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We all have a part to play in building a more sustainable world, starting with how we shop, all the way down to how we get rid of our rubbish. This summer, organisations involved in all stages of the glass collection and recycling value chain have launched Close the Glass Loop – a major glass recycling action plan for Europe.

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Today, we’re living in a changing world – one where our environment is on the brink of a crisis. Every day, this requires us to make choices aimed at adopting a more sustainable lifestyle – one that allows us to enjoy a healthy and full lifestyle, while at the same time respecting the world around us. 

But how can you lead a sustainable lifestyle? Is sustainable living as difficult as you imagine? And above all….what does it mean to live more sustainably?

 

What does it mean to live more sustainably?

The term sustainability has been around since the mid-80’s, thanks to the Brundlandt report, published by the United Nations’ now defunct World Commission on Environment and Development. In it, sustainability is described in much the same way we know it today:  

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 

Today, sustainable living means being careful of our everyday actions, being aware that some resources are not infinite and that we need to protect what we have left of the Earth. And the support for this type of living is growing, with an increasing number of people and organizations committing themselves to more sustainable living.  The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs created the Sustainable Development Goals: a set of 17 goals which list problems where considerable work is needed, according to all member states of the United Nations, to find solutions. Also known as the “SDGs,” these 17 goals deal with a number of topics, ranging from issues of warfare, to achieving gender equality and the need to reduce pollution. 

“How are my actions affecting the future? Am I really creating irreparable damage that future generations will have to deal with? What can I do to change things around me?” These are all questions that you might end up asking yourself after getting familiar with the SDGs. 

All over the world, sustainable living is being embraced by people and corporations. Are you familiar with the movement to ban plastic straws? Sustainable living means building more of those movements, using less energy, creating less waste, travelling more consciously, changing our shopping habits and holding corporations and governments accountable. 

 

But why is sustainability important? 

You might be reading this and asking yourself, why is sustainable living important for me? Well, there are several reasons why it is beneficial for you and others. Sustainable living will protect our environment, improve our living conditions and ensure the availability of natural resources for future generations.  

 

Saving Resources for Future Generation

One important reason for choosing a sustainable lifestyle is that we need to save the resources we have for the future generation. This concerns energy and food resources, as well as clean water and air. 

We must make an ethical choice. Will we sustain our current lifestyle at the expense of those who come after us? If we don’t embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, we risk making life harder for the generations that come after us – or even losing our future on this planet entirely. 

 

Strengthening a Healthy Habitat

Sustainable living also means reducing our pollution to ensure clean water and air for animals and plants co-living on this planet with us.  

It has become increasingly obvious through the growing numbers of natural disasters that our planet, our home, is fragile. We have an obligation to protect and sustain it. The ecosystem is so precarious that if we overfish or pollute too much in one place, we risk damaging the whole food chain of that area and losing an incalculable number of species.  

 

Inspiring Societal Impact

Sustainable living is not only an individual choice, nor does it only have an individual impact. The entire world benefits when we take action to live more sustainably. You can start small and continuously educate yourself to create more long-term adjustments to live a more conscious, sustainable life.  

Others around you will notice the changes you make and may get curious about your choices. The more you talk about it with others, the more people you can inspire to do the same. Tell them about the little changes you started with, which they could easily adopt to their own life. Tell them about the environmentally friendly products you have tried, which ones you liked and which you didn’t.  

It is important to be honest about your experience and share your knowledge with others. This will only make it easier for them to adopt these changes as well. Any small change can inspire others to do the same.  

 

How does glass fit into a more sustainable lifestyle?

So now you know how important sustainability is, you may be wondering: where does glass fit into a more sustainable lifestyle? Glass has endless qualities and properties that make it a unique environmentally friendly material. 

Glass is made from natural materials such as sand, soda ash and limestone, all raw materials found in nature. This means that the environmental impact of the glass is minimal, as it does not release harmful chemicals into the environment. 

