Sustainable lifestyle is an approach to adopt practices which minimize the impact on the planet’s vital natural resources. It isn’t something which you can strike-through at the end of the day, it is an attitude towards life for making informed and environmental conscious decisions. Given the fact that the human race has been exploiting natural resources and is creating an imbalance in ecological systems, yet there are ways and measures which if adopted can result in sustaining not only the lives of existing individuals but also of the generations which are yet to come.

How can one adopt a sustainable lifestyle? Well, it isn’t that difficult. Below are mentioned few simple and practical ways to live a sustainable lifestyle:

1. Upcycle food waste
Every year one-third of total produced food goes to waste, which is directly linked to unethical consumer behavior. You must have heard of composting but there are multiple ways through which we can minimize food waste, one such measure is upcycling food waste - an example of it could include turning bananas to banana snacks or using coffee grounds as exfoliant

2. Grow your own food
When compared to purchasing food from grocery stores, growing food at home (in the backyard or on a rooftop) is more healthier and nutritious because unlike the other food items it does not go through the storage phase. In addition, it neither requires transportation (which involves combustion of fossil fuel) nor the use of chemicals, so it is one way to adopt sustainable lifestyle

3. Use biodegradable items
Plastic is not just entering in our food chain, it is accumulating there. It has been estimated that the weekly intake of plastic for an average human is 5 grams. So why let our actions become troublesome for our very own selves? Switch to biodegradable items such as edible cutlery, cotton bags, or beeswax wraps

4. Recycle packaging waste
Packaging waste such as plastic bottles, containers, and styrofoam boxes make most of the municipal waste. Most of these packaging materials are 100 percent recyclable and at home they can be turned into decorative items, bird feeders, or storage organizers.

5. Make smart energy choices
Keep an eye on your electricity bill. Using energy-efficient LEDs, smart leak detectors and smart thermostats are some of the ways to conserve energy at home. Besides that, using smart plugs to reducing phantom load is critical to minimizing electricity expenses, which occurs when energy is consumed even when they devices are turned off

6. Minimize digital carbon footprint
We are not just a click away from reaching out to the world, by using our smartphones or monitors. In doing so, we do not realize that the increased brightness of our monitor screen does not only result in eye strain but also increases our digital carbon footprint. We can save 20% of our monitor’s energy consumption, simply by reducing its brightness.

7. Say no to exotic leather products
With the trending fast fashion, the demand for leather products is booming.The exotic leather products, mainly made out of reptile skins, have high market demand. It is estimated that between the year 2017 and 2018, the global trade of reptile skins reached $301 million, threatening endangered species. Thus, we must make sustainable choices while purchasing luxurious and high in-demand accessories

8. Install low-flow shower heads
Fresh water is a vital yet limited resource. Its recharge rate is quite slower than its withdrawal. So why waste water especially while taking a bath? According to the estimates, it takes 70 gallons of water to fill a bathtub, but you can minimize your water footprint by installing low-flow shower, which can save upto 15 gallons of water for a 10-minute shower

9. Travel sustainably
Transportation sector accounts for one-fifth of global carbon dioxide emissions. So, it is one of the major contributors to the individual carbon footprint. For shorter rides, the use of bikes or cycles should be preferred, as bikes can minimize the carbon emissions by approxiamtely 75%. Similarly, for a bit-longer trips using train instead of flight could reduce emissions by approximately 85%. Likewise, carpooling could be another way to reducing congestion and air pollution

10. Use eco-friendly cleaning products
Everyday cleaning products are composed of volatile organic compounds and other toxic chemicals which not only pose risks to human health but are also detrimental for the environment. These chemicals when absorbed through skin, may become lethal causing allergies and cancer. Furthermore, they contaminate the water streams and accumulate in the food chain. Therefore, using eco-friendly cleaning products which make the use of plant-based ingredients is cleaner and greener choice