Interior of living room with wooden triangular coffee table, lamps and yellow armchair and bamboo flooring

5 Green Reasons to Go Minimal

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Minimalism is sweeping the nation. It seems everywhere you turn these days there is an article about another young person who has decided they have had enough of consumerism and are taking steps toward a life with less. Tiny houses now grace our televisions, and numerous books about minimalism fill the shelves of our bookstores and libraries.

What is this all about? Why would anyone choose to live such a barebones life when they are surrounded by so much luxury?

Well, honestly, people make the decision to take on a minimalist lifestyle for a number of different reasons. For some, the cost savings alone makes minimalism a worthwhile endeavor. For others, the idea of tiny living is too enticing to resist, and with tiny living comes a life of less. Perhaps the most common reason for making this decision, however, is the undeniable eco-friendly benefits a minimalist lifestyle brings to the table.

Small studio flat in gray colors minimal living

Wondering how minimalism leads to a greener lifestyle? Here are the top five ways we think a simplified life filled with fewer things can help make our earth a cleaner, greener, and brighter place.

#1: Reduce Consumption

The very foundation of minimalism is built on the idea that less is more. All minimalists, no matter their reasons for choosing their lifestyle, are intently focused on reducing the number of material items they bring into their lives. This simple fact makes taking up minimalism one of the most effective ways of living out a greener life.

You see, money is more powerful than you might know. Every time you make a purchase, you are voting for more of that item to be produced. By choosing to purchase fewer things, minimalists vote to have fewer things made, something that reduces the overall level of resource consumption in our society.

What kinds of things do minimalists cut back on? Well, everything really. Depending on who you talk to, a person who is living this lifestyle may cut back on:

  • Clothing
  • Dishes and cookware
  • DVDs and books
  • Toys
  • Tools

A minimalist will also tend to avoid disposable items and lean toward more eco-friendly options such as:

  • Reusable tissues and toilet paper
  • Cloth baby diapers
  • Cloth napkins

#2: Make Conscious Purchasing Decisions

Because minimalists tend to buy as little as possible, and because they own very few things, the items they do own get used a lot. This means everything they purchase must be of the highest quality, leading these individuals to make very conscious purchasing decisions.

These conscious purchasing decisions mean minimalists put their dollars, and therefore their vote, toward companies that are dedicated to providing long-lasting, less-disposable items. It also means the things they buy will last quite some time, which leads to less waste in the long run.

#3: Waste Less

In general, minimalists produce less waste. This is due to three factors:

  • Less stuff coming in
  • Choosing reusable items
  • Purchasing high-quality products that last years

This minimized waste is great because landfills (and the toxins and greenhouse gases they produce) are horrible for the environment.

Not only that, but even recycling programs facilities—which are much better than those horrible landfills—produce some problems of their own, meaning the less we put out on the curb each week, the better.

#4: Reduce Stress

Having all of your needs met is a wonderful thing. However, there is a difference between meeting your needs and having an excess of stuff. When that line is crossed, chaos ensues. Minimalists realize this because they’ve experienced life without the clutter.

These individuals are able to focus less on the latest and greatest gadgets and pay more attention to the things that really matter. This leaves those who adopt this simpler lifestyle with more time to think deeply and pay attention to the world around them.

#5: Pass it On

Finally, we mustn’t forget the fact that our children are always watching. When we live out a life of excess, they are learning to do the same. Minimalists are teaching their little ones that less is more by example. They are giving their children the gift of experiences over things and helping them adopt a healthy, green, and sustainable lifestyle that will help their generation continue to benefit from the planet into their old age.

Because we all want the best for our children, this might just be the best benefit of all.

Interior of living room with wooden triangular coffee table, lamps and yellow armchair and bamboo flooring

Getting Started

There you have it: five reasons minimalism is a greener way to live. While we know jumping feet-first into such an extreme lifestyle may not sound appealing, we do encourage you to slowly begin adopting some minimalist habits in the next few months.

Why not start at the bottom and work your way up? If you are looking to replace your floors soon, is a great first step on the road to minimalism.

While purchasing something new might seem counterproductive, it is actually exactly what someone with a minimalist mindset would do. This is because of bamboo flooring…

  • Looks great, even with a minimal amount of furniture;
  • Requires very little cleaning equipment;
  • Doesn’t require toxic, harmful cleaning chemicals;
  • Lasts for many years, reducing the number of times the floor must be replaced;
  • Is versatile, removing the need for special floor coverings;
  • Is a green flooring solution, helping minimalists carry out their eco-friendly living endeavors.

Obviously, bamboo flooring is the perfect choice for a minimalist household or even those who are just trying to live a greener lifestyle. Want to learn more? Have a look around our website to see all of the fantastic bamboo flooring options we offer.