades in the past.

 

Importance of Sustainable living

 

Now, let us ask what is the importance of sustainable living? You will all appreciate that nowadays, we come across various natural calamities like earthquakes, untimely and unpredictable rains, floods, and exorbitant temperature fluctuations, ruining our daily life and peace of mind.  They are caused due to eco-imbalances and the entire globe has been giving utmost importance to safeguard the lives of our and future generations.

 

Our hitherto lifestyle has caused a lot of depletion in natural resources, pollution, biodiversity loss, etc. If this situation is allowed to continue, it may even cause worst effects than those we have seen so far.  This situation warrants the immediate adaptation of sustainable living.

 

Therefore, it is our primary responsibility to save the eco-balance for our well-being and also give hope to the next generations they would be benefitted from the natural resources, by way of sustainable living.

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It is also essential that if we practice sustainable living to reduce the carbon footprint, and conserve resources, it can mitigate the effects of pollution, and biodiversity loss, and avoid erratic climatic conditions in a greater way.

 

Besides, sustainable living can improve the economic conditions as we will be switching over to the usage of local products, organic products, renewable energy, and other modules, which shall indirectly help in job generation in the newer fields and also ultimately result in social equity. 

 

If we aim at achieving our goal of offering a pathway to a more sustainable and equitable future for all, it is very much needed that we practice sustainable living.

 

What is Zero waste living?

 

Zero-waste living means avoiding wastage of any kind. This necessitates making conscious choices to reduce, reuse and recycle materials.  It can otherwise be said that zero-waste living is based on the circular economy, enabling the reduction of waste. 

 

This can be achieved at home by choosing products of needs only with minimal or no packaging, taking reusable containers like jute/cotton bags to carry our purchased items from a shop, restaurant, stores, etc., and avoiding plastic bags and packing materials, straws, water bottles, etc.   This shall not only minimize the cost of purchase but also helps in saving the planet Earth from causing pollution by way of dumps.

 

While at schools and Offices, zero waste living can be adapted by packing lunch and eatables in reusable containers instead of disposable ones, refillable pens, and pencils can be put into use instead of disposable ones, avoiding paper waste, etc.

 

Minimalism and Conscious Consumerism

 

Minimalism is a way of reducing the untidiness and simplifying the living space and prioritizing the experiences and relationships over material possessions.  However, Conscious consumerism involves the habit of making informed and mindful choices of purchasing goods and services.

 

While minimalism emphasizes eliminating excesses and focusing on what is really important in life, conscious consumerism involves taking the environmental, social, and ethical impact of products and services aspects into preferred consideration. 

 

Despite the above aspects differing in their ideology, both of them stand united in their common goal of reducing consumption and prioritizing mindful choices.

 

Both these concepts give thrust on the importance of considering the consequences of our actions on the planet, and society.  Also, they both help in reducing waste and support ethical and sustainable practices. 

 

Sustainable Transportation

 

Sustainable transportation is nothing but switching over to our old school of thought, i.e. to simply look back to our older days when we used to wander about in a bi-cycle, take a walk for about 3 to 4 kilometers with some purpose.  This enabled us to keep ourselves healthy and also helped to prevent atmospheric pollution, besides cutting down the fuel needs.

 

Sustainable transportation is motivated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air and noise pollution, etc.  This promotes the health, equity, and social and economic well-being of all.

 

Sustainable transportation emphasizes the integration of transportation with land use planning and promotes the use of walking and cycling.

 

As I had, elsewhere in this blog, stated that instead of using a car for a single person commuting, it is better to think of using public transport, bike/scooter, cycle or even walking depending upon the distance of travel.  This will not only reduce the cost of fuelling but also will help in enhancing our personal economic condition, avoid road traffic jams, congestion and ultimately improve our wellbeing.

 

Promoting the usage of renewable energy-run vehicles like cars and other vehicles run by solar energy, electric vehicles, smart transportation systems, car/bike-sharing system, etc. is very much thought as the need of the hour.  This will reduce the environmental impacts that are caused by other type of vehicles.

 

Overall, adapting to a sustainable transportation system will augment our efforts in reducing the carbon footprint, improving air quality, and balancing atmospheric conditions.

 

Eco-friendly home and lifestyle

 

You may ask me a question whether an eco-friendly home and lifestyle is possible in the current scenario?  My answer to this question is “Yes”.  Here, I will give some tips to accomplish this task of adapting ourselves to an eco-friendly home and lifestyle.

 

Instead of using high energy-consuming electric appliances, we can use energy-efficient and eco-friendly light bulbs, and use energy-saving cookware appliances which are having auto-shut-off systems and other features.

 

Water can be conserved by fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, and using regulated water flow toilets.  Open and close the water taps as and when required while brushing, shaving, hand washing, etc.

Usage of eco-friendly personal care products, and home goods made of high-quality reusable materials, etc. will take forward our efforts in adopting sustainable living.

 

Buying only the essentials made of reusable materials like glasses, utensils made of steel, and other materials and reusing eatable waste in a different form by composting and using them as manures for our garden plants is another form of practicing sustainable living.

