Top Tips for Beginners

To start as soon as you can, below are my top 10 steps to begin a sustainable lifestyle: 

1.    Reusable Bag

This is the easiest thing you can do! Whenever you go shopping (grocery and retail) take 3-4 reusable bags with you. To remember them leave the bags at the front of the car in front of the passenger’s seat or you can set a reminder on your mobile phone.

2.    BYO

What does BYO stand for? Bring Your Own…your own coffee cup, water bottle, pack your own cutlery and container.

If you forget, then you just delay till you have brought your own or simply you do not get it.

3.    5 R’s

Refuse - refuse unnecessary product packaging and plastic! Make smarter purchasing decisions and avoid plastic. Put some thought ahead of purchase and find an alternative.

Reduce – reduce the use of harmful, wasteful products. Reducing results in less waste ending up in landfills.

Reuse – instead of buying new products use what you already have. If you have purchased an item that is single-use like a plastic water bottle reuse it.

Repurpose - For every item that can't be refused, reduced, or reused, try repurposing it. With some creativity, you can upcycle practically anything.

Recycle – Learn to recycle properly (in Australia). Recycling is the most environmentally friendly waste disposal method.

Start thinking of purchases in a circular fashion and close the loop! This means waste can easily become a resource.

4.     Do a Waste Audit   

By sorting through your weekly waste at home you can identify the main areas of waste and look to reduce your current landfill and improve your recycling habits. Sort it into recycling, compostable waste, landfill and any other bins your local government may have. Make notes and identify areas you would like to change –  swap to plastic-free alternatives, and refer to the 5 R’s.

5.     Why Live a Sustainable Lifestyle?

Do some research and determine why you are making these changes to your life. This will motivate you and make it feel more real. You can also set out goals you would like to achieve. Place it somewhere you can view it often and act as a reminder.

6.    Find Inspiration

By joining an eco-community, you will find inspiration and fantastic ideas. By connecting with others along your journey you can share ideas, challenges, ask questions and learn. There is plenty of opportunities online to join Facebook groups and find like-minded people.

My Top Picks for Inspiration

-       Laura Wells

-       PlasticFreeMermaid

-       The Rogue Ginger

7.    Finding Alternatives

Below are some alternatives to move away from single-use plastic to eco-friendly alternatives and the cost benefits in the move.

8.    Compost

By Composting we reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. It has been identified that food waste forms almost one third of a household’s or in my experience school waste. Food waste creates powerful greenhouse gases, in particular methane which contributes to climate change. Get a green thumb and start composting!

9.     Vote with Your Dollar

Whenever you spend money you are supporting the business that made and produced the product. Before purchasing an item of clothing or food make sure that you understand the lifecycle and supply chain. Spend your money at stores that do make the effort to introduce innovative packaging or low impact goods, and support individual companies that do the same.

10.  Continue Making Small Steps!

If I could leave you with one piece of advice: One change at a time! Going plastic-free or zero waste is about changing habits. This takes time. The more you practice, the easier it will get.

It is possible to go plastic-free and live a full life in fact your life will be richer both economically and on a daily basis. It is all about making a start and a start with small steps.