Sustainability Starts With What We Waste: 4 Everyday Habits That Matter
Sustainability starts with reducing everyday waste When we talk about living sustainably, our minds often go straight to the things we should buy —bamboo toothbrushes, reusable bottles, organic clothing, energy-efficient appliances or solar panels. Those choices can certainly help. But sustainability also begins with something much simpler: what we choose not to waste. Every day, households generate food waste, plastic packaging, unused water, unnecessary energy consumption and other forms of waste. Globally, about 2.56 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste were generated in 2022 , according to the World Bank. Behind every item we throw away are resources that were used to produce it—land, water, energy, raw materials, labour and transportation. That means reducing waste is not simply about having a cleaner home or a tidier environment. It is also about using the resources we already have more responsibly. ...