Everyone knows the 3 r’s of sustainability. Recycle, Reuse, Reduce. But did you know there’s actually 4 more?
We should all be striving to live a more sustainable life. Read on below to see what the 7 R’s of sustainability are and how you can use these them in your every day life.
Before you make that purchase, think if you really need it. So many of us are guilty of making impulse purchases that end up being thrown out unused. This is especially common with groceries.
Did you know that close to 50% of all food in North America is thrown out even though it’s still edible? That doesn’t even include the waste produced from the food that has gone bad in your fridge.
Reducing food wastage is one of the best way for you to slow down climate change. So next time be mindful about grabbing veggies if you don’t have plans to eat them.
This doesn’t go just for groceries. How many clothes, makeup products, party decorations and so much more stuff gets purchased only to be used once or twice then thrown out.
Next time you’re going to make a purchase, here are some questions you can ask yourself before you purchase the item:
- What is its purpose?
- How many times will I use it?
- Can it be recycled or will it end up in the landfill?
- Do I have something at home that I can repurpose into the item I am looking to purchase?
- Can this item be repurposed?
These days, we are bombarded with free stuff. Extra napkins at fast food restaurants, business cards, pens and so much more. More often than not, these items are taken home then thrown straight into our trash bins.
Avoid creating that extra waste but not taking these free items unless you are confident that you will use it. Otherwise, politely decline and move on.
I know it can seem awkward sometimes to say no when people are handing you freebies but remember why you’re saying no. You don’t want to bring clutter into your house and you definitely want to keep it out of the landfills.
Everyone has heard of the third R of sustainability but do you know how to properly use it? This means reduce the amount of unnecessary stuff you buy and bring into the home.
One great way to reduce what you bring into the home is to invest in sustainable alternatives that will last forever. Investing in reusable alternatives will drastically reduce the waste in your home and also save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. Read up on 10 eco-friendly kitchen swaps and 10 eco-friendly bathroom swaps you can make to stop bringing waste into your home.
Reducing can also mean to reduce the amount of a product you use to make it last longer. For example, you don’t need a whole pump of your shampoo. Companies purposely make too much product out in one pump so that you finish the bottle faster and have to purchase from the company sooner.
Some examples of ways you can reduce are:
- Use half a pump of shampoo/conditioner/face wash/moisturizer etc. next time
- Use less laundry soap. Better yet, invest in laundry strips to reduce packaging too!
- Use less dish soap when washing dishes
- Reduce how often you put your clothes in the wash. If you only wore the t-shirt once and there’s no stains, it doesn’t need to be washed
Repurposing is one of the best r’s of sustainability. This R has prevented so many from going into the landfill. Once something has been used up, instead of throwing it straight into the trash, see if you can repurpose it and use it for something else. This will prevent perfectly good items from being thrown out.
Some ways to repurpose items are:
- Use old moisturizer jars to hold safety pins, coins or other small items
- Glass jars are perfect for holding food or planting new seeds
- Use old newspapers for arts and crafts
- Use old toothbrushes to clean tight spaces
Extend an item’s life by reusing the item until it can no longer function. This is different from repurpose because this way, you are using the item for its original purpose. Whereas when you repurpose, you are using the item for a new purpose.
Some ways you can reuse items are:
- Clean disposable straws and reuse them until they tear
- Clean plastic cutlery and take it in your lunch box
- Reuse plastic bags to carry items
Another way to extend the lifetime of items is to repair it if it breaks. There’s so many businesses that will repair items if you don’t know how to repair them. Plus, it will oftentimes be much cheaper to repair it than to buy a new one.
Some things that you can repair are:
- Go to a shoe repairman to fix scratches and broken heels or straps
- Have a seamstress fix a loose button or sew up a ripped seam
- Use your warranty to get your technology repaired by the manufacturer (phones, computers etc.)
- Furniture repair stores can repair broken furniture
- Call a handyman to take a look at household appliances that aren’t working properly
When it comes to recycling, google what types of materials can be recycled in your region. Not all regions have recycling facilities that can accept all types of plastic. You can tell what type of plastic something is by the number inside the recycling sign. This is usually at the bottom or back of the container.
One important thing to note: your recycling should not smell bad! Recycling facilities cannot accept items if they have food inside them. This goes for all takeout containers and glass food containers (salsa jars in particular).
You have to wash the container thoroughly before putting it in the recycling bin. If there is still food on it, the recycling facility will not only throw out that item but they will have to throw out the whole batch of recyclable items.
Shockingly, only about 10% of all items recycled are actually accepted. That’s because so many of the items aren’t washed thoroughly and that contaminates the whole batch. Let’s be proactive and wash our recyclables. If it can’t be cleaned thoroughly, it needs to go in the trash.
I hope you learned some great ways to use these 7 R’s of sustainability in your daily life. Use them every day and know that every action you take towards a more sustainable life is helping our planet.
If you’re looking for more information about how to be more sustainable and live an environmentally friendly lifestyle, read about how to reduce your plastic use during the pandemic and 125 ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
