Five ways to become a sustainable consumer
Written by Molly Dunn, Photos by Emily Budine
In a world run by convenience, rising emissions and plastic are making headlines like never before. Single-use plastic is all around us, which makes it seem unavoidable and impossible to cut out. Carbon dioxide levels have been on the rise for decades, destroying our ozone faster than trees can replenish.
This all can feel overwhelming at times, but do not feel discouraged. There are simple steps anyone can take to begin their journey toward sustainability. You don’t have to give up your modern life and move to the forest. Instead, here are five ways you, and everyone you know, can take a step in the right direction to support the health of our planet.
1. Buy Local
When you buy from local businesses, you cut down your carbon footprint and directly support the community’s wellbeing. On a large scale, corporations are the number one contributors to plastic waste and carbon dioxide emissions. Mass production is the least sustainable industry, yet it’s almost impossible to avoid it. By supporting local businesses, you are supporting small-batch creators, family farmers and personalized business practices.
When shopping in Savannah, check out Brighter Day for healthy foods and sustainably produced items. Nourish, located on Broughton St., provides plastic-free packaging for soaps and beauty products that are made by hand.
2. Buy Reusable
Single-use paper and plastic occupy landfills faster than any other waste. Each year in America, 100 billion single-use plastic bags are used only for about 12 minutes on average. Just bringing a couple of reusable bags to the store would cut down plastic bag consumption by 1200 bags per household per year.
Americans only recycle one out of every 200 bags even though it’s said over and over, reusable products are the future. They are more than just a trend; they are sustainable. In the long run, a reusable grocery bag will minimize plastic waste and give you an excuse to spread the word on sustainable living. It’s that easy.
More reusable products are hitting the market these days that extend further than just shopping bags. Now, you can even be conscientious about the products you put on your body. “Myro deodorant” is an up and coming all natural deodorant brand with refillable pods. No more throwing away single-use cases of deodorant. The heavy plastics of the mass manufactured products end up in landfills by the hundreds each year. Even thinking about replacing one beauty product in your home with a sustainable alternative can make an impact.
3. Buy in Bulk
Now that you have your reusable grocery bags, catch the Forsyth Farmers Market every Saturday morning in downtown Savannah from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Buying your produce, dairy, nuts and baked goods locally gives you the ability to choose just how much you want to bring home. Avoiding prepackaged foods allows you to take only what you need. Even better, you get to continue to support your local businesses that work hard to make sustainability available to all.
4. Buy Biodegradable
When avoiding plastic products begins to feel impossible, look for biodegradable substitutes. Paper or wood products may not always be practical or viable, so many companies are turning towards bamboo as their primary source of material. Wowe produces biodegradable bamboo toothbrushes to replace your average plastic toothbrush. As a recommendation, a person should replace their toothbrush every three months, meaning that on average, one person throws away over 300 plastic toothbrushes in their lifetime. As a plus, Wowe packages all their products with recycled paper materials.
5. Buy Conscientiously
Finally, pay attention to what you buy. Read labels, take a look at the ingredients and keep sustainability at the forefront of your mind. Whenever you are able, make the green choice. It’s not always possible to avoid plastic, but as long as you make an effort to think and live differently, you are making a change. Support your local businesses, bring a shopping bag with you wherever you go and pay attention to what your household products are made with. Keep your eyes open and be intentional. Together, we can make a change that sustains.
