Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions You Could Make In 2020
We’re not only approaching the start of a new year but also a new decade and what better way to kick off the next ten years than with some sustainable resolutions? Here are five suggestions from us at Vino Supraja that will help you on your way to a more planet-friendly lifestyle.
- Create a more sustainable wardrobe
We’re a sustainable, ethical fashion brand so of course, our number one tip is to create a more sustainable wardrobe. There are so many reasons why the fast fashion industry is a huge problem not only for the environment but also for the garment workers employed in it. Education on this topic is a big key to driving change so we’ve rounded up the Fast Fashion Facts that You Need to Know here. It’s not as difficult as you might think to start dressing sustainably and there are lots of ways you can make a change, from shopping from sustainable brands, re-wearing your existing wardrobe and reducing the number of clothes you buy. Check out our blog post, Five Steps to a More Sustainable Wardrobe to help you get started.
- Reduce your plastic waste
Over 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year and 50% of that is said to be for single-use purposes. But these days, there’s a non-plastic alternative for most single-use items so we can all easily do our part to reduce our plastic footprint. Simple swaps include carrying your own reusable shopping bags, bringing a reusable coffee cup out with you, switching your toothbrush for a bamboo one, washing with a bar of soap instead of liquid soap, ditch the clingwrap (you can easily use a plate to cover food at home or use beeswax wraps for lunchbox food) and replace straws for non-plastic straws (or just use your lips!). What you can’t eradicate, remember to recycle. The plastic waste stays on the planet for hundreds of years and researchers predict that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
- Eat less meat and animal products
This resolution could be a little tougher for the meat lovers out there, but reducing your consumption of animal products can have a hugely positive impact on the environment. You don’t need to go full-on vegan, even a ‘flexitarian’ diet (eating meat occasionally) can help make a difference. According to Greenpeace, the livestock sector (that’s raising cows, pigs and chickens) generates as much greenhouse gas as all trucks, cars and automobiles combined. So cut down on those beef burgers and go for a veggie alternative a little more often. It could even make a difference to your health as well as the earth!
- Detox your home
We don’t always give much consideration to the chemicals we pour down our toilets and drains but many of the cleaning products we use in the home can have a negative impact on our eco-systems. Although wastewater undergoes treatment, some contaminants found in cleaning products can’t be removed and they can go on to affect wildlife and vegetation. There are many household cleaning products available on the shelves now which contain gentler ingredients making them kinder to the environment and also to ourselves. Less hazardous, more natural products tend to have better biodegradability, lower toxicity and even greener packaging. If you want to save money as well as the planet, you can even switch out some of your shop-bought products for natural alternatives that you may have at home, such as white vinegar (great for removing grime), olive oil which can be used as furniture polish and baking soda as a scourer.
- Cook from scratch
Food delivery services and ready-cooked meals may be convenient, but they come at a big expense to Mother Earth. Takeaway food and microwave meals tend to involve large amounts of single-use plastic packaging, transportation and emissions from production. Cooking at home is not only a cheaper option (on the whole) but it’s also more environmentally friendly. You can find most fruit and veg unpackaged and you don’t need to be a culinary genius to whip up something tasty at home. With our lives being busier than ever, there are plenty of recipes freely available for those who are short of time or lacking in culinary skills. All you need is the resolve to try!
We hope we’ve inspired you to make a change in 2020. Let us know what resolutions you’re making to bring a change!
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