And just like that, it’s July! Reaching the halfway point of 2024 also means it’s the start of Plastic Free July. If you’re considering making some changes to reduce your footprint, you might be surprised to learn that sustainable living can make your life better in many ways.
Plastic Free July started in Australia in 2011. It has since grown into a global movement that helps millions of ordinary people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. The Plastic Free July Impact Report 2023 reports that, over the last five years, participants have collectively avoided 1.4 billion kilograms of plastic waste.
The theme for Plastic Free July 2024 is “Small Steps, Big Difference”. There’s no denying that every small change we make to reduce our dependence on single-use plastic is good for the environment. Beyond the environmental benefits, though, sustainable living can make a big difference in the quality of your life.
Here are five benefits of sustainable living I’ve experienced in my own life.
Simpler Life
Life can be busy and complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. As I increased my focus on sustainability, I began to scrutinize every product in my home. Over time, I realized I didn’t really need many of the products I used.
Owning less clothing, and using fewer personal care and cleaning products, has simplified my life by saving time and reducing the number of decisions I have to make every day.
More Money
Many people think green living costs more money, but I have found the opposite to be true. All those products I no longer buy means more money in my bank account. Add in the money saved by reusing, upcycling and thrift store shopping and the financial benefits really add up.
Reduced Exposure to Chemicals
As a cancer survivor, I seek to reduce my exposure to chemicals as much as possible.
Plastic containers and packaging contain toxic chemicals that we don’t need in, on, or near or bodies. And many personal care and cleaning products contain chemicals known to harm human health. Swapping out chemicals for natural alternatives reduces the impact to my health.
Increased Appreciation for Nature
Nature’s beauty is all around us, yet we rarely take the time to really enjoy it. Sustainable living builds appreciation for the beauty of our Earth. It’s an important reminder that we have something worth protecting.
More Physical and Mental Space
Finally, becoming more aware of my personal impact on the Earth led me to rethink my relationship with stuff. As I bought less and reduced the number of products in my home, I realized I could live with less and started decluttering.
Decluttering simplified my life by freeing up physical space. It also freed up mental space to help me to focus on what matters most.
There are many more benefits of sustainable living, but these are the ones that have made the biggest difference in my life.
If you’re ready to start living more sustainably, Plastic Free July is a great time to start. Visit my personal blog to download your free Plastic Free July calendar. It has 31 ways you can cut back on single-use plastic. Choose one or two…or try all 31.
What other benefits of sustainable living have you experienced in your life? Drop me a comment below and let me know.
Learn more about me in my bio and on my personal blog at BoomerEcoCrusader.com. You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
I can’t remember how much I reduced plastic. I bottle my own wine, grow most of my vegetables, produce most of my electricity, use mostly salvaged lumber for garden stakes, decking, build an out building, produce my own maple syrup, make my own flour and cornmeal, and in the process reduce my plastic use unawares
That’s fantastic, Jasper. You have taken sustainability to the next level! We can learn a lot from you.
But I do need to declutter y garage and basement. LOL.
I would say that I am at 50% of the plastic free July that I can extend to all the other months. There are things that I completely stopped doing, like printing papers, unless obliged by the public administration, and then I print them at work where we have more efficient printers. I only use refillable water bottles and coffee mugs, reusable grocery and produce bags, prepare and pack my travel snacks (also because at the airport they are super expensive ). But there are things that I will never do, like using shampoo and conditioner bars, I tried but didn’t like. Interesting post Michelle, as usual.
Thanks Cristiana. I agree on the travel snacks. Packing my reusable water bottle and taking my own snacks saves me a lot of money. Shampoo and conditioner bars are interesting. It takes a while to find one you like and get used to using them. Now that’s all I use. My daughter uses shampoo bars but prefers liquid conditioner, which we buy at the refillery to save plastic.
Refillery is an interesting option, so far I have found only for products for washing cloths and soaps, I will keep on looking!
We’re fortunate that ours carries a wide range of cleaning and personal care products. It’s one of my favourite stores!
Thank you for posting the plastic-free calendar challenge. I need nudges like this to keep me looking for and swapping out more plastic from my life. It really is everywhere and I don’t even notice it unless it’s brought to my attention! I’ve got some great beeswax wraps for my food, silk dental floss and a bamboo toothbrush but I’ve still got to make progress on plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles.
I’m glad you found the calendar helpful, Caroline. I love my shampoo and conditioner bars. My daughter, who has very long hair, also uses a shampoo bar but she prefers liquid conditioner which we buy at a local refillery.