Green living: Simple eco-friendly changes for better health

What is an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle?

What do we mean by an “eco-friendly lifestyle”? Well, put simply, an eco-friendly lifestyle means living in a way that is not harmful to the environment. In other words, working with nature rather than against it to avoid inflicting long-term or irreparable damage. This can concern our contributions to pollution, wildlife protection and conservation, and much more. 

So, let’s start with some simple tips for sustainable living and reducing our carbon footprint.

• Recycling and Reducing Plastic Use

We produce an estimated 350 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. That is roughly equivalent to the total biomass of every human on the planet (7 billion people)! 

Unlike other materials, plastics do not biodegrade. Depending on the type of plastic, it can take anywhere between 20 years (plastic bags) and 500 years (plastic toothbrushes) to decompose, and even then, it never completely disappears. Instead, it breaks down into microplastics that continue to impact the environment and the health of animals and ourselves. 

What can I do?

Many of us have been separating our waste for recycling for so long that it has become second nature. But tossing all our plastic waste into our domestic recycling bin isn’t always as effective as we might think. In fact, when done correctly, the process is much more time-consuming than many of us realise. That’s because not all plastics are created equal. 

While many plastics are fine to be thrown straight into your recycling bin, others need to be separated as they need to be processed in a different way. The label should inform you whether your packaging is suitable to be recycled at home, or whether it should be taken to a recycling centre (or a recycling point at a supermarket). Furthermore, all plastics need to be cleaned before being tossed in the recycling pile as food and other remnants can contaminate them. 

• Conserving Water

Climate change affects the world’s water in many ways. Rising temperatures mean that ice caps are melting and the oceans are warming, but it also means that many areas of the planet are increasingly experiencing droughts. In the UK, these droughts contribute to water shortages that affect not only us but also the thousands of species that call our rivers, lakes and wetlands home. 

Only 0.5% of the water on Earth is useable freshwater - and with climate change dangerously affecting this supply, action has never been more important. While the government and water companies can have the greatest impact, learning how to conserve water in our homes can be a great way to help replenish freshwater sources in the UK. So, let’s take a look at some tips on water conservation at home. 

What can I do?

One of the easiest changes we can all make is a switch to showers. Taking a shower typically uses much less water than a bath - and keeping your shower to 4 minutes or less is even better!

Another easy eco-friendly change you can make is… turn off the tap! It might sound obvious but many of us still leave the tap running when brushing our teeth, washing the dishes, or cleaning vegetables. With a running tap wasting up to 6 litres of water a minute, this simple change can be very effective.

Waiting for tap water to run cold to fill up your glass might only be a minor inconvenience, but if all of us drink the recommended 6-8 cups of water per day, this equates to a whole lot of wasted water! Filling up a jug and putting it in the fridge at the start of the day is a small but meaningful change. 

There are many ways to reuse your cooking water. Whether you’ve used it to wash vegetables, cook pasta, or rinse rice, this used water still has a lot of life left in it! Why not use it to water your garden or house plants, for example? Rice water may even be great for washing your hair!

Other simple changes you can make to conserve water include ensuring your dishwasher and washing machine are full before putting them on a cycle, fixing leaks, and fitting low-flow aerators to your showers and taps!

• Sustainable Shopping

Consumerism, from fast fashion to the ever-accelerating supply of mobile phone upgrades, is among the world’s leading sources of emissions. It is estimated that the clothing industry alone is responsible for around 20% of global water pollution and 10% of CO2 consumption. Furthermore, we discard around 92 million tonnes of clothes-relade waste each year - that’s a garbage truck full of clothing that is incinerated or sent to landfill every second.

Electronic waste (or E-waste) refers to the disposal of electronic devices such as mobile phones, televisions, computers, plugs, and more. In a world where having the latest mobile phone has become a status symbol, e-waste has skyrocketed. But the production of these new devices can also have a devastating effect on the environment.

What can I do?

Shopping sustainably means being mindful of the impact of the products you buy and purchasing accordingly. For example, spending a little more on good-quality clothing or purchasing second-hand can help to reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion. 

Opting for refurbished devices or postponing your next upgrade for as long as possible is not only a more sustainable option, but it could also save you a significant amount of money! Buying second-hand furniture or upcycling existing pieces is also easier on the environment (and your wallet).

But shopping sustainably is not just about opting for second-hand clothes of refurbished electronic devices. It also encompasses our dietary choices, bringing us to our next point.

• Eating for the Environment

The impact of food production on the environment is massive. Agriculture requires huge amounts of water (using around 70% of global freshwater withdrawals) and large areas once covered by forests and other wildlands are now used for agriculture. All in all, it is estimated that food production accounts for over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

A staggering 94% of non-human mammal biomass is livestock - and with meat production accounting for the bulk of agricultural emissions, the impact of this reduced biodiversity is monumental. Furthermore, common agricultural practices are linked to soil erosion and the runoff of fertiliser and animal waste can cause “dead zones” in coastal areas.

What can I do?

The fact is, many of us are eating far too much meat - in fact, Europe eats twice as much meat as the global average! Reducing this intake, especially from animals that contribute most to greenhouse emissions (sorry, beef lovers!), can be hugely beneficial for the environment. Opting for sustainable dairy alternatives such as oat and hemp “milk” drinks, and buying seasonal produce and sustainably sourced fish are also great ways to eat for the environment.

Sustainability in the Cannabis Sector

Cannabis Sativa L. - better known as hemp or cannabis - has earned a reputation as a green crop, not only because of its colour but because of its environmental credentials. 

Cannabis can be grown using limited amounts of water and pesticides and can help to improve soil quality. Furthermore, hemp is an excellent absorber of CO2, storing more of the greenhouse gas than trees and any other commercial crop! It is even effective at absorbing radiation and was one of the restorative crops planted around the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster to help reduce soil toxicity.

But cannabis cultivation isn’t always as green as it could be. Indoor cultivation and competition to produce larger yields can lead to intense energy and water usage. Luckily, there are a growing number of cannabis growers and businesses that are putting sustainability first. 

Health Benefits of Eco-Friendly Living

Many of these simple eco-friendly lifestyle changes can also be beneficial to our own health. So, let’s take a closer look at how adopting these sustainable habits can make us feel good, both physically and mentally.

A sustainable diet could contribute to a reduced risk of disease

We all know that eating a balanced diet is essential for our health, but while many types of meat contain essential vitamins and minerals, eating too much red meat or processed meat has been connected to a wide range of health problems, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, bowel cancer, and ischemic heart disease.

Lower risk of pollution-related illness

Adopting sustainable buying and living practices, from being more mindful of the materials used in everyday products to switching to a green vehicle, can significantly reduce our exposure to harmful toxins. This can help to lower the risk of developing health problems such as respiratory issues, allergies, and even cancer. 

Doing good for the planet can improve mental health

Research has found that spending time in nature can help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression and support overall well-being. Moreover, in a world that is more informed than ever before, it can be easy to become distressed by the climate crisis. Contributing to green initiatives can help us to address this. 

Final Thoughts

Have you been wondering how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle? Well, the good news is, it can be much easier (and more rewarding) than you might think. Adopting a few good habits, such as those laid out in this article, can help us all to enjoy the benefits of environmental sustainability, both for the health of our planet and ourselves.