Ahh, the conveniences of city living, where just about anything you need is an arm’s reach. All of the luxuries of living or commuting to a city, like San Francisco can make living an eco-friendly or low waste lifestyle challenging. I’m far from perfect when commuting and order the occasional coffee when running late. There, however, are a few steps that I make a concerted effort to follow on a daily basis to do my part in reducing waste. Each day I commute into San Francisco from Oakland and make a conscious effort to reduce my impact and remain eco-friendly.
The great thing about taking steps to be more environmentally-friendly is that Your wallet will likely benefit too! Because many of the suggestions entail reducing your shopping and dining out, you’ll be happy with the financial benefits too. We often don’t realize how much money we spend on coffee or snacks on a weekly basis, but when you’re more thoughtful with your actions, oh you’ll realize it!
Check out the tips for remaining eco-friendly while commuting:
Walk or bike
The first and probably largest impact, rather than driving into the office, or even to the BART parking lot, I walk from my home to public transportation. Of course, this isn’t possible for everybody, but if it is something you’re able to do, eliminate those emissions and walk or bike. Another benefit – you’ll get those steps in!
Take public transportation
Similar idea behind this one. If you’re able to incorporate public transportation into your commute, work it in! It’s a great way to be eco-friendly and reduce your impact to the environment, and in most cases, it’s more efficient.
Bring your containers with you
I carry a glass water bottle with me and carry my morning coffee with me in a ceramic mug. I’ve had both for over a year and they are both environmentally friendly and cost saving. I couldn’t tell you exactly how much I’ve saved since switching to a reusable bottle, but the combination of home-brewed coffee and filtered tap water are noticeable.
Skip the take-out
While it can be tough to skip out on grab and go salads or sushi during lunch, bringing in leftovers or prepped lunches is another way to reduce your waste. If you regularly eat out, cutting out the take-out means you’re cutting back on 5 plastic cartons, sets of silverware, cups, plastic bags, and more. Bring your lunch in reusable containers and you’ll be doing your part.
Want to learn more about my favorite eco-friendly practices? Continue reading, check out 5 Ways to reduce waste for beginners!
xoxo, jackie