July 22, 2022

Why is it Important to Lead a Sustainable Lifestyle?

Sustainability - a word we hear continually but to which we may have forgotten to give value. In a world where climate change is at the forefront of media and political agenda, it is now essential to consider and explore what it means for us as individuals and as a society to lead a sustainable lifestyle.

What is sustainability?

In 1987, The United Nations defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” From an environmental perspective, it means being able to sustain a particular activity over time while avoiding the depletion of natural resources. Sustainability looks at minimising the negative impact of current and future systems on our people, our ecosystems and the economy. Sustainability promotes living in harmony with nature by using resources wisely and mindfully for the benefit of all now and for generations to come.

3 Pillars of Sustainability

Sustainability is based on 3 pillars: social, environmental and economic. These principles are the guiding framework upon which companies, organisations and the government make decisions.

Social

Social sustainability looks at equal access and distribution of our natural resources amongst people around the world as well as human health.

Environmental

Environmental sustainability looks at how we can protect our natural resources and resolve current environmental issues. It involves preserving and improving air quality, water quality and reducing carbon emissions.

Economic

Economic sustainability looks at fostering and maintaining a prosperous economy by ensuring an organisation’s profitability while maintaining employee well-being.

Why Should We Care

Everything is interconnected. The food that we eat is grown, transported and distributed by people and in ways that affect both our people and the environment. The clothes we wear and made with resources that are extracted, transformed and sewed together in a way that benefits or negatively impacts people and our environment. Where we invest our money has the power to either destroy our natural resources or provide innovative solutions to communities in need. This is where leading a sustainable lifestyle makes a difference. Because if we continue depleting the world’s finite resources, making poor governmental decisions when it comes to resource allocation and public services, and choosing to support companies and organisations who deliberately damage our people and resources, we and our children will all suffer from the consequences of our actions or inactions.

In 2015, the United Nations Member States adopted 17 goals for sustainability as part of their 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals urge all nations to unite in hope to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, improve access to healthcare and education and ensure economic prosperity.

What Can We Do

The good news is that there are countless ways you can make a difference in the world by leading a more sustainable lifestyle. A big part of the change needs to be driven by governmental organisations and companies. However, as consumers, we are responsible for our individual choices. Here are 10 examples of how you can live more sustainably.

Grow your own food
Use renewable energy where possible
Consume less and when you do, shop responsibly
Reduce single-use plastics
Support companies and organisations who care for people and the environment
Reduce, Reuse and recycle
Make your own natural products
Use public transport, car share, ride your bike
Reduce your waste
Save water

What ECO. Modern Essentials does to be more sustainable?

We have a range of initiatives promoting sustainability. We ensure transparency and honesty when it comes to our sourcing and manufacturing practice. We encourage all customers to recycle their empty bottles through our Recycling program. We support and donate to local charity organisations. We eliminated plastic from all our product packaging where possible.

You can view a summary of our 2020/21 Sustainability Report here.

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Author: Elisabeth Lemieux
Marketing Coordinator

Liz is the Marketing Coordinator at ECO. Modern Essentials and oversees the company’s brand and communication strategy. Liz has extensive experience in brand management, strategy development and digital marketing across a range of direct-to-consumer businesses in the health and wellness industry. She is a qualified Yoga instructor and has been practicing for nearly a decade. Liz is passionate about everything wellness and has a strong interest in holistic health.

Learn more here.