9 easy ways to kickstart your sustainable and circular lifestyle
Do you want to live a more sustainable and circular lifestyle and don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place.
A lot of information is out there on how we can lower the effects of climate change, protect the earth’s resources, and consume ethically. It is for sure overwhelming! We did all the research, and we are here to help you ease into it with the 9 steps below to kickstart your sustainable and circular lifestyle.
+ Take it a step at a time
You don’t have to tackle everything at once if you want to change your consumption habits and create a more circular and eco-friendly lifestyle for yourself. The first step is to understand the underlying concepts and focus on what you can do. For instance, what does it mean to be circular? Well, currently, the linear economy (where we take raw materials, create products, use them, and dispose of them) has been the norm, but the circular economy proposes an alternate, more ethical and sustainable option. Circularity means that the waste that we produce is reused and remade into new products, rather than filling up landfills and oceans and exploiting raw materials. By understanding why we need to be more sustainable and circular, we can then take the steps to change our lifestyle, little by little.
+ Make use of what you already have
When you want to change your lifestyle to an eco-friendly one, you might feel like you first need to get rid of all the existing harmful substances in your physical space, which is wasteful and can be bad for your wallet. There is no need to get rid of anything you already have in order to live a circular life and limit your impact on the environment, especially if they are reusable. For instance, if you have reusable plastic containers to store your food, it’s okay to keep using them rather than throw them away to buy other types of reusable Tupperware.
+ Focus on the four Rs: reduce, repair, reuse, and recover.
Reducing our consumption of single-use items and unnecessary packaging is a good starting point. Repair things that are broken or old and give them a new chance at serving their purpose, rather than discarding them. Also consider how we can reuse the things we have by repurposing them, such as an empty ice cream box that can be used to store something else. Reusing can also mean that we allow others the opportunity to reuse our items, by donating or selling them. Finally, recovering (recycling) helps to: conserve natural resources, prevent pollution, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, and save energy.
+ Embrace conscious consumption
Become aware of your consumption habits. The way the world operates makes it difficult to maintain a zero-waste lifestyle. Even our fruits from supermarkets are packaged in plastic and styrofoam, which is unnecessary. Unfortunately we can’t always escape it, but if we make a conscious effort to be aware of how we consume, we can slowly start to change it for the better. For instance, start questioning the “normalized” things that you do: is the plastic straw necessary when ordering a glass of orange juice, or can you do without it? Can you hang-dry some clothes rather than use the dryer? Do you absolutely need a new bathing suit for the summer, or are the ones you already have still in good condition?
+ Invest in durable and timeless clothes and accessories
The fast fashion world (mass production of cheap, poor quality “trendy” clothing) is a terrible industry: from unsafe, exploitative labour conditions in developing countries (which is the reason fast fashion clothes are so cheap) to the excessive textile production required to keep up, to water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, this industry needs to be stopped. It is better for the environment (and your wallet) to invest in high-quality, capsule items that last and showcase your own taste and style.
+ DIY where possible
There is a lot of information out there on natural home-made products such as face scrubs, cleaning solutions, hair masks, etc. Some are easy to make, such as a natural face scrub made of sugar, lemon juice, and honey, while others require a bit more preparation. Regardless, this means that we can all easily avoid spending our hard-earned money on products that are nicely packaged in plastic that’s not recyclable, and that might contain toxic ingredients, created in poor working conditions by workers who are exposed to the chemicals. Through DIY, you create a more positive environmental and societal impact.
+ Create achievable goals
Despite all our best efforts, we cannot succeed at any task if we put unrealistic pressure on ourselves to achieve our goals. Make a list of all the ways you intend to reduce your impact on the environment and how you will achieve that. Be as specific as possible with your timeline and hold yourself accountable. However, if you were not able to do all of them, don’t be too hard on yourself, just reevaluate your list and make adjustments.
+ Compost your waste
Kitchen waste is a major problem, and often we don’t realise how much food we throw out. If we compost our waste, particularly our food waste, we are providing valuable nutrients to the soil, making it more fertile and of higher quality. With our compost, we are creating natural fertilizers and reducing the need for chemical ones, and helping to reduce harmful greenhouse gasses.
+ Change your perception of waste
Waste has a negative connotation, and it’s too bad because waste materials can be upcycled to create so many beautiful products. In fact, turning waste into new products is the best alternative to avoid the exploitation of raw materials. Waste does not have to mean dirty, low-quality, or ugly. Quite the opposite. In fact, ccrave is on a mission to prove that waste is beautiful, through our brand partners and their products that showcase the durability, high-quality, and design aesthetics of items made from waste.
If you embrace even one of these 9 steps it’s already a huge step forward. Join us and be a transformative force in the circular economy revolution.