 

We can grow healthy vegetables and fruits of our choice in our home garden (wherever feasible), to cater to our home needs.  This not only gives utmost satisfaction to the family members, but also will be found highly organic, natural, hygienic, and nutritious.  Also, this will reduce the carbon footprint of food transportation by Lorries and other means of transport.  Also, this is a great idea to improve a healthier living environment.

 

Usage of bamboo flooring, reclaimed wood, and recycled glass countertops is a great option to improve our sustainable living, as these materials are reusable and sustainable.

 

With a view to reducing heating and avoiding cooling costs, proper insulation of the home is very much needed. 

 

Rainwater harvesting is a great choice to be followed so that the groundwater table is not depleted over some time.

 

Sustainable food and agriculture

 

Sustainable food and agriculture is also considered to be a vital aspect of sustainable living. 

 

Using natural fertilizers made by way of composting food and vegetable wastage and naturally made pesticides in organic farming can promote biodiversity.

  

To improve biodiversity, it is necessary to plant trees and other crops together to improve soil health and also to prevent soil erosion.

  

Usage of naturally made fertilizers and pesticides will not only give good yield but also helps in maintaining the soil health. 

 

If soil disturbance is minimized, and crop rotation is promoted, through the process of conservation agriculture, the health of the soil is further improved.

 

Production and rising of livestock will minimize environmental impact and improve animal husbandry efforts, besides helping in preparing fertilizers and manures for agricultural purposes. 

 

This system of sustainable food and agriculture encourages agricultural production and marketing within the local area, which benefits both the local consumers and the farmers in avoiding extra costs towards marketing, transportation, commission to agents, etc. Also, this method reduces the carbon footprint caused by food transportation.

 

Ethical Fashion and Beauty

 

Resorting to the use of ethical fashion and beauty products shall be an advantageous step towards sustainable living.

 

Any product that is created by ethical ways and means is beautiful and fashionable and is aimed at the well-being of humanity and animal welfare, besides being environmentally friendly.  Using such products shall improve our efforts toward sustainable living also.

 

This can in no way hurt the fashion and beauty products industry and the planet.  But on the other hand shall help in effective waste management, and fair labor practice, and prioritizes animal welfare also.

 

For example, using organic and sustainable fashion clothes, production of fashion materials with minimum water consumption, avoiding the usage of toxic chemicals for colors (which may cause water pollution), instead using natural colors, and using bio-gradable and reusable packing materials shall save our environmental resources. 

 

Since natural products are the main ingredients for ethical fashion and beauty, the local and another related workforce may get engaged in these activities and can become a part of sustainable living.

 

Therefore, ethical fashion and beauty lifestyles shall augment our efforts for a better tomorrow by saving the ecosystem and the planet Earth.

 

Eco-travel and Tourism

 

During any vacation trip or for any travel made on account of an occasion, have you ever thought of eco-friendly travel and tourism? If so, you are becoming a part of the sustainable living community.

 

To minimize the adverse effect of travel and tourism on the Earth's planet, it is necessary to practice eco-friendly travel and tourism.  It is the practice of responsible and sustainable travel and tourism, which reduces the cost of travel (to save our economic conditions), and minimizes the impact on the environment.

 

For example, traveling to nearby places by public transport, and staying in hotels and lodges equipped with renewable energy systems, and which have a better water management system, etc. can form part of sustainable living.

 

Packing your requirements in reusable materials instead of using use-and-throw materials, also provides a great way to save the atmospheric conditions and pollution.

 

Eco-friendly travel and tourism also enable job opportunities for the local people, improve their economic conditions, reduce carbon footprint, save water and energy resources, etc.

 

Community awareness and activities

 

From this topic of “Community awareness and activities”, it could be seen that leading a sustainable lifestyle is not restricted to a single individual.  It should be expanded to the community living which shall benefit the entire residents of the geographical area.  Also, activism means taking action to make others adapt sustainable living.

 

With the aid of community awareness and activities spread around, we can expect positive changes at the local level, and other areas which lay down a strong foundation to build a bright future with improved and better climatic conditions and a livable planet earth.

 

The entire community of the area can be advised of the impacts of air and water pollution and also promote saving water and other energy resources for the better future of the next generations.

 

Organizing the local residents through the help of native organizations to propagate the importance of sustainable living to improve their economic conditions, stay united, and lead a bright life for us and also for future generations.

 

CONCLUSION

 

In a nutshell, I shall wrap up with the following vital points for sustainable living:

 

1. Bear in mind that we should save – energy, water, and other natural resources.
2. Practice yourself and encourage the usage of reusable materials for every need in our day-to-day life.
3. Adapt yourselves to avoid carbon footprint to reduce air pollution
4. Practice using naturally available products like bamboo flooring, glass cups, bottles, and steel materials for packaging, naturally available coloring agents, etc. to prevent further pollution to planet Earth.
5. Encourage local businesses and products to save money for ourselves and to improve their economic conditions.
6. All countries across the globe are prioritizing their efforts in augmenting the process of sustainable living.
7. We should not forget that we should leave adequate resources to future generations also.
8. It is our responsibility to safeguard the planet for ourselves and also for the future generation.
9. Therefore, each and everyone should join together to adapt ourselves to sustainable living.
10. For a better tomorrow, we should know what is sustainable living and reap the benefits of sustainable living for the benefit of ourselves and for the coming generations.