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10 Small Steps for Slow, Sustainable Living

by Naihra Jae Yuson 11 May 2023
10 Small Steps for Slow, Sustainable Living

The road to sustainable living is paved with small, intentional steps! From making little home gardens to simply buying less, there are many gentle interventions that end up making effective change. Here are a few of our recommendations:

    1. Take Inventory
      Does anybody really need five identical little black dresses? It can be easy to forget all the clothes you already own, so try taking inventory of your existing pieces. We recommend making a spreadsheet of all your clothes to get a clear picture of what you already have, and also, a better idea of what you actually need.

    2. Borrow > Buy
      What if we told you that one of the best clothing shops is right at your home? We’re talking about your mother, sister or even grandmother’s wardrobe of course. Instead of buying something new, take a trip to their closet for a piece you can wear and style yourself (just don’t forget to ask permission, of course).

    3. Think Before you Buy
      Simple in theory, but difficult in actuality–most of the time, no one is safe from the tempting high of an impulse buy. For this, we recommend a more structured approach to shopping–ask yourself these questions before each purchase:

      - Do I already have something like this?
      - Are there actual occasions that I can use it?
      - Is it made to last?
      - Can I style it in at least three ways?

    4. Shop Local
      Choosing local means shortening the length of transport your produce takes to reach your plate, effectively lowering the carbon emissions made in the process. The same goes for clothes, skincare, and other products that you can get locally. It’s also an amazing way to support your community, and preserve local craft.



    5. Bring a Shopping Bag
      Probably one of the most low-effort sustainability habits is packing a reusable bag every time you head out. Whether you’re going to a bookstore, mall, or the grocery, your single shopping bag can do the job of multiple disposable plastic and paper bags.



    6. Mend and Upcycle
      Throwing damaged clothes away should be the last case scenario. Try to mend your pieces by learning basic sewing yourself or having it done by a local seamstress. If the damage is beyond repair, look to upcycling–use the remaining fabric to create a totally different piece that’s unique to you and your style.



    7. Replace Disposable with Reusable
      Take a good look at your daily routine and scope out all your single-use items. From the kitchen to your bathroom, you’ll find a lot of disposable things that you can easily replace with reusable ones. Try out cloth pads instead of cotton rounds, kitchen cloths instead of paper towels, beeswax wraps instead of cling film–the list goes on.

    8. Reuse Gift Bags for Future Gifting
      Wrapping paper is always the thing you don’t have when you need it the most, so, try to make a habit of keeping your used ones in storage when you receive gifts. Instead of having to travel to the store to buy new rolls every time, you’ll have a good selection in stock.



    9. Grow a Home Garden
      Buying produce, especially from commercial sources, comes with the cost of plastic packaging, pesticide use, and other environmentally harmful things. Growing a home garden can curb these, giving you fresh fruits and vegetables through less costly and more conscious means. Plus, it can be a wonderfully relaxing hobby to have.



    10. Learn how to Compost
      The less waste you make, the better, even when it comes to food waste. When you make a home composting system, you lessen what goes to the landfills, all while transforming your soil into a nutrient-rich type–perfect for any current or aspiring #plantita.
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