How to live a sustainable lifestyle? Is it possible to live an eco-friendly life while also harming the environment? At Elisa Muresan, our eco-friendly and artisanal fashion brand, we're sharing a series of sustainable habits you can practice to make your time on the planet much kinder and more respectful of the environment.
What is a sustainable way of life?
If we look at the definition of sustainability, a sustainable lifestyle consists of implementing a series of good practices to "ensure the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations." Therefore, sustainable habits not only take into account respect for the environment but also impact social benefits.
10 habits and tips for a sustainable lifestyle
1. Conscious and responsible consumption
We typically base our choice of a product or service on the quality-price ratio, but responsible consumption takes into account other factors, such as the environmental and social impact it generates.
Promoting local businesses , supporting fair trade initiatives, supporting social inclusion businesses, and supporting the circular economy are just a few examples of many other factors you can consider when purchasing an item.
2. Think before you buy
Do I really need this product? Will I get the most out of it? Does it fit with the values I hold dear? Although many marketing strategies are geared precisely toward encouraging impulse buying, conscious consumption is about exactly the opposite: assessing whether we need a piece of clothing, a new cell phone, or a kitchen appliance.
Likewise, try to be well-organized when shopping for food to avoid food waste, since, as the BBC reports in this article, 17% of the world's total food production ended up in the trash, according to a 2019 study.
3. Recycle
Recycling has become a common practice for a large portion of the population. It's one of the 3 Rs (Recycle, Reuse, Reduce) most emphasized in this consumer society, but we mustn't forget the crucial importance of the other two: reduce and reuse. In this sense, it's preferable to buy fruits and vegetables with your own reusable cloth bags rather than using plastic bags that you'll later recycle.
Recycling responsibility must also be a priority for manufacturers. For example, at Elisa Muresan, we are constantly innovating to minimize the use of zippers, buttons, and other elements that make it difficult to separate and recycle our garments, which are made to last for many, many years.
4. Reuse before recycling
If you want to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle, avoid buying disposable products and opt for reusable ones, such as menstrual cups or stainless steel straws. Likewise, if you have habits like ordering coffee to go, bring your own cup. These are small gestures that businesses are increasingly accepting. On the other hand, there are products or containers that weren't originally designed for multiple uses, but which can still be used for the same or other purposes.
5. Reduce consumption of goods
Of course, try to reduce your consumption: both of products and of energy, water, and other supplies that are finite on our planet.
At Elisa Muresan, we design and manufacture timeless garments made to last in our Zaragoza workshop, with easy-to-mix patterns. Above all, we want you to feel comfortable and at ease in our garments so you can get the most out of each design. As you've probably heard, "less is more," especially when what you have fulfills you completely.
6. Goods for public use
Remember that you have public resources at your disposal that you can access for free. Libraries are a great example, with thousands of books at your disposal or free computers.
7. Rent
Another option is renting goods: from the well-known car rentals to others that are on the rise, such as clothing rentals. In this area, we find extremely interesting circular economy alternatives such as renting regional costumes or formal wear, which are rarely used.
8. Exchange of goods
Bartering has been practiced since ancient times. Other times, you may be interested in using something your neighbor needs to get rid of, or vice versa. Remember that consuming doesn't always mean buying, and the exchange of goods is a clear example of this.
9. Support local businesses
Small businesses enable accessibility, foster the local economy, build community, and sustain the survival of artisanal trades and projects. Discover the wealth of opportunities in your area and support their initiatives. In this article, we gave you some ideas for promoting local businesses.
10. Defend the value of a sustainable lifestyle
And finally, don't hesitate to share ways to live a sustainable life with your friends, family, and community. Although the news often makes us think of a bleak future, it's in everyone's hands to promote change with small actions and demand that those in power make sustainability a fundamental part of the political agenda.
We carry out the entire creation process for our garments in our Zaragoza workshop using fabrics such as organic cotton , for which we require GOTS certification, the gold standard for organic textiles. In a context where fashion is the second most polluting industry, in 2012 we decided to find another way to create fashion with an ethical and ecological perspective. Discover our eco-friendly women's clothing store!
