











Climate Change as a Driver for Sustainable Living





Sustainable living has become evermore popular due to the rising anxiety over climate change. According to Pew Research, 59% of Americans believe that climate change will present serious issues for our civilization in the coming years. And while we have been facing environmental issues since the dawn of the Anthropocene epoch, the "Age of Humans", it is this modern movement that has launched us into more conscience forms of living.





While it's important to support this movement, I also believe it's in the planets best interest for you to proceed with caution. Everywhere you look products are marketed as "green", "natural", and "sustainable". Are we truly making a positive impact on the environment by purchasing these "environmentally friendly" products? What does it mean to be sustainable anyway?









Sustainable : of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged. - Merriam Webster Dictionary









The word "sustainable" has become a blanket term used to describe anything from tech used to lower your personal energy output to bamboo toothbrushes. Are these products actually sustainable? Well, yes and no. One big challenge we face as consumers is whether or not to trust the companies we purchase products from. Companies have discovered that there is a movement toward using more natural products and have sought to exploit it. This is called greenwashing. Regardless of a product being made by sustainable means, marketing of merchandise has trended towards claiming its sustainability. And many consumers have come to trust the labels applied to these products. Therefore, as more and more merchandise is produced in order to lower our impact on the environment, our impact only continues to grow.





I applaud companies that have challenged themselves and found ways to design sustainable products without exploiting our natural resources. I wonder, though, why do we think certain advancements in sustainability are necessary?





We Live in a Society that Thrives on Status and Wealth





And this plays a role in the green industry, as well. We feel pressured to throw out last years model and embrace the new shiny version. Do we do this because we feel that the latest iteration will help the environment in some way? Because we struggle to be satisfied with our social standing? Or both?





Our drive to change habits or spend money is generally motivated by social queues. Humans have a herd mentality and desperately desire recognition and praise for their behaviors. When an influential person promotes something, we are more than likely going to trust their reasoning. We are influenced by multi-million and billion dollar marketing campaigns and celebrities that rarely have our best interests in mind, let alone the environments.





Many goods, such as, electric cars and solar panels, are in the early stages of development and use/produce toxic chemicals and emissions that are devastating to the environment. Yet we trust these companies to set the standard for sustainable living.









Pressing the Rewind Button





Humans have exploited the environment and expedited climate change since the mid-1700's. The Industrial Revolution launched our species into an era of technological advancements that we continue to see today. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), CO2 levels sat around 280 ppm at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Today we are looking at 411 ppm, which is the highest recorded level in history. If this trajectory continues, it will take tens of thousands of years for the atmosphere to return to pre-industrial levels.





If we are to make any kind progress, we should push pre-industrial means of living. To me, this is what sustainable living is all about - going back to our roots. Of course, it may not be attainable for everyone and I understand that modern conveniences are difficult to give up. But sacrificing some of your creature comforts will only decrease your impact on Mama Earth and increase your awareness and compassion.





It is more important than ever to scrutinize the sustainable nature of any product that you are interested in purchasing. Use your best judgement. Does the product meet your standards? What are your standards? Is it the best product on the market? Do you actually need it?





Below are some ways I believe you can help the planet. And while it may be overwhelming to think you can embrace any of these tips, I encourage you to try. You are capable of so much more than you may think. :)









6 Pre-Industrial and Sustainable Living Tips





1. Embrace Minimal Living





Minimalism removes you from the fast-paced materialistic society we live in and encourages you to value all of your belongings. In general, everything that you own should have a practical function that will help sustain you. Many minimalists will agree that if a certain item (i.e. books, plants, etc.) brings you joy, keep it! There are many forms of minimalism, however, so consider researching which kind best suits you.













2. Consume Less





A very appropriate tip to come after minimalism. Stop buying things you want or think you need, but don't really. Be intuitive in your shopping habits and only shop out of necessity. I'm not necessarily talking about refraining from going out for the occasional movie night or dinner, I'm referring to actual merchandise. The kind of stuff that you bring home, use once or twice, and then shove into the back of a closet for years.









3. Thrift Like a Boss





Completely cutting shopping out of your life is impossible, I get it! When you are met with a true need to replace one of your possessions, stop by your local thrift store. Thrifting is not only more affordable, it's more sustainable too. Less products will be produced the more you buy secondhand, so go wild (if it will bring value to your life, of course)!

Pro Tip: Be picky about the items that you invest in; go for natural fibers and materials.









4. Don't be Trashy





Challenge yourself to create less waste. Open up your cabinets and make a list of all the products you own that come in single-use packaging. Next time you go to the store, do your best to cut down on packaged products by shopping in the bulk section. If bringing your own produce bags or jars to the store is not an option, opt for glass or metal containers that can be recycled later.





Pro Tip: Never purchase another cleaning product again. Make your own cleaning solution out of 1:1 parts white vinegar and water.









5. Plant Powered Diet





Not only will the environment thank you for cutting meat and dairy out of your diet, but your body will too. Eating whole foods and plant based uses less natural resources to produce and prevents many harmful toxins and emissions from entering our environment. In fact, according to researchers at the University of Oxford, eating a vegan diet can reduce an individuals carbon emissions by up to 73%.





Bonus: Vegan diets have been shown to decrease your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.









6. Live off the Land





What better way to give back to the planet than to grow your own food? Oh yea, I just listed 5 ways, but this is important too! If you have the means to grow an organic food forest in your backyard, what are you waiting for? Our current agricultural system produces up to 30% of the total annual greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for 75% of the worlds deforestation. Growing your own food is such a rewarding experience and, let's be honest, it tastes better too!







