quick and easy ways to live a more sustainable life

At Whispers & Anarchy, sustainability is one of the core values that drives us. We believe sustainable living should not just be limited to your fashion choices, it should be a part of your daily life. There are many ways to begin your journey in sustainable living, we have curated this list with some ways you can get started. Incorporate these into your daily life and everyday decisions and you’re already making progress.

Invest in slow fashion, higher quality items of clothing. Slow fashion is the way forward as the clothing is produced more ethically, is of much better quality, lasts longer than fast fashion, and the fabrics are more biodegradable. Investing in slow fashion is not only good for the environment, but also on your wallet in the long run as you take on a minimalist wardrobe style.

Look out for sustainable and eco-friendly materials when shopping. Fabrics such as cotton, wool, bamboo, hemp and rayon are much more environmentally friendly in comparison to their synthetic counterparts.

Keep an eye out for these fabrics when shopping for your wardrobe. Recycled, organic and fabrics that come from a natural source are better planet-friendly alternative. Each fabric has its pros and cons, and we've written a full blog post on this! If you want to learn more about sustainable fabrics read our blog post on sustainable fabrics.

Wash your clothing items less frequently. Washing clothes daily causes high amounts of water wastage and also releases harmful chemicals from detergents into the environment. Reducing the frequency of washing your clothes will also ensure that your clothes last longer as there is lesser wear and tear caused by the washing cycle.

Opt to hand wash your clothing. If you do need to wash certain clothing items daily, opt to hand wash these pieces. Washing machines use up large amounts of electricity and water, running a cycle for very few items is simply wasteful. Hand washing is much better for the environment and also for the health of the fabrics of your clothing items.

Donate old clothes or reinvent old pieces to new styles. Clothing in good condition should be donated to charitable organizations for the needy. It can also be repurposed and you can continue getting more wear out of it. For example, you can turn an old dress into a stylish new skirt or top. Clothing that is in a bad condition can be donated to janitors or cleaning services around as they are often in need of cloth that can be turned into rags. Alternatively, turn your own clothing into rags to use for home cleaning.

Use the air drying method instead of an electric dryer. Using the electric dryer requires a large amount of electricity and is also bad for the health of your clothing. It can cause unnecessary fraying and shrinking of fabrics, and certain fabrics also end up slightly discoloured and burned due to the heat. Hanging your clothes out to dry is much more eco-friendly and also much better for the health of your clothes. This will ensure your clothing lasts longer as well.

Plant your own fruits, vegetables and herbs for use in the kitchen. It is better for your health as you can avoid consuming unnecessary pesticides and GMO foods. It also enhances your home environment as having nature around brightens up any home and encourages more environmentally friendly practices for the entire family.

Avoid using plastic bags when grocery shopping. Purchase a reusable cloth bag or use a paper bag. This ensures reduction in the large amounts of plastic waste caused by plastic bag disposal. Reusable bags are also much sturdier and easier to carry, making them a lifestyle improvement too.

When grocery shopping, look for products without any plastic wrapping or bring your own container instead. Most fruits and vegetables do not require unnecessary plastic wrapping, try to opt for paper wrapping if you have to wrap these items. For meat and other produce, bring your own reusable container to avoid plastic wrapping wastage.

Avoid purchasing bottled water. If you live in a place where the tap water is safe to consume, opt to use this instead. If you live in a place where tap water is not safe to consume, purchase a water purifier or a fitting for your tap to filter the water. If you have to purchase bottled water, opt for bigger bottles as opposed to smaller ones.

Use water saving fittings and filters for your taps at home. These will reduce the pressure of water and reduce unnecessary water wastage. If you live in Singapore, you can order a water saving kit from PUB: (https://www.pub.gov.sg/savewater/requestforwatersavingkit)

Opt for metal or paper straws instead of plastic straws. Plastic straws are a danger to wildlife, especially marine animals. Using a reusable straw or a paper straw is much better as lesser plastic straws are disposed into our environment.

Instead of paper towels, use cloth. Disposable paper towels create a lot of unnecessary waste. It is better for the environment and your wallet to use a piece of cloth. Even better, use a recycled cloth from an old item of clothing in your wardrobe.

Composting is an amazing way to deal with wastage at your home and live a more eco-friendly life. Composting is the natural decomposition of organic material by microorganisms, into a dark brown organic substance called compost. Compost mixed with soil is beneficial for growing plants as the compost retains soil moisture, improves soil structure and provides nutrients.

You can buy a compost bin for a few hundred dollars but we recommend building one yourself. All you need is a cheap plastic bin with a lid, drill small holes on the lid and at the bottom and sides of the bin (air circulation is key in the decomposing process) and start adding waste!

Reduce the amount of food wasted in your household by purchasing, making and consuming an adequate amount. If there are leftovers, pack them in a reusable container and consume them the next day. This is an easy way to reduce food wastage.

Using these quick and easy ways, you can strive towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly life in the long run. Make sure to share these tips with your family and friends to keep the change towards an environmentally friendly life going around you.