In recent years, there has been a clear trend towards environmentally conscious living. More and more people are switching to green energy, eating less meat, or even becoming completely vegan. Still, it can sometimes feel like a big step to 'start living in an environmentally conscious way'. It is important to remember that you really don't have to do everything perfectly; a few steps can already make a big difference. This blog contains some tips to help you on your way!
Step 1: Take the bike!
Besides the fact that getting some fresh air is wonderful, it is also good for the environment. As is well known, cars emit many exhaust gases. Of course, it is more difficult to always take the bike when you have children. That is why an electric or hybrid car can also be a solution!
Step 2: Go vintage shopping
Buying new clothes is something almost all of us like to do. After all, we want to look our best. Unfortunately, there is also the issue of fast fashion: buying a lot of new clothes and quickly getting rid of your own. In other words, you buy a new shirt, wear it for a year or two, and afterwards it often disappears to the back of your closet or into the trash can. Fortunately, you can do a lot about this yourself. For example, take a look at the local thrift store! You can often find great items there, and hardly any extra raw materials were used.
Step 3: Use fewer plastic products
Plastic is a product that is still widely used, but is also very bad for the environment. It is all the better that there are plenty of products you can use as a substitute. For example, you can replace plastic toothbrushes with the bamboo version and instead of Ariel pods you can make your own washing powder! It just takes a little longer to think about a substitute.
Step 4: Donate your old clothes
Are you really done with your clothes? Often they are still perfectly fine to wear for a while! Families who are less well-off can put them to good use. There is probably a local foundation that is committed to collecting these clothes. Otherwise, you can always go to this site, they will pick them up for you for free. It costs you nothing, but you make other people happy!
Step 5: Eat meat less often
In today's society, meat production still consumes a lot of energy, water, and raw materials. Yet we sometimes find it tasty with dinner or on bread. It is therefore not necessary to immediately stop eating meat altogether. What makes an immediate difference is reducing it to eating meat a few times a week. This way you can still enjoy it, while also being environmentally conscious! Moreover, many meat substitutes nowadays are indistinguishable from the real thing.
Step 6: Use food wraps
Storing leftovers often involves a lot of plastic or aluminum foil. That's a shame, because saving food (instead of throwing it away) is already a very good step! The handmade Beeswax food wraps are the perfect solution for this. They keep all your food nice and fresh, do not release harmful substances, and you can also reuse them! All your food can be wrapped in them, including the children's lunch packs or the leftovers from a cheese board. This way you use less plastic while also combating food waste!
Step 7: Switch to green energy
This is a big step, but fortunately it's easy to arrange! The energy we use at home is often not yet produced in a green way. By making a conscious choice of energy company, you indirectly contribute to a greener world! Of course, it can be difficult to choose a supplier, but fortunately there are numerous sites that can help you with that. For example, take a look at the energy comparator of the Consumers' Association (Consumentenbond) or at gaslicht.com.