We’ve all heard the term “sustainable” thrown around at some point or another and we know it’s related to the environment. It also sounds good when we hear something advertised as being “sustainable.” But, do we even really know what that means? 

Let us tell you! Essentially, sustainability is all about allowing humans to live on the planet for as long as possible. When we are living sustainably we are using the Earth’s resources in a way that doesn’t deplete them for generations to come. For a long time, this has not been the case. Humans have been living like there is an infinite amount of resources available to us, which is why there has been a push to live more sustainably. 

In the same way, we would eat healthy food and exercise to protect our physical health and live longer, we should be protecting Earth from being destroyed too soon by being mindful of how we live on it. 

How exactly can we protect the earth and be more sustainable? Let’s take a look at some of the top ways to be more sustainable:

Water

We, humans, tend to waste water. There is just something about flowing water that is so therapeutic that it can sometimes be hard to just turn it off. With a bit of a conscious effort on our part, we can save an enormous amount of water that goes to waste. Here are a couple of ways you can start reducing water waste:  

• Shortening your showers
• Filling the bathtub with less water
• Adding aerators to faucets
• Using fixtures that are water efficient and timed
• Shortening the cycle on our laundry machines
• Turning off the water when it’s not in use (brushing our teeth, shampooing our hair, etc.)

Energy

If you’re reading this and you noticed a light on in an empty room, run over and switch it off! So much energy is wasted when we leave lights on unnecessarily. Check out these suggestions for reducing energy consumption for a more sustainable life: 

• Turning off the lights
• Tracking and monitoring how much energy we use
• Switching to LED bulbs in the house
• Keeping our air conditioning at a temperature of 22-24 celsius when necessary
• Taking the stairs (Which is also good for your health!)

Transportation

While driving can be an enjoyable experience, why not take the backseat and enjoy the ride where possible? Reducing the number of vehicles on the roads is a great way to reduce emissions and be more sustainable, you could also:  

• Carpool
• Use public transportation
• Switch to hybrid or electric cars
• Walk or cycle when possible

Food

Our favorite source of comfort – is food! We literally cannot live without food, yet we waste a significant amount of it. Reducing food waste is crucial to creating a more sustainable planet. Our blog post on how to reduce food waste at home will make the task oh so very easy.

Waste

The amount of general waste we produce, usually without even realizing it, is astronomical! There are, however, ways to reduce our general waste. The 3 ‘R’s are key here – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We can reduce, reuse, and recycle all kinds of materials like:

• Paper
• Plastic
• Packaging
• Metal
• Bottles 
• Glass 

Thinking before we use something and organizing our waste for recycling purposes can go a long way.

If you live in Qatar and are interested in recycling, check out Seashore Recycling!

Taking time to reassess the way we live our day-to-day lives and making a few tweaks wherever we can make a massive difference in the long run. If every human makes just a smidge of effort, the end result will be enormous! But, if we continue with the mentality of “I can’t make a difference on my own so I just won’t do it,” then we will have to pay the price in the not-so-distant future. Choose to make a difference. Choose to be sustainable.