Mother Earth Day: 14 small ways to be sustainable (it doesn’t have to be intimidating!)

In honor of Earth Day, we wanted to share an approachable list of the small ways we can all live more sustainably. If you’re reading this and find this topic disheartening or overwhelming – we totally feel you! We applaud starting small and starting somewhere.  

Sustainability.

It’s a 6-syllabled term that’s become a “buzzword” in recent years, and while we (hopefully) all want to be wiser in our consumption and take better care of the planet, we often don’t know exactly where to start. Will it be a drastic lifestyle change? Expensive? Doable, long-term? Once you get the hang of some of the habits listed below, it’s actually pretty easy to get into the swing of implementing them every day – especially if you’re committed to the cause.  

Here's how you can start:

1. Whenever you leave a room, make sure you turn off the lights – this helps save energy while reducing carbon emissions and other harmful greenhouse gasses.

2. Conserve water – whether it’s the garden sprinkler, shower or the kitchen sink, don’t turn on the tap at full power, and put it off as soon as you’re done. If you notice a leaky faucet, get it fixed!

3. Pick up garbage or litter whenever you see it – and to make it into a fun activity, gather a group of neighbors, friends or family to go on a walk and clean up your community together.

4. Avoid using plastic bags and instead carry your groceries in reusable cloth or canvas totes. Extra points for catchy slogans and cute aesthetics!

5. Avoid using plastic water bottles too – instead, get yourself a stylish reusable, refillable water bottle, maybe even one that tracks your daily water intake to make sure you’re staying hydrated.

6. Make the switch to sustainable beauty – commit to buying eco-friendly skincare and makeup from ethical, vegan and cruelty-free beauty brands that prioritize low-waste makeup. Start with CTZN – we hear it’s a good one 😉

7. Sell or donate used items instead of dumping them in the trash – you can do this online through pre-loved clothing apps, drop off a delivery to your local charity, or donate things personally to people in need.  

8. Eat and order locally-grown food when you can, whether it’s through your weekly fruits and veggies deliveries, or at your neighborhood farmer’s market or café.

9.  Read online and avoid printing things out – did you know that 17 full-grown trees need to be taken down for the production of one ton of paper?

10. Speaking of trees, have you ever thought of planting one? Just this simple act can end up being beneficial for the environment for decades. At CTZN, we plant a tree for every order placed. 

11. Try carpooling or ride-sharing for your commute or kids’ school runs to help reduce carbon emissions – you might even find that you prefer the company and conversation over a ride in total solitude.

12. When the weather permits, open your windows instead of turning on your air conditioning, to save energy.

13.  Amplify these messages on social media, where your friends and followers can like, comment, reshare and retweet, eternalizing your posts online.

14. Teach these tips to your kids, nieces, nephews and younger siblings so that the next generation is aware of the importance of taking care of Mother Earth and equipped with the knowledge and tools to continue the good work!