Being sustainable and living zero waste doesn’t happen overnight. It takes months even years to transition into that frame of mind. Wherever you are in the sustainability spectrum, reducing our carbon footprint, may it be small changes or doing big leaps, is very important to try and help ‘un-f*ck’ the earth. In saying that, here are 3 things that you should have changed by now, or at least thinking of changing in the near future:

1. Re-usable Shopping Bags

With many countries’ recent crackdown on lightweight plastic bags, having and using re-usable shopping bags should be in your sustainability list. Bangladesh is known to have been the first country to ban plastic bags in 2002 following series of devastating floods caused by blocked drainage primarily made of plastic. As of today, 74 countries have introduced policies regulating lightweight plastics, and hopefully the rest of the world would follow suit.

It is easy enough to remember to take your re-usable bag when you are thinking of going food shopping. When you do forget to bring a bag for those impromptu shopping run, try and get a box from the shop instead of buying another re-usable bag. One of the principles of sustainable living is to not buy anything that you already have!

2. Re-usable Coffee Cup

Coffee is love, but disposable paper coffee cups are not.

16 billion paper cups are wasted each year meaning 6.5 million trees, 4 billion gallons of water, and enough energy to power 54,000 home per year also go to waste to make these paper cups! With the variety of re-usable coffee cups out there, we’re sure there would be a coffee cup that suits you and your coffee addiction habits.

3. Beeswax Wraps

Are you still using plastic cling wraps? If you are, you better get yourself some beeswax wraps that are both re-usable and compostable; they are definitely worth your money! Beeswax wraps are good for keeping your food fresh, and you can use them in almost everything!

An average family uses 24 rolls of plastic cling wraps per year. If you have beeswax wraps and know how to maintain and look after them well, they will last you years! You’re not just saving the earth, you are also saving money – definitely win-win!

These 3 things are simple swaps you should have already done way before. Remember, there are no little acts, but just good acts for the earth. Sustainability is about looking at what you have and what you use, and asking yourself, "do I need this," and if you do, then ask again, "is there a better alternative that won't cost the earth?" 

Being sustainable takes commitment and dedication to the cause. It's more than just what you buy; it is, at the end of the day, a way of life. 

Let’s continue encouraging each other to do better because the louder our voices, the better our chances of being heard!

- EcoShackNZ