10 Everyday Sustainability Tips for World Environment Day

For over 50 years, June 5th has been more than just another late spring day. In 1973, World Environment Day was created, and ever since it has been an annual celebration and call to action to help the natural world. World Environment Day 2024 is of course, once again, on June 5, and if you are wondering how to celebrate World Environment Day at home, we have two handfuls of everyday sustainability tips for World Environment Day that are easy and achievable, making it easy to make an impact on World Environment Day. From simple steps for a sustainable lifestyle to waste reduction tips for beginners and ways to reduce your consumption to tips for how to be a more responsible consumer by focusing on sustainable product swaps for daily living, you can make this world day of the environment the start of a new way of seeing the world by understanding the importance of individual action.

10 Everyday Sustainability Tips for World Environment Day

Humans have directly caused a myriad of environmental problems over the years, including an increase in greenhouse gases and habitat destruction, along with many more issues that can be linked to our consumption and conveniences. Thankfully, there have been successes in raising awareness of both collective action for World Environment Day and World Environment Day actions for individuals. These sustainability tips are small changes and decisions you can make in your everyday life, in the hope that we will see individual action building momentum for sustainability across the country and globe.

1. Purchase Sustainable Products

Should we be consuming less and buying fewer things? Probably, yes, but when you do need to buy products like clothes, furniture, and more, try to select Earth-friendly products. These have never been more available to consumers and sustainable product swaps for daily living are how to be a more responsible consumer in your everyday life. Earth-friendly can mean products sold in recyclable containers and packaging, made in a zero-waste facility, and produced by a company that cares about the impact on soil, air, wildlife, and the environment.

2. Eat More Plant-Based Foods

My family eats plant-based food and much of it tastes exactly like its meat alternative. We know that with every plant-based burger, meatball, chicken tender, and sausage link we eat, less water is needed to grow the feed for animals and less gasoline is needed to power CO2-emitting machines that plow and harvest, then move the feed from the field to factory farms.

3. Travel Sustainably

Traffic is terrible and our gas-powered cars are not a friend to the environment. One of the easiest everyday sustainability tips for World Environment Day is, whenever possible, to consider walking, biking, or using public transportation to get to work, the grocery store, the movie theater, or a nearby city for fun nights out. If you are a boater, check out these 6 tips for reducing your environmental impact while on the water.

4. Plant Trees

Plant one tree in your yard and/or find a tree-planting project in your community to generate collective action for World Environment Day.

5. Attract Pollinators

Plant flowers that nourish beneficial insects in your area. These pollinators are the very definition of sustainable and are in danger around the world.

6. Compost

Compost your food waste in your backyard or a worm bin. In doing so, you’ll be creating less waste in landfills and getting useful, rich soil for your flower beds, too!

7. Recycle in a Better Way

Many people will tell you that traditional recycling is not as effective as we think, so for the products you buy that don’t have no-packaging options, recycle better by finding new uses for your boxes, bottles, and plastic packaging. Cardboard can be useful in your garden, for example, bottles can easily become homemade candles, and plastic packaging is great for found art projects for kids and adults.

8. Turn the Water Off When Brushing Teeth

It might seem a rather insignificant individual action, but if everyone was in the habit of turning the faucet off while the toothbrush was in their mouth, could you imagine the millions of gallons of water that wouldn’t be wasted every single day?

9. Only Run the Dishwasher and Washing Machine When Completely Full

When you do use water, ensure that you are getting the maximum impact by only running your dishwasher and washing machine when full.

10. Shop Local

Sometimes it can seem daunting or even pointless to try to help the environment as a person when big companies aren’t doing the same. But we know that World Environment Day actions for individuals move the needle in a positive direction and every single action makes a difference in your home and community. When you shop local and buy food that was grown or raised nearby and support local small businesses that make handmade jewelry and other products instead of those getting their product flown and trucked in from far away, you can make a positive impact on World Environment Day and every day.

Keep making a difference long after June 5 World Environment Day with these earth-friendly activities that can help you reduce your environmental impact all year long!