Many factors play into someone’s carbon footprint, such as the food we eat, the products we use, the industries we support and the distances we travel. This all influences the amount of greenhouse gases we add to the atmosphere.

Although becoming more sustainable may seem like a daunting task, following these 10 simple tips can help you make the switch. 

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle 

Reduce consumption, reuse items, and recycle materials like glass, paper, metals, and plastics. Visit your county website to find out more about the specifics of recycling in your area. 

2. Avoid single-use plastics

An easy way to start a more sustainable lifestyle is by avoiding or eliminating single-use plastics. Switching to a reusable water bottle is a great first step. 

3. Conserve water

Easy ways to conserve water at home include turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or washing dishes and taking shorter showers. 

4. Invest in sustainable cleaning and beauty products

Certain chemicals found in household cleaning products or skincare items can pose threats to the environment. Be sure to read the labels of the products you’re buying. 

5. Carpool or use public transportation 

By sharing a ride with one or more people or using public transportation, you can significantly reduce the number of cars on the road, which in turn reduces the number of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere.

6. Conserve electricity

Reducing your electricity use at home not only lowers your carbon emissions, it also saves you money. 

7. Shop secondhand

Thrifting keeps clothing in use for longer, which can help limit wasted resources through decreased demand for new products.

8. Composting

Composting reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. It also creates healthy soil by enriching the soil with nutrients which reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Composting is relatively inexpensive and doesn’t require much equipment or expertise.

9. Be an advocate for environmental sustainability 

Whether it be educating friends and family or posting on social media, advocating for environmental sustainability is one way to help the cause. 

10. Support environmental causes and vote

Environmental change starts at the individual, but if you want to support big changes in environmental policy and conservation, be sure to do so by voting for candidates that align with your environmental causes.