When a new year begins, we often create lists of resolutions aimed at achieving personal goals, advancing professionally or realizing our dreams.

All resolutions are valid, and achieving them always brings great joy! But have you ever thought about adopting resolutions that have a collective impact? It's also worth considering how small changes in attitude can help society and the planet.

This involves adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, changing some habits and making adjustments – some of them quite simple – in your routine.

Discover 5 ways to lead a more sustainable life.

1. Choose sustainable transportation

The transportation sector is responsible for about 23% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the world, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released in 2023.

Everyone can contribute to reducing this burden of emissions, and decreasing car dependency can have a huge positive impact on the environment if many people around the world choose to make this change.

To start doing this, prioritize public transport by choosing the subway, train or bus. Whenever possible, always choose to walk or ride a bike, since these modes of transportation do not produce any pollution.

When you need to drive, consider more sustainable options, like joining carpool groups, so the car is not used by just one person for a specific trip.

2. Reduce food waste

In 2022, the world threw away more than 1 billion meals per day, while over 780,000 people went hungry, according to a report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The study showed that this problem is serious not only from a social standpoint but also from an environmental perspective, as food waste is directly linked to climate change, rising pollution levels and biodiversity loss.

That's why everyone needs to do their part. Try to be rational about the amount of food you and your family actually need to consume. The best practice is to buy, order and prepare the right amount of food to prevent waste. Is there any food left? Instead of throwing it away, you can use it for a new meal - there are numerous recipes that can help transform leftovers into delicious dishes  

3. Embrace recycling

Recycling is necessary, as it conserves natural resources, particularly finite ones like petroleum, and helps the fight against global warming. In addition, in countries like Brazil, recycling also drives a chain of social development, as it benefits people who make a living from collecting recyclable items.

To begin recycling in your daily life, the first step is to separate organic waste from recyclable waste and seek information about the recycling methods available where you live. It's also worthwhile to research which materials are recyclable and which are not.

4. Reduce the use of disposable plastics

Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that every year between 19 and 23 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into aquatic ecosystems, such as rivers, seas and springs. This type of pollution severely threatens biodiversity and contributes to global warming.

Therefore, in addition to properly disposing of plastic, it is also important to consider replacing fossil-based items with products made from renewable raw materials that do not deplete natural resources during their production. Examples include paper and items made from responsibly cultivated eucalyptus pulp, such as those produced by Suzano.

5. Consume more consciously

We can never forget that each of us needs to make more mindful choices about what we consume. This is a trend that is gaining momentum worldwide: a survey by the World Economic Forum published in 2022 revealed that 80% of consumers take sustainability into account in their day-to-day decisions.

Adopting conscientious consumerism means thinking about the social and environmental impact of your purchases on the planet.

Valuing local products and producers, avoiding impulse purchases and seeking information about the companies that manufacture the products you use daily to check their sustainability practices are good ways to become a more conscious consumer and contribute to a better future.

Conclusion: sustainability is within our reach

As you learned from this text, by making a few simple changes and becoming more conscious of your actions and consumption, you can also make the new year more sustainable.

As the new year begins, in addition to your personal resolutions, why not adopt actions like these and encourage those around you to take better care of our planet as well?

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