Living an eco-friendly lifestyle is definitely still attainable even during the COVID pandemic. Practicing sustainability will help you save money, stay safe, and help the environment. So many wins!
Due to COVID-19, 2020 was the start of a new way of living, and things don’t seem to be changing for 2021.
Being more eco-friendly like focusing on reusable products is more important than ever. Less shopping means less exposure.
And although there has been some positive environmental change due to the pandemic, such as less air pollution and better water quality, there have also been some negative impacts, such as the number of disposable masks that are now littering our planet.
Disposable face masks are almost like the new plastic bags, and they will be everywhere years from now if we don’t prioritize reusable masks.
Here are 17 things you can do to be more sustainable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. Buy in bulk
When shopping for groceries and other necessities, buying in bulk is a great sustainable move to make, especially during a pandemic.
Buying items in bulk saves money, reduces packaging waste and reduces the number of trips you have to take to the store.
2. Invest in reusable products
A great way to be more eco-friendly during COVID-19 is to invest in reusable products. Depending on if your region allows it, stick with your reusable bags and containers during the pandemic to reduce packaging waste.
Additionally, try and make the switch to more zero-waste products.
Investing in reusable products like reusable sandwich bags or water bottles during a pandemic also helps reduce the number of trips you need to take to the store.
3. Wear reusable face masks
A huge downfall of the COVID pandemic in terms of the environment is all the disposable masks that are being used.
These masks are supposed to only be used once, resulting in a lot of waste. Instead, opt for reusable face masks that can be washed and reused.
If you know how to sew, consider making your own!
4. Buy hand sanitizer in bulk
Hand sanitizer has become another common purchase due to COVID, but it’s not environmentally friendly.
To keep things low-waste, opt for the largest bottle of hand sanitizer that you can purchase and refill smaller bottles. This will reduce plastic waste.
Also, skip the disinfectant wipes entirely. Disposable wipes are usually made with polyester which means they’re doomed for the landfill.
5. Cut your own hair
A great way to be more sustainable during the COVID pandemic is to start cutting your own hair. DIY haircuts will mean fewer trips out in public, and it will help you save some money.
6. Start gardening
To reduce the number of trips to the grocery store during the pandemic, and to help reduce packaging waste, start gardening! We don’t know how long the pandemic will last, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Regardless of social distancing and all that, growing your own food is one of the most sustainable things you can do at home.
If you need free planters, here are some common household items you can upcycle into planters!
7. Might as well start composting too
Another good way to be eco-friendly alongside COVID is to start composting. Especially if you’re going to start a garden during a pandemic, you might as start composting too. That compost will turn your food waste into free nutrients for your garden.
8. Preserve food
Another practical and sustainable thing to do during the COVID pandemic is to start preserving your own food. You can use the fruit and veggies from your garden or even using produce from the grocery store.
Preserving food will help ensure produce doesn’t go to waste, and can be eaten at a later time. It’s also a great backup for emergency situations, which is important during COVID.
9. Eat less meat
Also related to gardening, since you’re growing fruits and vegetables, start reducing your meat intake. Farms that raise livestock for consumption are one of the biggest causes of greenhouse gases.
10. Start a new hobby
Staying home as much as possible is crucial with COVID, so why not start a new hobby to keep things interesting?
Try an artsy hobby such as painting or drawing, and opt for a more sustainable hobby that promotes self-sufficiency such as sewing or crochet.
Sewing is a great skill to have to mend clothing and crochet is great for making your own things like washcloths, clothing or blankets.
11. Work on your recycling skills
Have you mastered recycling? If not, take some time to work on your recycling skills. You might be surprised to find that something you thought was recyclable is in fact not.
12. Declutter and donate
An organized space is good for the mind, and when practicing sustainability, a healthy mind is beneficial.
Also, donating your unused items is a great way to promote sustainability, especially during the pandemic where some people’s earnings may have been reduced.
13. Support local businesses
Due to COVID, a lot of small businesses are struggling to keep their shops open.
Help your local businesses by buying products that you need from them. Shopping locally also helps reduce carbon emissions compared to shopping online.
Don’t forget to support your local thrift stores as well. Buying secondhand clothing is one of the best things you can do for the environment.
READ MORE: Why you should buy secondhand clothing
14. Shop online from conscious brands
Shopping online is a great way to stay safe during the pandemic and you can make it sustainable too by choosing eco-friendly brands.
Buy products from online shops that support the zero-waste movement or who even offset their carbon footprint.
15. Shop Less
When it comes to shopping, try and reduce the amount of shopping that you do. See if there are items on your regular shopping list that you can do without to help reduce waste and reduce recurring shopping trips.
Also, reconsider buying new items and clothing unless you absolutely need them.
Shopping less and keeping a minimalist lifestyle does wonders for the environment, pandemic or not.
16. Eat out sustainably
When eating at restaurants or fast food places, opt for places that use compostable packaging.
Additionally, don’t take the freebies certain places give you such as ketchup packets or plastic utensils, to help reduce your waste.
17. Explore Nature
Before the pandemic, there were a lot of forms of entertainment that involved being around people or being in areas where large amounts of people frequented.
Instead, stay safe and start exploring the great outdoors.
Spending time in nature is free, helps improve our mental health, which is something we could all use help with these days, and of course, is totally sustainable
Final thoughts on sustainability during the pandemic
As you can see, we can still live a sustainable lifestyle even with the ongoing pandemic.
Who knows how long we will all be living this way, so it’s important that we learn to be environmentally-conscious alongside it, to keep ourselves self as well as the planet.
If you want to learn even more ways to be sustainable, check out my post with 30 tips for creating an eco-friendly home.
