Is Sustainable Living Possible In Hong Kong?

It’s time for all of us to play a part in protecting our planet by practicing small habits that can reduce our impact on the environment. In a world filled with plastics, it’s challenging to go green, but the most important thing is to make the first step.

How to Live Sustainably?

Reuse

One way to limit the trash we are contributing to our landfills is to avoid the use of plastics or Styrofoam. Instead of plastic bottles and containers that can take hundreds of years to decompose, use reusable containers and bottles.

• Replace your water bottles with PVC bottles that can keep your beverage hot or cold.
• Replace plastic bags with eco-bags when shopping for groceries or other items
• Instead of using paper plates and styrofoam cups, use glassware, silicones, aluminum, and stainless-steel containers to store your food and supplies.
• Instead of plastic straws, buy stainless or bamboo straws available in the market.

Using these items can help you save money in the long run since you don’t have to keep on buying and replacing easily disposable items.

Grow your Food

This might sound hard, but it isn’t, all it takes is your patience and proper knowledge. We all feel the same way, going to grocery stores for fruits and vegetables is more convenient but some products might contain harmful fertilizers and pesticides.

Since the pandemic started, everybody starts to realize how important plants are not only for the environment but also for our health. It’s now a trend and you can always start small. So, why not start with your very own vegetable garden with herbs and other leafy vegetables that is not hard to maintain and can easily grow.

At the least, you’ll know that what you are eating is free from any chemicals some suppliers insert into our food.

Reduce Energy Consumption

Power plants are the major sources of CO2 and SO2, which are harmful to our ozone layer and can cause global warming. That’s why when using electricity at home, be mindful of how you always use your appliances.

• Always unplug appliances that are not in use.
• Only turn on the devices, and light when it’s necessary, don’t leave them on.
• When using the washing machine and dishwashers, put a large load instead of using it many times in a week.

If you’re thinking of upgrading your home appliances, remember to look for one that has an “Energy Star” label on it. You can save money from your electricity bill while helping the planet.

Eat less meat

From growing your vegetable garden to eating less meat. A meat diet can emit an equivalent of 3.3 tons of CO2 per year while a vegan diet is only equivalent to 1.5 tons of CO2 per year which is more than half of the meat diet.

Nothing will happen if you don’t start with a single step. If you can, go vegan, and if you can’t, at least incorporate a vegan meal into your plan to help with the environment. Numerous Vegan restaurants in Hong Kong are proven to be delicious and sustainable.

Read: Where To Get Vegan Food In Hong Kong

Go Paperless

Are you still receiving bills via mails? Our digital behaviors can also make an impact on the environment. Instead of having a physical copy of your electric or phone bills, opt for a digital copy. The less paper we print, the more we help conserve energy, and save the environment.

For businesses that rely heavily on paper, start thinking and planning about moving to a more technology-based platform where you can share, send documents and files.