10 tips for a sustainable life

An Indian gets ready after a bath amidst industrial effluences in the river Yamuna, in New Delhi, India,Tuesday, April 22, 2014. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup)

An Indian gets ready after a bath amidst industrial effluences in the river Yamuna, in New Delhi, India,Tuesday, April 22, 2014. (AP Photo /Manish Swarup)

Published Apr 22, 2015

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Cape Town – Mahatma Gandhi once said “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

If you’ve been paying attention to the world lately, you would know that global warming is a real issue. Time and time again, the earth has proven that it’s not happy with the way we treat it.

From historical glacier calvings, eradicating wildlife, intense heat waves and snowstorms, it’s safe to say that it’s become a domino effect that we can no longer ignore.

Our carbon footprints affect the global pollution levels, so it’s important we are aware of the impact we play as individuals, and especially as travellers of the earth.

“Leading a greener life is much easier than you think. It’s about making sustainable choices in the way we live, travel and the things we buy,” says Kelly Jackson, General Manager for Contiki SA.

So, for Earth Day, Contiki has compiled 10 quick and easy ways for you to apply into your life to lead a greener, happier and much more sustainable life.

 

1 Save energy

It’s simple really. If it doesn’t need to be turned on, TURN IT OFF. Install energy efficient lights, and turn the power off when you’re done charging your phone. You might not realise it, but this an effective way in cutting down those carbon emissions. And with the problems Eskom has generating electricity you’ll be doing the country a power of good by not using unnecessary electricity.

2 Conserve water

Did you know 750 million people in the world lack access to clean water? Now think about the water that you can drink straight out of the tap – that’s a luxury. Every drop of tap water that you use consumes a great deal of energy. There’s actually a process for it to even reach your tap – hence why a lot of the water in South East Asian countries is unsafe to drink straight from the tap.

So consider this; when you’re brushing your teeth, turn the tap off and find alternative methods to save water like collecting rainwater to use in your garden or not being in the shower for more than 10 minutes!

3 Use less fuel for transport

Because nothing feels better than fresh air, so take a hike! If it’s feasible walk to work, the beach, the park, and anywhere your feet allows you to move as long as it is safe to do so. If you’re travelling and you want to check out the local scene, forget about catching taxi’s and opt to walk or cycle through the back streets of cities to visit some iconic monuments.

4 Eat ‘greener’ food

Here are some things you probably didn’t realise about the food industry. The food industry contributes substantial carbon emissions in the process of shipping their products around the world. When you eat seasonal, local, and organic food, you help to conserve the environment – as well as improve your own health.

5 Don’t litter and use proper waste management

Did you know approximately 1.3 Billion tonnes of food produced is wasted? The amount of waste around the world is astronomical. Try to conserve waste by using the correct wastage bins within your homes. You see those recycle bins? Use them. Recycle those plastic containers, paper, cardboard, and aluminium. It’s easy.

6 Avoid toxins and chemicals wherever you can

Purchase environmentally friendly products. What do we mean by that? Many products these days contain harmful chemicals for the environment. Try and use products made from natural and nontoxic ingredients. Plenty of shops and online stores sell organic goods. Check out the Greenstuff website for environmentally friendly products.

7 Buy local

Hit up the local markets in your hood, and you’ll be surprised at how fresh the produce can be. Going local is contributing to lower levels of pollution. Not only is this an easy and effective way of leading a green life, but you get to support your local farmers and growers!

8 Plant a tree

Did you know by planting one tree in your backyard properly, it can offset tons of carbon over its lifetime! If you want to go next level, you can start up a compost bin to reduce your trash footprint and reduced greenhouse gas.

9 Buy ecofriendly products

Instead of buying those high end luxurious items (not saying you can’t), think about the products that can support the environment. Buy items with less packaging, ditch the coffee cups and opt to bring your own and promote products that better our environment and reduce the impact on our world.

10 Realise that we’re all in this together.

We all share a common fate in this world. We need to work together and be more interconnected to the earth and what we’re doing to it. It’s important to incorporate these 10 steps into your everyday life. No matter how little it may seem, it’s impacting the environment and the world we live in for generations to come.

For more information, visit contiki.com, call (011) 280 8400, follow them on Facebook and join the conversation on Twitter with the #NOREGRETS hashtag.

IOL, adapted from a Press Release

 

About The TreadRight Foundation

Contiki is a part of a joint initiative with The TreadRight Foundation. Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s family of brands, the TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come.

To date, TreadRight has supported more than 35 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. The Foundation’s guiding principle is to encourage sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership and support for communities. Foundation priorities are set by the Steering Committee, which includes sustainability leaders like Céline Cousteau and Costas Christ.

TreadRight’s past project partners include WWF, Conservation International and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include sponsoring the National Geographic Society’s inaugural “World Legacy Awards,” WildAid and inspiring wildlife advocates like Terri Irwin.

To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at treadright.org.

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