4 small changes you can make to help the Earth

Amelia Browne, a contributing writer for Earth.org, notes that sustainability is, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Living sustainably is about more than just the environment; sustainability is about economic, social, AND environmental sustainability. Given how multi-faceted the issue is, if you’re interested in doing your part to help the sustainability movement, there are many different ways to do it.

It’s easy to think that your individual actions won’t make a difference, especially when you’re deciding whether it’s worth devoting time from your busy life. But collective change happens one person at a time, so consider being a part of something bigger with these four easy tips for more sustainable living.

1. Take advantage of public transportation. If you can make it to work each day through public transportation rather than driving, you could save about 2.4 tons of carbon dioxide per year, which is the leading cause of environmental issues. Additionally, when you do drive, consider combining errands into one trip to save fuel.
2. Choose reusable. Instead of throwing out plastic forks, knives, and bags with every lunch, consider bringing reusable utensils and insulated bag that you can reuse over and over again. Bring reusable bags with you when going grocery shopping — they’re not only great for the environment, they hold a lot more stuff and are easier to carry! Reducing the amount of trash helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, since landfills where trash is stored produce tons of carbon dioxide.
3. Reduce paper use. Think before you print. Do you really need a hard copy of something, or will electronic suffice? Try to minimize how much you print, and when necessary, choose recycled paper products.
4. Be mindful of your water use. Keep that shower brief or turn the water off when brushing your teeth before work. When doing your dishes at night, try to use a dish pan of water to rinse your dishes instead of letting the water run.

Simple sustainable actions like these can have major impacts when incorporated into your daily routines. And if you lead by example — encouraging family members, friends, and colleagues to live more sustainably — your impact is multiplied exponentially!

“What is Sustainability and Why is it Important?”, Earth.org (earth.org), October 26, 2022
“The Eco Living Guide for Busy (and Hesitant) Humans”, DayBring (daybring.com), August 16, 2021
“20 Easy Sustainable Living Tips for Busy Professionals”, BitGlint (bitglint.com), February 19, 2023