Sustainable Living & Privilege

Sustainable living is a lifestyle practice that aims to reduce an individual's overall use of the Earth's natural resources, and one's personal resources. You may have heard sustainable living referred to as “zero waste living.” Living sustainably has the overall goal to save the earth and not contribute to climate change. Many people practice sustainable living in a variety of ways, such as:

• Practicing minimalism: Living with what you need─nothing more, nothing less. By practicing minimalism, you become more mindful of the items that you buy and bring into your home so that sustainability is emphasized.
• Using reusable containers like mason jars to hold food: Employing reusable containers can limit your use of single-use plastic containers, and in turn, produce less waste.
• Shop at organic food stores: Organic farming is more sustainable for the earth. Organic grocery stores often buy produce from local farmers instead of mass factory farms that are harmful to the environment. Shopping at organic food stores can support the environment, while also providing you with the added benefit of healthier food options. 

Barriers to Sustainable Living

As great as sustainable lifestyle practices are, they can be rooted in a lot of privilege. Sustainable living has started to turn into a type of “fad” in our society, which in turn has driven up the prices of products like reusable containers, and the produce at natural grocery stores. Furthermore, local or organic foods may not be accessible for everyone, as their location might put them in food deserts where organic grocery stores are a far drive. 

Living sustainably is often perceived as expensive and inaccessible because there is an assumption that sustainable living equates to buying things that are sustainably made. This can be disheartening for a lot of people─ including college students─who might not be getting a large paycheck since they are spending so much of their time in school trying to pass classes. However, truly sustainable living means decreasing your consumption and waste, which is accessible for all and can actually provide cost savings. 

Accessible Ways to Live Sustainably

Helping the planet should not just be an option for those who can afford it. That is why we created this list of accessible and inexpensive ways to take part in living sustainably and helping our planet overall.

1. Reuse what you have. Don’t buy new things if you don’t have to.
2. Take on DIY (do it yourself) projects. Consider making your own eco-friendly candles, make reusable bags from old t-shirts, or create your own homemade cleaning products.
3. Swap clothes, food, or other items with your friends, family, and neighbors. Check out the Buy Nothing Project on Facebook!
4. Turn off the tap when it is not needed. For example, when you are brushing your teeth and shaving. Try taking shorter showers and only doing laundry when you have a full load. 
5. Garden if you have the space. Instead of buying new plants and seeds, you can even start growing from your food waste. Save the tops of carrots and the roots of onions to use as the re-growth for your home garden. 
6. Take advantage of free community and school resources. Borrow books from the library instead of buying them. Visit local parks for a day out instead of spending money on pricey entertainment.
7. Connect to the earth. Spending time in nature can improve mental health and reduce stress. It can also improve creativity and focus.