Green Living Series: 23 Ways to Live Green-er this 2023

Set yourself up for (green-er) success this year with these small, manageable, achievable ways to start living your Truly Green Life. Bookmark this page so you can refer to it when needed or give us a follow on Instagram for an easy-to-save version on your mobile device - @humbleearthinitiative.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Tao Te Ching

Self
Changes start from within, so here are a few ways to make your life greener and better, one day at a time.

1. Practice Mindful Shopping - simply put, “buy less, less waste”. Ensure that every purchase is purposeful and adds value to your life. Practicing mindful shopping will not only lessen waste in general but will also help you save money in the long run. Invest in the right items and value over volume, always.
2. Say no to Plastic Bags - probably the easiest to do, make sure to always have a tote or a recyclable bag with you when out shopping to minimize plastic waste in the landfills.
3. Support Local - try to shop local as much as you can, not only does it support small businesses in your neighborhood but it requires significantly less energy and fuel for those products to be made (so less carbon footprint and emissions).
4. Explore non-meat options - going vegan is hard, no lie. So we encourage replacing a few meals a week (or one meal a day) just to start it off. Minimizing meat consumption not only reduces your carbon footprint but is also good for your health! And now is actually a good time to start as the month of January is also known as Veganuary, you will find all the support and resources you need to shift into a more plant-based diet by being part of this movement.
5. Buy seasonal and organic produce - seasonal and organic produce requires 30-50% less energy to produce due to its accessibility and natural process of production and delivery.
6. Choose eco-friendly personal care products - the less packaging, the better. Watch out for harmful chemicals and plastic microbeads that make their way into polluting the water system.
7. Volunteer / Donate - always good to show your love and support to your local environmental cause and organization. Whether it's giving your time and effort to do volunteer work or monetary donation, those will go a long way in achieving your favorite cause’s goals.

Travel
Transportation is said to be the biggest source of carbon emissions. The small adjustments in how you travel can make a big difference cumulatively.

8. Consider biking or public transport - especially when you live close-by to your destination, consider walking, biking or taking the bus, train and other public transportation available.
9. Invest in an eco-friendly vehicle - certain states have special payment options and tax relief programs when you go hybrid or go full electric. Do your research and consider your options.
10. Go for alternatives to air travel - flying releases the most emissions when it comes to transport, so plan accordingly and try other alternatives (driving, commuting, ride share) when you can
11. Fly direct - if flying is the only option, choose to fly direct as the landing and take-off of planes are the source of those high emissions

Socials
As a social species, being around loved ones and our community is a necessity in our lives, and we can influence others with how we act and the choices we make, so choose green (er) always!
12. Do not waste food - food waste is no.1 when it comes to filling up our landfills, read all about our post on food waste, especially on holidays. Repurpose when you can or donate to the less fortunate. Besides, when you practice mindful shopping, this should not be a huge problem.
13. Opt for reusable or natural-based tableware - when hosting or when you’re in charge of tableware for get-togethers opt for natural fiber-based products (bamboo, jute, etc) as an alternative to plastic.
14. Carpool (or walk) - start off the party by carpooling with your friends, walking together or sharing a ride together will cut down fuel and parking costs for you too!
15. Skip fancy, shiny gift bags - shiny, glittery, foiled wrapping paper and bags take forever to decompose in landfills (more than 50 years!), so choose other natural alternatives.

At Home
Your home is your sanctuary. Improving your living space will definitely inspire you to live greener, will streamline your ways and close off your Truly Green Life circle.

16. Conserve Energy - switch off anything not in use and even unplugging appliances can save energy when not being used. 12% of an average household bill goes to electricity so powering off switches when not in use will save you money as well. Besides, natural light looks better on you!
17. Conserve Water - less water usage means less energy and infrastructure costs. Especially now that drought is upon us, be purposeful in your water usage and fix that leak as soon as you see it.
18. Recycle and Up-cycle
Recycling conserves resources, and energy and reduces pollution as sorting through your “trash” can create secondary materials (glass, paper, metal, plastic). In fact, 40% of the aluminum supply comes from recycled aluminum cans and packaging according to the Aluminum Association.

Up-cycling or Repurposing gives new life to an item that could have been thrown away as waste. The key to repurposing is creativity and with the presence of Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok, repurposing has never been easier and more fun.
19. Compost - saves disposal costs and transforms potential waste into something useful like fertilizer. Compost food scraps, molding bread, coffee grounds and even glue/design-free paper towels.
20. Switch to Earth-Friendly Cleaners - most cleaning products have harmful ingredients and chemicals that are not only harmful to manufacture but also harmful to your own health when used.
21. Use LED Light Bulbs - they last longer and are more energy efficient so you won’t have to replace your lighting as often
22. Grow a Garden - whether indoor or outdoor, growing your own garden and populating your home with plants is not only aesthetically pleasing but naturally cleans the air by absorbing Co2 emissions.
23. Invest in eco-friendly tech - whether it involves switching to renewable technology to power your homes, choosing appliances that are more energy-efficient or using a thermostat to regulate temperature, there are multiple options out there for a greener home.

Which of these greener ways have you tried and implemented in your own home? We would love to hear from you! Comment below or send us a message, we always love hearing from our HEI community.