10 Ways to Live Sustainably

More and more people are concerned about the climate. In addition, rising energy prices are making sustainable living increasingly appealing. But how do you get started, and what should you consider?
To combat climate change and save our planet, it’s important that we all take (small) steps toward a more sustainable way of living. Would you also like to reduce your carbon footprint and make more eco-friendly choices? Then be sure to read on and discover our 10 tips.

1) Plastic-Free Bathroom

One small step anyone can take to live more sustainably is to use less plastic. The bathroom is the perfect place to start. Take a look around your bathroom and count how many plastic containers you see. Start by recycling them in the appropriate bin once the product is finished. Even better is to switch to plastic-free alternatives. To inspire you, here are a few tips:

• Use eco-friendly cleaning products: Sustainable cleaning brands do not use chemicals or other toxic substances. This is not only good for the environment, but also for your own health. Another inexpensive, multipurpose cleaning product is vinegar. It’s not always necessary to buy expensive cleaning products.
• Buy biodegradable toothbrushes and use reusable cotton pads: Thatway, you'll reduce your environmental impact. Want to take it a step further? Then use toothpaste tablets instead of plastic tubes of toothpaste.
• Use a bar of soap instead of liquid soap: You can also easily replace shampoo bottles with a shampoo bar.
• Prefer not to buy individual bars of soap? Then buy in bulk: By buying in bulk, you’ll save a lot of packaging material. After use, dispose of the packaging in the appropriate bin so it can be recycled. In some stores, you can also buy refillable shampoo and shower gel bottles that you can refill yourself right in the store.
• Use recycled toilet paper! 

2) Eat according to the seasons

Buying out-of-season produce often means it has traveled a long way to reach your kitchen. It’s not easy to avoid imported produce, but you can make a point of buying seasonal produce more often. Also, choose local produce more often.
Local food is also fresher, often tastes better, and contains more minerals and vitamins. To extend the shelf life of food, imported vegetables are often sprayed with all kinds of chemicals.

3) Bring your own water bottle

One very simple step you can take toward sustainable living is to bring a reusable water bottle with you. Take your own water bottle to the office, on the train, or on a day trip, and refill it when it’s empty.
Tap water in the Netherlands and Belgium is safe to drink, so you can get water almost anywhere whenever you need it.

4) Prevent food waste

Here are some statistics on food waste that are hard to wrap your head around:

• One-third of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the food industry
• One-third of the world’s food is wasted. In the Netherlands alone, 2 billion kilograms of food are wasted each year, and in Belgium, nearly 4 billion (Source: Together Against Food Waste and Roels & Van Gijseghem)

If you’d like to live a sustainable lifestyle, preventing food waste is a good place to start. Food waste doesn’t just happen among consumers; businesses also play a major role in it. Still, as a consumer, you can also do your part to reduce food waste:

• First, take a look at what you already have at home. What needs to go on first, and what do you still have plenty of in stock?
• Shop using a list. That way, you're less likely to buy unnecessary items. Bonus tip: Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.
• Cook in moderation. Did you end up making too much food? See if you can freeze it to eat later.
• Products with a "best before" date can often still be eaten after that date, although the taste may deteriorate. Smell, look, and taste the product before throwing it away. However, it’s best to throw away products with a "use by" date right away. In the video below, the Netherlands Nutrition Center explains the difference between these dates.

Accept marketing cookies to play the video inline, or click to watch on YouTube.

5) Use public transportation, walk, or ride a bike

We're used to quickly hopping in the car to run errands or to avoid getting caught in the rain on our way to work. Still, public transportation, biking, or walking have all kinds of advantages:

• Fewer vehicles on the road reduce CO2 emissions
• Fewer greenhouse gases lead to cleaner and healthier air
• Walking and biking are great forms of exercise and help you get your daily physical activity
• It can be much cheaper

Not all places are equally accessible by public transportation, and some train tickets are very expensive, but even small changes can go a long way. For example, see if you can carpool with a friend or coworker. That way, you can take a step toward a more sustainable lifestyle together.

6) Consider buying an electric car

Can’t live without your car? Then consider switching to an electric model. Electric cars are quiet, clean, and much more sustainable than a regular gasoline-powered car. More and more manufacturers are introducing electric models to the market, which means there’s an ever-increasing selection.
If you also use your own EV charger, such as our zappi, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and lower your energy bill. Read more about the benefits of electric cars.

7) Green Energy

Sustainable living goes hand in hand with the use of green energy. There are several ways to do this:

• Have solar panels installed on your roof to generate your own energy, or rent solar panels
• Switch to a green energy provider. Energy companies are increasingly supplying electricity from solar farms or wind turbines.

Want to learn more? Check out these blogs as well:

• What is renewable energy?
• What is the difference between green energy and renewable energy?
• Self-consumption of green energy: How does it work?

8) Turn off devices

Did you know that an appliance still uses energy even when it’s plugged in but not in use? This is called standby power consumption. By unplugging the appliance when you’re not using it and turning it off instead of leaving it on standby, you can prevent unnecessary energy consumption. Do you often forget to do this? It can help to use a power strip with a switch.
Preventing standby power consumption is one of the simplest steps toward sustainable living.

9) Zero-Waste Grocery Shopping

More and more companies are becoming aware of their impact on the climate and want to help you live sustainably. As a result, more and more zero-waste alternatives are coming onto the market. You can already find zero-waste stores in many cities, and there are also supermarkets that deliver groceries to your home in reusable jars and bottles. That cuts down on a lot of waste. What’s more, many of these products are often plant-based and fair-trade as well.

10) Fly less

We’re not saying you should never fly again, but sustainable living doesn’t go hand in hand with air travel. Airplanes remain one of the biggest polluters. They’re ideal for traveling long distances, but they’re not very eco-friendly. For shorter distances, it’s better to use an electric car or take the train. Besides, there’s still plenty to discover right here at home. Do you have no choice but to travel by plane? If so, try to offset your flight’s carbon footprint.