One change that is worth investing in this year is sustainability. But what does it take to kick start a sustainable life? Here’s how.

If there is one buzzword that won’t go away anytime soon, that would be sustainability. Many consumers plan on adopting a more sustainable lifestyle. From conserving energy to reducing one’s carbon footprint, everyone has their own take when living a lifestyle that will benefit the environment.

But the question is, how can one start living a more sustainable life? One can translate a sustainable lifestyle in many ways. If you want to embrace such a trend, here are some ways you can make a sustainable living work in your daily life.

Keep Up With Routine Home Maintenance

The least homeowners can do is to keep up with their regular home maintenance tasks. The better you take of your home, the longer it will last. You can save time and money and avoid costly repairs that often lead to numerous wastes.

Tackle home maintenance tasks before you do any home improvement projects. This way, you can address issues before they get big. You can save as much of your home’s original materials and ensure it stays in tip-top shape.

For instance, preserving your deck with a waterproof coating can safeguard it against harsh outdoor elements. You can save yourself the headache of having to deal with water damage, moisture problems, and costly repairs. Consider a local deck coating distributor to extend the life of your deck.

Choose Materials That Are Resilient and Recyclable

If you require new materials when renovating or improving your home, choose your materials wisely. Not all materials advertised as sustainable can live up to their title. For best results, find resilient and recyclable materials.

Let’s say it is now time to replace your home’s old fences. Consider composite wood fencing instead of a typical wooden fence. This type of engineered wood fencing can last up to 15-20 years with proper care. These are more resistant to bugs, don’t warp nor rot as badly as your traditional wooden fence, and are usually made up of recyclable materials.

When insulating your home, consider wool insulation. Such material is eco-friendly, chemical-free, and can effectively trap air and moisture. These are also 100% biodegradable and compostable, while the plastics used are 100% recyclable.

Travel by Feet, Bicycle or Public Transport

It is easy to take your car out for a spin when running errands or going to work. But every time you turn on your car, you are already emitting harmful carbon emissions. As much as possible, choose a sustainable way to travel.

You have the option to walk, jog, take your bike or ride public transit. This way, you will have a little-to-no contribution to air pollution. This can also serve as a great exercise for you.

If you’re going out with friends or family, choose to travel together. Carpooling is more sustainable than each of you bringing along your car. You can save money on gas, reduce your wastes and enjoy a better joy ride.

Embrace Sustainable Eating

What you eat does more than describe your health. It can also have implications for the environment. To embrace a better change, choose to eat sustainably.

You can start eating sustainably by prioritizing plant over meat consumption. There are lots of greenhouse gas emissions involved in meat production. If you eat more organic plants instead, you are already helping reduce deforestation and freshwater withdrawals.

When buying your food items, choose to buy local. You get to help sustain local businesses and make sure you are eating organic food. Better yet, start growing your own produce.

It is also worth it to start diversifying your plate. When people only buy a few plants and animals, this leads to lesser demand for food variety. Farmers will be forced to lessen their crop variety, which can negatively impact nature and food security.

Eating various types of food can help reduce your impact on the food system. If you want to make a bigger impact, adapt the 50 sustainable food ideas made by experts. Encourage your loved ones to incorporate more variety in their diet and spur change.

Reduce and Reuse your kitchen waste

Many people produce tons of leftovers each day. The sad thing is, not all food wastes are recycled. Reducing and reusing your food waste can already be of great help to the environment.

To reduce food waste, buy loose produce and only cook the food you can finish. Freeze food items you can use again. Start a compost bin for any food scraps and use this as fertilizer for your backyard garden.

There are numerous other things you can do to start embracing a more sustainable life. You don’t necessarily need to shed hundreds of dollars to live sustainably. In your own ways, you can contribute to a better chance.