10 Sustainable Habits that Cost $0
- Sami Hoeldtke
- Jan 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 3
If you are looking to live more sustainably but feel as though that lifestyle is expensive or out of reach, you're not alone. This post covers sustainable habits that cost nothing, so you can get started on your journey asap and gain a better understanding that living sustainably doesn't have to be about expensive products or massive lifestyle overhauls. There are plenty of ways to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle for free.
Sustainability Isn't About Buying More, Some Sustainable Habits Cost Nothing
While there are many companies popping up doing their best to create sustainable products and practices, there are plenty of ways to live more sustainably without investing in new products. In fact, one of the most sustainable things you can do is use what you already have. The emissions, waste, and other factors associated with the production of products you already own have been accounted for already, so the more you use them, the more eco-friendly they become. It's the same idea as cost per wear. If a shirt costs $100 and you wear it once, throw it away, and repeat the cycle versus buying a $100 shirt, wearing it 150 times over the course of a few years until it's tattered and needs to be thrown away or repurposed. Re-wearing the shirt is much more economical. In the same way, using what you own instead of contributing to the demand for more products is more eco-friendly.
With that being said, when it is time to replace something, there are benefits to replacing it with an eco-friendly alternative and supporting companies that are doing the work to make a positive impact. But until then, here are 10 things you can do that cost you nothing:
Air Dry Clothes
Air drying your clothes is better for both the environment and your wallet. The average home in the United States does 300 loads of laundry per year, and drying them makes up for roughly 6% of a home's energy use...and we pay for energy. Air drying also reduces the carbon use of a load of washing by about 75%. Energy statistics aside, air drying is also much easier on your clothes and can help them stay in better shape for longer.
Reuse Shopping Bags
There's no need to run out and buy specific "reusable" shopping bags if you don't already have some. As long as it's clean and structurally intact, plastic bags from the grocery store are reusable too. Instead of tossing them, hold on to them and bring them with you to the store. Reuse them until you can't. It is also not a requirement to use actual grocery bags, any bag capable of carrying things will work just fine. Or even just throwing your items into your purse after checkout works just fine. The aim here is to reduce the amount of plastic bags that end up in our landfills and environments and to reduce the demand for them.
Digital Clean Up
Cloud storage, internet use, sending emails etc. all require energy. Staying on top of your digital footprint is an underappreciated way of reducing your energy consumption. So, go through your files, unsubscribe from recurring emails you never read, go through your inboxes and declutter your digital spaces.
Switch to Old Rags Instead of Paper Towels
Between tissue and paper towels, Americans generate 7.6 billion pounds of waste. Additionally, with inflation on the rise, the cost of paper towels is also increasing. Skip them on your next shopping trip and use reusable options instead. Some examples include rags, cut-up old T-shirts, and towels.
Opt for Loose Produce (Instead of Wrapped)
If you're going to be grocery shopping anyways, being mindful of food packaging is one way you can make a difference. A lot of produce is wrapped in plastic wrap, plastic coatings, or bags, not all of which can be recycled. If your grocery store offers loose produce, opt for that instead to cut out unnecessary plastic use. Also consider skipping the produce bags as it is important to wash your produce before you eat it anyways and those bags are usually plastic as well.
Reuse Containers Instead of Tossing Them
This tip is especially cost-effective if you're in the market for new Tupperware or drinking glasses already. Pasta jars can be great for drinking glasses or storing produce and leftovers for example. A bonus of this tip is reducing the amount of plastic wrap and plastic bags used for food storage.
Freeze Your Leftovers
Food waste is a huge problem in America, with nearly 40% of all food produced being thrown away. If you do some cooking and aren't convinced it will be eaten before spoiling, throw it in the freezer to be eaten at a later date. Assuming the food was handled properly before freezing, virtually all food will be fine to freeze, but it is best to look up how long it will stay good in the freezer.
Carpool/Batch Errands
Carpooling is an obvious one. If you and a friend are going to the same place, share a ride and help cut down on emissions and reduce the number of cars on the road. In addition to carpooling, it is often more efficient to batch your errands together to cut down on all the trips back and forth, saving you gas and reducing your carbon footprint.
Unplug Appliances When Not In Use
Even when appliances aren't actively running, they still consume small amounts of energy. Unplugging them helps reduce your energy consumption. In some other countries like the UK, you are able to turn the sockets themselves off to address this, but in the US, you will have to unplug the device itself. This goes for lights and chargers as well.
Engage in Advocacy
Do some research in your community and see if there are any environmental volunteer organizations or clubs you could get involved with. Additionally, reach out to your local representatives and advocate for environmental issues affecting your area. In addition to helping bring awareness to these topics, it gives you the chance to meet new people and learn something new.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but something to get you started. Living an eco-friendly lifestyle does not have to be expensive and is often much more simple than we think. If you would like to take this one step further and implement sustainable living into your New Year's resolutions, check out our previous post here.
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