24 EASY WAYS TO LIVE AND TRAVEL MORE SUSTAINABLY

Don’t fly private. Since most of us can’t afford to fly private this is a very easy way to travel more sustainably. Per person a private aircraft makes more carbon than a normal family will produce in a year!

I have never booked a private jet myself but I have flown on private jets that my friends have booked and I have to admit I felt pretty guilty after my dad told me this statistic.

But instead of feeling bad he suggested I go to CarbonFund.org to calculate and pay my voluntary carbon tax. At this site you can check your carbon footprint, and pay the carbon tax you owe, to help offset the environmental impact of your flights.

6) DRIVE AN ELECTRIC CAR OR A HYBRID CAR

When buying a new car, try to buy a new or used electric car. If an electric car is not practical for your lifestyle buy a used or new hybrid car. Driving a more fuel efficient vehicle is an easy way to get around more sustainably. Think of these three car scenarios:

Scenario 1: You drive a regular gas powered car. The crude oil must be pumped from the ground using energy, then pumped into storage tanks, then transported to supertankers and a pipeline or via the railway using more energy to deliver the oil to the refineries.

We then use massive chemicals and more energy to produce a gallon of gas, then pump the refined gas into holding tanks, then pump it into delivery trucks using more energy, then drive the trucks to gas stations using diesel fuel, then feed the fuel into the holding tanks in the ground, then pump it back up and into your car where you finally use the gas. So how much electricity did one gallon of gas take to make about 6kW? (The kilowatt hour is a composite unit of energy equivalent to one kilowatt (1 kW) of power sustained for one hour). 

Scenario 2: You drive an electric powered car and have solar panels. The sun hits the solar panels, the energy is converted and stored in your car batteries. You now use the energy by driving your car. 

Scenario 3: You drive a hybrid car. Hybrid cars like the Prius typically get 48 to 60 mpg, about 20% to 35% better than a fuel efficient, gasoline powered vehicle like the Honda Civic. Given what you now know from Scenario 1 think about how much energy you are saving just by driving a more fuel efficient car. 

When I was in elementary school in the 80’s we learned the phrase everyone knows well – Recycle. Reduce. Reuse. But in order of importance it should actually be Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

7) REDUCE

One easy way to live a more sustainable lifestyle is to consume less. We all need to eat less, buy less, and stop putting material objects on a pedestal. Material possessions will not make you happier – you get an endorphin high when you buy something you want or think you need – but that high soon fades away leaving a hole in your wallet and your heart.

Instead of buying a new purse or a new pair of shoes you can donate that money to a charity doing incredible work to help people and the planet – which will give you a real reason to feel good about yourself. Check out our Charities We Love series for inspiration.

8) REUSE & UPCYCLE 

You can also easily reuse things. For instance, if I use a plastic zip-lock bag for something that is not messy like crackers, I wash it out after and reuse it again later.

I wear the same pair of boots until the soles wear off and then if they are in good enough condition I have them re-soled and use them again like new. You can also easily upcycle old stuff you have lying around. For instance, an old CD case can become the perfect bagel carrier! Check out this list for more upcycle ideas.

9) RECYCLE 

It is shocking to me how many people don’t recycle and how many people don’t even know what is recyclable and what is not. If you are reading this and thinking this is me then PLEASE start recycling now. It is so easy. Just buy an extra trash can, mark is as recycle only and start using it.

You will be surprised how much can actually be recycled and how much of a reduction you will see in your non-recycled trash output. Here is a simple list of what can and not be recycled. You might be surprised that pizza boxes can NOT be recycled! 

10) USE RECYCLED PAPER HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS 

I always buy 100% recycled toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins. These are items that we use every day in our home so by using recycled paper products we are helping to reduce waste and support eco companies that care. 

11) USE NON-APPLICATOR OR CARDBOARD APPLICATOR TAMPONS

Reusable sanitary products are best for the environment, but if you use tampons it is best to use a nonapplicator tampon or at least a cardboard applicator tampon. I use Tampax Cardboard  Applicator Tampons.

All tampons have a big environmental footprint – the average woman uses 11,000 – 16,000 tampons in her lifetime and these are being thrown into the garbage, filling up our landfills – but the plastic applicators don’t biodegrade. By simply switching to cardboard applicator tampons you can reduce a huge amount of non-biodegradable waste over the span of your life (source).

12) BUY AND USE A REUSABLE TRAVEL MUG

When traveling take a reusable cup with you! I bought a reusable collapsing travel mug off Amazon and I take it in my carry on during trips so I always have it with me. And when I am home I leave it in my purse so when I am out and want coffee or tea I don’t have to waste another cup.

13) SAY NO TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS

Our plastic water bottle use around the world is out of control! When did we stop using drinking fountains? Bring a reusable water bottle with you on trips and fill up your bottle at restaurants and water fountains.

Try not to use plastic straws and say no to plastic bags. Shoppers worldwide are still using approximately 500 billion single-use plastic bags per year. This translates to about a million bags every minute across the globe, or 150 bags a year for every person on earth (source). 

14) STAY AT ECO HOTELS

One of the easiest ways to travel more sustainably is to stay at eco-hotels. Here’s my list of the world’s best eco hotels. Two luxury eco-hotels I love are Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand and Mumbo Island in Malawi.

Six Senses Yao Noi bottles their own water on-site and supplies drinking water to guests in reusable glass bottles. They also sell water locally and a portion of the profits are donated to help bring clean drinking water to poor communities in Cambodia. 

