Our love for Luxurious life and plastic goods might have done good to us, but somewhere our subconscious mind knows that it was all for the short term and what it costs to our environment. 

As we progress through the 21st century, humans have changed the world in unprecedented ways.

Overpopulation, pollution, climate change, global warming and ozone depletion, Water pollution and ocean acidification, deforestation, Genetic modification and what not in the name of modernization.

It’s time to be aware of our personal environment input. It is time to incorporate sustainable living into our life. A sustainable lifestyle aims to achieve an environmental equilibrium.

Though it is difficult to make up the damage to the environment we already did, Below are some of the easy ways if we incorporate into our lives, will make a difference by slowing down the rate of damage

1. Carry a steel water bottle – Plastic water bottles are neither good for our health nor good for the environment. Why not carry a steel or copper water bottle. Drinking water in copper bottles does have many health benefits too.
2. Cloth Bags – Ditch products that come in too many plastic covers. For most of the products, you will find an alternative product that has plastic packaging or is packaged in a cloth bag. Also, why expect plastic bags from local shop vendors. Getting simple cloth bags or buy designer cloth bags and flaunting them is a good idea as well. It will make you look trendy and responsible to the environment, encourage others to use cloth bags and also save money (in some cases) by not buying plastic bags.
3. Opt for reusable cutlery – We all know that plastic cutleries can not be easily recycled, even when made out of recycled plastic. Plastic cutlery is now the top 5 beach polluters. Consider investing in travel cutlery sets made of Stainless steel or eco-friendly cutlery set made out of Bamboo
4. Bamboo Toothbrush – Your Plastic toothbrush is a bigger problem than you realize. Plastic toothbrushes are full of toxic chemicals. Why not opting for a bamboo toothbrush that is free from chemicals, you feel great and guilt-free every morning of not using a plastic toothbrush that will go to a landfill or oceans.
5. Cloth Diaper – It is now known that disposable diapers are a threat to health and the environment. Thanks to the informed parents, demand for cloth diapers have increased. Some brands like Super bottoms claim to have 12 hrs leak-free. Give it a try if you have infants. Cloth diapers are toxic-free, effective and pocket friendly in the long run. Also, you save a lot of garbage getting into bins and eventually making its way to landfill where it takes 500 years to decompose and creates toxic gases in the process
6. Menstrual cups or Biodegradable disposable pads – Similar to baby diapers, Sanitary pads pose a threat to health and the environment. Menstrual cups are bell-shaped cups made of silicone or rubber. A menstrual cup is definitely a pocket-friendly option as it can go for up to 5 years. In case someone is not comfortable with a menstrual cup, they can opt for biodegradable disposable pads with anion chips. On Amazon.com you can see many options to choose from. 
7. Reusable Straw or Biodegradable Straws – Plastic straws are not biodegradable and are difficult to recycle. Plastic straws pollute our oceans and waterways and are harmful to our ocean wildlife. Many countries have already banned the usage of plastic straw and some countries are soon going to ban single-use plastic. Steel straw or biodegradable straws like bamboo straw or paper straws are the available solutions now. A startup Evlogia eco has recently come up with coconut leaf-based straws. 
8. Choose Non-toxic chemicals – We know how these toxic chemicals make their way to the ocean. You might want to try baking soda to clean your clothes or remove surface rust. You can sprinkle some baking soda in your laundry for soft and odorless cloth. Make a thick paste of baking soda with water to remove rust. You can use white vinegar mixed with equal parts of water in a spray bottle for all the aspects of home cleaning like mirrors or windows. 
9. Change to LED light – Save energy by switching to LED lights. Lower electricity bill generates less heat, Have a long lifespan.

These changes will probably not change our lifestyle which we are so used to. These simple alternatives will be a gesture of forwarding our hands and working towards the betterment of our future.