Easy Ways to be Sustainable in Everyday Life

The importance of living sustainable

We’re creating and using energy at an unsustainable pace, resulting in climate change and pollution that puts our planet at risk. Finding ways to be sustainable is essential to slowing this pace, reducing our carbon footprint, and curbing the harm we’re inflicting on ourselves and the natural world. 

Besides the environmental benefits, sustainable living can help you live healthier. Think about the ripple effect of reducing your carbon emissions by keeping the car in the garage or electing not to use public transit. You’ll develop the healthy habit of walking or biking around your hometown. Ultimately, living sustainably is better for your health, the environment’s health, and even the health of your wallet.  

5 easy ways to be more sustainable

Inspired by our employees, here are five ways to be more sustainable and help the planet while spending time at home: 

Support small businesses

Supporting small businesses is more important than ever. Shopping at nearby small businesses helps support your local economy while reducing waste and emissions generated by shipping—making it one of the simplest ways to be more sustainable in everyday life. 

If shopping in person is too difficult, you can still support your favorite small business owners (or discover new ones) by shopping online. Check out this list of QuickBooks customers supporting a more sustainable future. From upcycled household items and delicious food to beauty products (and more), you’ll find gifts for anyone on your list. Not only will you be helping small business owners, but you’ll be doing your part to help the planet. 

Pick up trash near your home

Whether it’s picking up litter during a walk outside your home or heading to a local park, beach or river, you can make a difference. Not only do you get the chance to be outdoors but you can protect animals both on land and in the sea from ingesting plastic and other waste generated by humans. 

Maximize your impact by joining an organized cleanup, and you’ll get the added bonus of being part of a larger community while helping to clean the planet one piece of waste at a time.

Educate yourself on sustainability

One of the easy ways to be more sustainable is to get educated. We’re proud to partner with Project Drawdown to launch the world’s first major climate educational experience focused on solutions. This immersive six-part video series offers solutions that can make meaningful and equitable global change, and get us to the point of “drawdown,” the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline.

Reuse when possible

In many ways, our modern world is a throwaway society. We use and toss disposable razors, plastic water bottles, and other one-time-use items without little consideration for the effect on the planet. 

One of the easy ways to be sustainable around the house is to consider how you can swap the everyday disposable items you have at home with more reusable alternatives. Maybe you can buy one razor and switch out the blades. Or you could buy a water filter pitcher and refillable water bottle instead of drinking water out of plastic bottles.  

Buy sustainable products

Brands today can tell you exactly where their products come from—what they’re made from, how they’re made, where they’re made. Every industry has sustainable brands that take the extra time and effort to ensure their products, packaging, and processing methods minimize harm to the environment. These products may cost slightly more than their mass-produced counterparts, but we view that extra money as an investment in our future generations’ well-being. 

You can do your part by seeking these brands for your favorite groceries, home goods, and other products. Most sustainable brands make this part of their story and packaging. Look for phrases and slogans on packaging that promote sustainability. As always, do further research to ensure these brands are actually operating sustainably and not just jumping on the eco bandwagon to promote their products.  

Our commitment to help the planet

At Intuit, we’re committed to implementing ways to be sustainable and reversing climate change. From reaching 100% renewable electricity for our global operations to declaring our climate-positive goal to surpass carbon neutrality, we empower our employees, customers, and communities to inspire actionable behavior change that will make the world a better place.

Join us in taking an active part in caring for the planet. Together, let’s make every day Earth Day. Great things are still possible when we come together, even remotely, and take action to create a more sustainable world.

FAQs

1. Why is sustainability important?

Sustainability is important for preserving the climate and natural world for future generations. Adopting a sustainable lifestyle is instrumental in reducing our carbon footprint and even adopting healthier lifestyles for ourselves.  

2. What are some easy ways to be more sustainable in everyday life?

Some easy ways to be more sustainable in your everyday life include: 

• Supporting small businesses
• Picking up trash near your home
• Educating yourself on sustainability
• Reusing products when possible
• Buying sustainable products 

3. What are the benefits of living a sustainable lifestyle?

Sustainable living can offer a number of benefits, including: 

• Improved mental health
• Less exposure to toxins
• Better breathing and air quality
• Reduced energy consumption and utility expenses

4. What are some common misconceptions about sustainability?

The following are some common misconceptions about sustainability: 

• Sustainability focuses only on the environment. The concept of sustainability actually originated as part of a push to grant disadvantaged countries greater access to natural resources like food, water, and energy. 
• Living a sustainable lifestyle is expensive. While purchasing sustainable or reusable products might cost more upfront, you could save money in the long run. Consider the example of investing in well-made clothes instead of fast fashion. Sure, it’ll cost you more initially, but their longevity will spare the landfills—and your wallet—a lot of agony. 
• Sustainable living is a phase and not a lifestyle. Many might be skeptical that sustainability is a passing fad or that companies only leverage it as a buzzword in the name of marketing. But if anything, the sustainability chorus continues to grow louder as consumers demand more in the way of sustainability out of companies.