Better yet, jars and bottles are 100% recyclable and reusable for an infinite number of times – a unique feature that allows us to produce new containers with the same identical qualities in terms of taste and quality conservation. This is a huge benefit for sustainable living. Used glass is not considered waste but a resource as it can be 100% recycled instead of ending up in landfills. Once you buy a glass container, it will have an almost infinite life, whether it finds a new use in our homes or is recycled to become a new bottle or jar 

Besides, its inert qualities are guaranteed to protect your food and drinks, no matter how many times it is recycled. Glass does not interfere with its content, keeping all the delicious scents and flavours unaltered. This helps products to be stored safely and for a longer period of time, even once opened – also helping to avoid food waste. It is no coincidence that high-end food products are stored and sold in glass! It’s rapidly becoming a key element in sustainable living. 

Besides its unique qualities, the industry is collectively investing in a circular and climate-neutral manufacturing process with the ‘‘Furnace for the Future’. This initiative will enable the industry to switch to renewable electricity and drastically reduce CO2 emissions, making glass the leading choice for a sustainable living. 

Now that you know how glass is part of sustainable living, what can you do to make your own life more eco-friendly?

 

How can you live more sustainably? 

Living more sustainably sounds like a big step and you might not know where to begin. You might worry that it means a drastic change to your routine. Of course, if you want to go all the way to being a zero-waste warrior, that’s fantastic. But if you want to live a greener lifestyle and you’re just starting out, here are a few tips and tricks to help you get started. 

 

Sustainable at home 

Separate your recycling according to your local community guidelines. And don’t forget to recycle your bottles. To make it easier for you, we have compiled some useful tips to help you figure out which types of glass you can and cannot recycle. 

On the other hand, you can use old jars and bottles to use as decoration for your house. Use them for candles or as a vase for flowers, little DIY projects for children or decorate them in a specific style for Halloween lights or a Christmas dome.   

Another easy way to live more sustainably is to change your lightbulbs to a more energy-efficient model – like moving from incandescent to compact fluorescent lamps or LEDs). This is not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet as they last far longer and consume less energy. 

Whenever you buy food packaged in glass, don’t forget to save the containers afterwards. You can easily clean them in your dishwasher. Store extra herbs, fruits or veggies you’ve bought but aren’t using yet in jars you have left from other food. It’s not only practical, but also gives your home a glow-up! 

Another way to be more sustainable and save some money is to have a few pots around the house to grow your own herbs, fruit and vegetables. You can start with the few ones you consume the most to try it out.  

 

Sustainable travel

There are many options for making your travels more environmentally friendly. When possible, walk or cycle to work instead of taking the car! And when it’s raining? Then taking public transportation is a good alternative. Any chance you take to leave your car at home means less pollution in the air we breathe. 

And for your morning coffee on-the-go? Bring your own travel mug (better yet if it’s in glass!) to avoid having to use single-use cup. As our focus on sustainability increases, companies have set out to design beautiful and practical glass travel mugs. And your coffee will taste a lot better too! 

For your travels, try to reduce the amount of time you spend taking flights. Or choose an airline which is taking steps to reduce their carbon emissions. 

 

Sustainable shopping

When going out for groceries, don’t forget to bring your own bag with you! In most supermarkets you have to buy a bag now anyway, so why pay more?   

With the large number of options available in the stores these days, it has also become easier to find products that are kinder to the planet. Choose reusable containers (bottles and jars) made of sustainable materials, like glass, to store your food. It is not only better for the environment, but it will also keep your food safely preserved for longer, even once opened, meaning less food waste and healthier meals! 

Fancy some new clothes? Instead of impulse buying on fast fashion, splurge occasionally, on eco-friendly clothes labelsOr why not go vintage at some nice secondhand shops? We can guarantee your wallet will thank you! 

 

 

Living more sustainably is not as difficult as it might seem. Your choices, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on making our society just a little bit more eco-conscious. Together we can build a circular economy to reduce our waste and ensure a healthier environment for everyone.  

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