5 Simple Ways to Live More Sustainably

To live a more sustainable lifestyle, you don’t have to turn your life upside down. Or change everything overnight. But you can start living more sustainably today by making thoughtful choices about your carbon footprint. You can make minor changes, such as using a reusable water bottle, taking shorter showers, or walking or biking instead of driving, which will significantly affect your environmental impact.

This article will share what sustainable living is, five simple ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle, and how all companies can offer useful and covetable sustainable swag.

What is Sustainable Living?

From an environmental perspective, sustainable living means living in a way that does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It doesn't necessarily mean living a life without luxuries, but rather, living in a way that respects the resources we take for granted today.

There are several ways to live more sustainably. Using less energy and switching to eco-friendly products can help you to reduce your carbon footprint. Making sure you recycle and use natural materials rather than synthetic ones can also make a big difference. Making some small, but consistent, changes to your diet and choosing plant-based products can make a massive difference in minimizing your diet's environmental impact.

But what about businesses that use swag for marketing?

Sustainable Swag for Businesses

Integrating sustainability into your company's brand marketing is not only good for the planet, but also for business. Many companies are actively looking for
eco-friendly and sustainable swag.

Some companies are even going even further, creating sustainable products for their events. These items might be biodegradable, made from recycled materials or have minimal packaging–or even better, all of the above!

Why is sustainable swag important?

Eco-friendly corporate branded gifts are an excellent way to show that your company cares about the earth and its inhabitants. Products that are made from sustainable and/or biodegradable materials can be great choices. Offering a tote bag or reusable branded water bottles or tumblers to a client is a subtle way to tout your commitment to the environment. Making sure that material scraps are recycled shows your commitment to sustainability.

These items are a reflection of your company. These physical connections are incredibly important because your gift becomes a positive reminder and it creates an emotional bond with your customers.

Differentiating yourself from your competitors is another advantage of giving sustainable branded swag. A focus on sustainability is one way you can set your company apart, showing customers you're doing right by the planet by giving them eco-friendly branded items. And it’s a virtuous circle, as companies concerned with the environment will be more attractive to like-minded customers.

5 Simple Ways to Live a More Sustainable Lifestyle

This is a long-term play. It takes more than a day to re-engineer or transform complex systems. The first step to significant change is awareness. Once people are made aware of the negative impacts of a wasteful lifestyle, they can be empowered to make changes.

Going green can be easy, convenient, and save you money in the long run. We've listed some great practical tips to implement in your daily life. From buying fair trade to avoiding plastic, try these tips out and see how they fit into your routine, and allow you to live more sustainably.

1. Drive Less

Driving cars creates carbon emissions. As climate change becomes an increasingly prevalent issue, keeping greenhouse emissions to an absolute minimum by reducing the amount of time we spend in our cars has become critical. The solution is simple: replace driving time with more cycling, walking and more eco-friendly forms of transportation.

According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, taking public transportation (vs. Driving) can save individuals more than $9,738 annually. Public transportation can also have a significant impact on the environment. For example, someone who regularly commutes 20 miles per day can reduce their carbon footprint by 4,800 pounds annually by switching from private to public transit.

And if you drive less and walk or cycle more, suddenly your commute goes from stressful to healthy, improving your overall wellness.

2. Avoid Plastic: Use Sustainable Alternatives

The most effective way to reduce your plastic usage is to drastically limit it or avoid it altogether. You can do many simple things to cut back on your plastic consumption, including using a reusable water bottle.

Single-use items like plastic utensils, bottles, and straws equate to 89% of the plastic waste found in oceans. More sustainable products are available that don't contribute to this problem. These reusable alternatives also help save you money.

Bamboo utensils, stainless steel drinking straws, and reusable water bottles are the easiest ways to switch to greener alternatives without sacrificing convenience (or your budget).

3. Buy Fair-Trade Products

A product that has achieved Fairtrade certification has been produced and traded sustainably. This certification system is run by independent organizations, which audit companies to comply with Fairtrade Standards. In addition, Fairtrade products have to be of the highest quality and must meet specific working conditions and environmental standards.

4. Choose Sustainable Clothing

Every industry has its environmental impact, but the fashion industry is one of the most impactful. Start by buying fewer clothes, overall. To do this, think carefully about every purchase. Ask yourself if you really need to make this purchase. And buy more often from charity shops and sustainable clothing outlets. Reuse and recycle!

5. Recycle & Compost Food

Leftovers are an excellent opportunity to reduce your food waste. Instead of throwing them away, use leftovers to create compost material for your garden. If they are still edible, eat them the next day and freeze any leftover food for the future.

We hope these tips inspire you to make some small, but very important changes to the way you live. We are ready to share sustainable swag that your company and customers will love and use.

If your company uses swag for branding purposes, but also strives to protect the planet, let’s chat! Fill out this short form: Let’s Do This.