Sustainable… What does that word even mean? We’re living in a society where people are becoming increasingly aware of waste and ways to prevent it. Our planet needs us more than ever and we’re the only ones that can help.

One of my favorite quotes to describe sustainability is ‘Sustainability focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.’. We can have everything we need, and more, if we do it in a smart way that doesn’t endanger our precious earth.

To many, changing their lifestyle to a more sustainable one can seem daunting and overwhelming.

I’m here to talk you through my top 10 ways to live a more sustainable life – no drastic changes or difficult tasks, just simple, easy swaps.

1. Save Water

You can save water by making lot’s of small changes.

Set a timer for the shower to make sure you don’t exceed a 5 minute limit.
Fit a water efficient shower head or flow regulator which restricts the flow. This will save money too!
Try and bath less, baths use substantially more water than short showers.
Consider flushing the toilet only when you need to. Each saved flush may save around six litres.
Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, washing or shaving – this can save a lot of water and is easy to do!

2. Save Energy

Using less energy will reduce carbon emissions and is pretty easy to do.

You could start by using your heating less; if you’re cold, grab a blanket, a pair of socks and wrap up warm first. You might find you then don’t need the heating on.

You could also hang your clothes to dry instead of using a dryer, this is especially easy if the sun is shining and will help dry your clothes for you.

Switch off standby on all your appliances. If you switch them off at the plug, they won’t be running in the background and wasting electricity. Similarly, make sure you turn off all lights as you exit a room. If no one is in there, they don’t need to be on.

3. Eat Less Meat

Meat production is one of the biggest contributors to climate change and the pollution of landscapes and waterways, find out more here.

While eating less meat might seem like a difficult task, you could always start small. Why not have meat-free Monday? Or swap some of your recipes to meat alternatives. It doesn’t have to be a huge change, but can have a huge impact when done right.

4. Reusable Alternatives

The issue with single-use products is that they usually end up in landfill or the ocean. This has a horrible impact on our wildlife and ruins the environment.

Try opting for a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic one, buy metal straws and take them out with you, go grocery shopping with a reusable bag, and buy rechargeable batteries.

All of these things will benefit you and the environment.

5. Sustainable Commuting

Wherever possible, always choose to walk or ride a bike. It’s healthier for you and better for the environment.

If you need transport to get somewhere, try choosing public transport first or see if anyone else is available to car share. Car sharing can reduce greenhouse gas emissions as it halves the amount of cars on the road.

6. Avoid Fast Fashion

The fashion industry is well-known for it’s negative impact on the environment. Try and buy sustainable, recycled and eco-friendly clothes and accessories. Lots of brands have sustainable lines and are trying to do more for the planet.

Where possible, buy from charity shops, outlets, or friends.

7. Go Paperless

Many businesses such as banks and retail stores have now got the option to go paperless. Update your mailing options to emails and texts, and have receipts emailed to you in store. This avoids you getting unnecessary things printed off.

8. Recycle

Recycling can seem daunting but is easy once you get the hang of it. You just need to read the packaging to double check the item is recyclable and then put it into the correct bin. It might even help to buy a divided bin which would make this process a lot easier.

You can also recycle and re-use in your own home. A good example is using pasta jars to store arts and crafts, old takeout containers for taking lunch to work or old clothes and towels as cleaning rags.

9. Less Food Waste

A lot of the food we buy from supermarkets will go to waste. This can be because of the shelf life, forgetting to cook it or making too much food. Try and prevent food waste by by shopping in meals or buying only frozen product in bulk and fresh produce day to day. You could also compost excess food scraps and avoid filling the bin up.

10. Choose California Performance V-Whey

California Performance V-Whey is real dairy whey protein, made without the animal impact. Dairy farming has a negative impact on the environment, and V-Whey doesn’t require any dairy farming at all.

Swapping out your old whey protein for V-Whey is a simple, quick and easy way to help the environment. Find out more about the benefit of V-Whey over traditional whey protein here.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, start small. Pick the thing that feels easiest for you, once you’ve mastered that, you can move on to something else.

If everyone did their bit, the impact would be huge.