Mumbo Island is an amazing rustic luxury hotel we stay at during our Malawi Safari & Charity Trip. Voted one of the top 100 hotels in the world by The Sunday Times Travel, Mumbo Island, in the middle of Lake Malawi, has no power, cell service or running water allowing you to completely disconnect from technology and your dependence on fossil fuels.

You can charge your phone at a solar-powered charging station during the day and have a hot bucket shower at night. It doesn’t sound amazing but it is literally heaven on earth so if you are interested in joining our next trip you can find out details here.

15) BUY USED CLOTHING & USED FURNITURE 

Buying used clothing and used furniture a very easy way to live more sustainably. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from going to the swap meets with my dad.

I couldn’t wait to see what cool, used treasures we would find! Used clothing stores, vintage stores, flea markets, and swap meets are great places to find unique used stuff, and on top of helping the environment, you will save a lot of money buying used goods.

16) BUY RECYCLED CLOTHING

When you need to buy new clothing buy recycled clothing. Back in 2009 when I started working on my first eco swimwear line there were not many stylish green brands on the market. These days there are tons of cool companies making hip recycled clothing that you can’t even tell is recycled.

My brand SummerLove Swimwear (as seen in Forbes, Sports Illustrated Daily Mail) is one of them. All our bikinis are made in California out of lux recycled fabric created from fishing nets rescued from the sea – so when you buy one of my swimsuits you are also helping clean up the ocean! The bikini bags are made out of organic cotton, and my hang tags and shipping bags are also made out of recycled paper.

Another eco brand I love is Kelly Slater’s company OUTERKNOWN which focuses on its supply chain making sure every aspect of production is transparent, minimizing environmental impact. There are thousands of awesome eco brands out there to choose from these days. Just make sure you don’t buy from brands that are “greenwashing” – pretending to be eco-friendly to capture the eco market. 

17) CHOOSE EO SOUVENIRS  

In general, unless it’s something you really love, you should try not to buy souvenirs because they usually just go in a drawer never to be seen again. But if you are set on buying souvenirs when you travel, buy eco souvenirs. Look for souvenirs that are handmade, locally produced and created out of sustainable or recycled materials.

Buying locally-made, eco products is not only better for the environment is also helps the local economy and empowers local entrepreneurs in the places you are visiting.

18) USE LED LIGHTING AND UPDATE OLD APPLIANCES

If you are a homeowner updating old lighting and old appliances is a very effective way to live more sustainably. Replace all old fluorescent and incandescent lights and fixtures with LED Lights saving you up to 90% on energy use. This will cost you upfront but pay for itself over time.

You can also update appliances to more efficient equipment. This will also cost a bit upfront but pay for itself over time.

Air conditioning units, refrigerators, freezers, motors of all kinds, pumps, pool motors – all can be upgraded with variable frequency drives and new more efficient motors and compressors. These updates all have an immediate benefit to an overall reduction in energy use and thus cut carbon production.

Change Your Eating Habits

Changing your daily eating habits (even slightly) is a powerful way you can live more sustainably. Here are a few ideas.

19) CUT BACK ON EATING MEAT – COW FARTS ARE KILLING US

One of the best ways to help the environment is to stop eating meat or cut back on your meat intake. Did you know that cow farts and belches are one of the top contributors to global methane gas emissions!

Livestock pushed about 119.1 million tons of methane into the air in 2011 alone. Carbon dioxide emissions are far greater in terms of volume, but because methane captures more of the sun’s energy, it’s actually a more potent greenhouse gas (source). 

On our ranch, we grew up eating meat at every meal but when I learned how bad cow farts and burps were for the environment I vowed to stop eating meat for good. It was hard initially though and I needed some extra motivation, so I read the book Skinny Bitch which is hugely insightful into all the health benefits that come along with not eating meat.

I eventually went back to eating fish, eggs, and cheese but I have proudly been a pescatarian now for almost 20 years. When people ask me why I don’t eat meat I explain it is for environmental reasons, but the other obvious benefit is that a lot of animals’ lives are being spared. 

20) EAT LOCALLY SOURCED FOOD

An easy way to live a more sustainably is to eat locally sourced food. My husband and I went to Mastro’s Ocean Club in Malibu this week for our date night. The waiter told us the specials and suggested we try the Wagyu Beef that was flown in from Japan. When he walked away I looked at my husband in disgust.

It is so embarrassing that it has become socially acceptable to fly meat in from other countries and that it has become a sign of affluence to be able to afford the huge monetary and environmental price tag that comes with it. I can’t think of a more unsustainable meal than to have beef flown in from Japan when you are having dinner in LA! 

Don’t eat meat (or any kind of food) flown in from anywhere. If you eat meat try to choose locally sourced meat, local fish, and buy locally grown produce. Shopping at your nearest farmer’s market is a great way to support local farmers and find fresh, organic fruits, vegetables and meats (if you can’t give up meat). 

21) EAT LESS 

Most of us would like to lose weight, and you can do that and help the environment if you just eat less! It is that simple.

Stop overeating. Just eat what you actually need and you will eat a lot less, look and feel healthier, and you can also feel good about helping the environment at the same time.

Smart Consumption & Cleanup

There are an array of ways to use energy more efficiently, and help clean up our earth, creating a more sustainable future for us all. Here are a few suggestions.