Living in the modern age means participating in an endless cycle of consumption and pollution that invariably harms the planet. And even though this lifestyle isn’t your fault, doing your bit to reduce your carbon footprint can definitely help things get better. But before we move any further, let’s make things clear.
First, what is carbon footprint exactly? This term gets used quite a lot, so it’s important to explain it properly. Carbon footprint is basically a sum of all the things you do. Driving your vehicle, energy usage at your home, going shopping and your diet are all responsible for your carbon footprint. So if the environmental issues are something you care about, then here are some useful tips that will help you reduce your carbon footprint.
Try driving less
Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially if you live in a suburb or remote rural area without enough access to all the modern-day facilities. But, in case you live in an urban area or in a place that doesn’t lack anything, driving less can definitely help lower your environmental impact.
Rather than driving to the nearest supermarket to pick up a few groceries, try cycling or walking instead. Also, make sure to service your car regularly, and go easy on gas and breaks. That way, your car will be in better condition, meaning it’ll produce less carbon footprint.
Getting an electric scooter is another way to go. They’re practical, fast, and pretty sustainable. There are many manufacturers of those scooters out there, so take your time and pick the right one for you. However, regarding the carbon footprint, scooters emit about 202 g of CO2 per km and per passenger over their entire life cycle. The e-scooters contribute about half the amount of emissions to that of the average car.
If you’d like to get a Tesla, by all means – do it. But don’t think that getting an electric car is enough. The thing is, due to the company’s labor practices and business model, Tesla isn’t sustainable, at all. While Musk accumulates wealth, Tesla workers are suffering.
Fly Less
Although we’re dealing with a pandemic right now, and you’re probably not flying at all unless you’re an incredibly important businessman, you should start thinking about flying less in the near future when all of this blows away. If you drive and fly a lot, your carbon emissions will be higher. However, if you can’t avoid flying or driving, consider donating money to some sustainable projects such as those that help farmers or some others that supply sustainable stoves to rural areas.
Waste less
Living a zero-waste lifestyle might be challenging if you’re used to the comforts of a regular way of living, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try reducing your waste. Recycling is an excellent place to start, as it will help you preserve and reuse things that shouldn’t be discarded anyway. Food is what gets thrown out the most, which is why it’s important to plan your meals, quantities and to buy things you’ll really cook. Planning your purchases is essential as it will prevent you from throwing away food if it ever goes bad. Also, finding multipurpose replacements to makeup wipes, cotton pads and menstrual products will help you reduce your waste, and therefore, a carbon footprint.
Learn more
The best way to reduce your carbon footprint is to be informed and up-to-date with the latest inventions and tips. We live in the era of eco-consciousness, so you should learn how to offset co2 emissions. Knowing what you’re dealing with will help you become more motivated and focused. Society as a whole is already focusing on renewable energies, energy efficiency, and reducing greenhouse emissions, which is definitely great news.
Eat less meat
This might be disappointing to some, but the truth is, meat consumption has an effect on the environment. Many experts agree that cutting down meat-eating on an individual level is beneficial to the environment. Simply, the production of meat, especially red meat, requires a lot of resources that can be damaging to the planet. So eating a vegan diet is the best solution, however, it’s not feasible for many. If that’s the case with you, then eating a vegetarian or pescatarian diet is a much better alternative to doing nothing at all. And if you don’t want to make any drastic dietary changes, just try to reduce your meat consumption on a weekly basis.
Conclusion
Doing your bit to help the planet by reducing your carbon footprint will help you feel good while doing something useful and beneficial. Also, keep in mind that you’re allowed to as slowly as you like, as long as you’re something substantial. Just feel free to do things on your own terms, and these tips will surely help you to start your journey toward a new way of sustainable living.