How to Be Sustainable in Your Everyday Life

Ok, so you’ve purchased some sustainable socks from Feetures (great choice!) and you’re feeling empowered. Now that your feet are stylishly sustainable, you’re wondering what else you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. While casting off your modern life and living off the land may not be realistic, there are plenty of small changes you can implement in your everyday life that will make a big difference over time.

15 Small Things You Can Do to Live More Sustainably

Turn off the lights. Use natural light as much as possible. At night, turn off the lights when you leave a room so you don’t waste energy lighting up an empty space.

Recycle as much as possible. If your city offers recycling services, take advantage of them! Be sure to get a list of what you can and cannot recycle – clogging up the service with unrecyclable items wastes time and resources.

Use reusable containers for snacks, water, and other drinks. Instead of single-use plastic bags, buy some reusable silicone bags for your sandwiches and snacks. Invest in some metal straws and you’ll never have to buy plastic straws again!

Bring reusable bags to the store. Plastic bags are not recyclable, and it takes about 500 years for them to break down in a landfill. Reduce the number of bags in landfills by keeping reusable grocery bags in your car for trips to the store.

Reduce your AC usage. If you find yourself wearing a sweater or wrapping up in a blanket inside during the summer, you can probably turn your AC down. Turn it off whenever possible, and consider getting a smart thermostat to turn it down during times when no one is at home.

Drink tap water. Instead of bottled water in single-use bottles, buy a reusable bottle and fill it up with tap water whenever you get the chance. You’ll save money, and you’ll reduce the number of plastic bottles that end up in landfills.

Plant a garden. Grow some of your own food! Even if you just have some houseplants, those help detoxify the air and undo some of the damage to the environment.

Take shorter showers. The average American shower uses 2.1 gallons of water per minute, so even cutting a couple of minutes off a day can make a huge difference. Just sing one or two hits in the shower, not the full album!

Do fuller loads of laundry. Washing more clothes per load equals fewer loads overall, which means less water and energy gets used.

Minimize car use. Transportation accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., so bike, walk, or skateboard as much as you can. Use public transportation when possible.

Buy locally grown produce. If it was grown in your area, it didn’t use nearly as many resources as something that was shipped from halfway around the world.

Unplug devices you’re not using. Chargers, coffee pots, TVs, and other items draw phantom power when plugged in, even if they’re not in use. To ensure that you’re not wasting electricity, unplug them until you need them.

Plan your meals. Meal planning will allow you to buy just what you need each week, so that less food gets wasted. If you don’t end up using something, freeze it and incorporate it in next week’s plan!

Eat less meat. Meat production generates as much greenhouse gas as all the vehicles on the planet. Going meatless for just one or two days of the week can make a big difference in your overall meat consumption!

Choose sustainable brands whenever possible. There are many forward-thinking brands (ahem, Feetures) that work to minimize their environmental impact with mindful manufacturing, fair labor rights, and long-lasting products.

Making Small Changes Makes a Big Difference!

The good news is that it’s not hard to make a difference – by making just a few of the small changes listed above in your daily life, you can significantly reduce your impact on the environment. If you can convince friends and family members to do the same, you can make an even bigger difference. At Feetures, we’re starting from the ground up with sustainable socks and working to change the way clothing is manufactured – one pair at a time. Together, consumers and brands can make all the difference when it comes to creating a more sustainable future.

Take the first socked step to living more sustainably - browse our collection and take our sock finder quiz to discover the perfect sustainable Feetures for you!