From food waste to plastic, here are some simple ways to live a more sustainable life

There are plenty of good reasons to try to live more sustainably.  

It helps reduce waste, which is good for the environment, and you might save money, too.

Sustainability looks different to everyone, and it doesn't need to be all-or-nothing. Even small changes can make a significant difference over time.

Here are some practical ways you can lighten your footprint.

Tips for tackling food waste

If you're an Australian and you're buying food, chances are that some of it won't end up on your plate.

The average Australian household wastes more than four kilograms of food each week.

Pickling or preserving leftover fruits and vegetables can help extend their shelf life.

With leftover soft herbs, you can try making things like chimichurri — you can even use the stems.

To further reduce your waste, you can buy less perishable food in one go, store it properly and be creative about using up leftovers.

An old lettuce, for example, can be used in pesto, soup and even a stir-fry.

How gardening can help reduce your environmental footprint

Growing food in the backyard can be a great way to prevent waste.

When Koren Helbig planned her permaculture garden, she observed the sun, wind and rain in her backyard to help produce food with minimal effort.

Leafy greens and herbs are a great place to start.

They can be picked a bit at a time; the rest of the plant can keep thriving. It'll save you buying expensive supermarket greens and herbs wrapped in plastic.

Even the most frugal cook will still have some scraps.

Chickens, compost heaps and worm farms are great ways to direct this organic waste into another useful resource — food for your garden, fresh eggs, or both.

Ideas for plastic-free gardening

In the garden, single-use plastics can be found in everything from seedling trays to bagged compost and potting mix.

There are ways you can challenge the idea of plastic as the default option in favour of a more sustainable garden.

Avoid single-use plastic pots by growing plants from seed, or source plants from others who do.

Egg cartons and toilet roll tubes can be great alternatives to seed-raising trays and small pots.

Have a plastic-free lunch or picnic

So, you've cut down on food waste, what about taking your frugal meals on the go?

There are lots of ways you can pack your lunch without single-use plastic.

Invest in a leak-proof lunch box, use the containers you have on-hand in an insulated bag, or repurpose empty jars.

Some public libraries have reusable party kits available to borrow; it's worth asking if your local offers this.

Anywhere you would typically use plastic cling wrap, consider beeswax wraps instead. There are also compostable plant-based single-use options on the market.

Should you consider converting to cloth?

Raising children can feel like an exercise in waste generation.

Disposable nappies will definitely still be sitting in landfill when your grandchildren are toilet trained, unless they're the biodegradable variety — but these can get expensive.

There are few things as low-waste as elimination communication, a toilet-training method that practically does away with the use of nappies in favour of close monitoring.

It's not for everyone and involves a significant commitment of time and attention to "signals" from your baby.

Cloth nappies of the traditional or modern variety are a popular contemporary choice.

In practice, the best approach is one you can stick to.

It's helpful to arm yourself with quality information and to seek out support groups.

Join a buy-nothing group — or start one

An excellent way to extend the life of existing items — especially those you may only need for a certain season of life — is to join a buy-nothing group.

Self-explanatory in name, these groups rely on the transfer of items through swaps or giveaways. No cash is exchanged, but goods unwanted by one household are given a new life elsewhere.

If you don't have one in your area, you might be interested in starting one.

Go easy on yourself

Remember, you don't need to adopt every imaginable change in one go.

Every small step makes a difference and at the end of the day, it's better to create habits you can stick with than to leave yourself overwhelmed.