The push for sustainable living has been heightened in recent years through media series highlighting the harmful effects waste and consumerism have on the environment.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, 'sustainability' can feel overwhelming and is a bit of a catch-phrase that some people might not understand.
The Daily Advertiser spoke to ethical businesses across Wagga and compiled a list of sustainable living alternatives from Wagga City Council's environment and educational officer Alice Kent and an ethical consumer and business owner of The Red Pomegranate, Peter Lonsdale.
Mr Lonsdale said he is "really passionate" about ensuring consumers are educated and understand how their product is being produced.
"For example, is child labour being used? Are the people producing these items getting paid for their work?," he asked.
Fashion
The damaging effects of the fashion industry has been pushed into the spotlight with a new ethical business in Temora and online sustainable fashion items.
Kindly Darling was created by two Temora women who were inspired by watching ABC's War on Waste program, which highlighted the polluting industry that is keeping many people in poverty.
Ms Kent said last year she only bought one new piece of clothing as fashion is one of the most damaging industries in the world.
"Ethical clothing will last forever rather than purchasing $5 KMART tops that last for one week," she said.
Purchasing items from op-shops is also another green alternative.
Mr Lonsdale said there are many journeys that ethical organisations take to produce products.
"We have necklaces that are run by an Australian lady who's been working with ladies in Africa who have been brutalised through the war," he said.
"They started making beads through paper and they've progressed to creating textiles and now they've bought sewing machines.
"It's not just about surviving for these women, but it's about regaining self worth; it's not just about building an economy."
Beauty products
Ms Kent at Wagga City Council holds a few sustainable workshops across the year, such as natural facial cleansers and DIY face masks.
"My favourite is yoghurt and honey and especially in winter the yoghurt is really moisturising and it's also a cheaper list of ingredients," she said.
"When you're making something simple, you'll know exactly what goes into it and not making additional packaging.
"I've thoroughly reduced what is in my cupboard and I've just found this really nice recipe for a body butter."
Art work
Mr Lonsdale's health foods store sells a range of sustainable and fair trade art work from overseas locations, including Haiti and Egypt.
"Some of our artworks are a product from Haiti and we bought these in 2010 following the natural disaster," he said.
"This is the top of a 44 gallon oil drum and in Haiti they were bringing all this fuel over and leaving the oil drums so artists wanted a way to get these off the island."
Energy
The cool weather is definitely upon us, but Ms Kent advised people to wear more layers before cranking up the heater.
"Also look at drafts in the home that are allowing that cool air to come in and also when using the heat, section off the house so you're not heating the whole home," she said.
Waste and packaging
Council's introduction of a small kitchen compostable food waste bin were taken as a step towards efficient, cost effective and environmentally sustainable waste collection.
Ms Kent said it's really important people know how to use their three bins and if unsure, that they are asking questions online or in person.
"If I throw something in the bin, I look at how to reduce that in terms of packaging and seeking alternatives to this," she said.
"I now get my makeup online and I can return those containers which are then recycled for another use."
Council hosts workshops for beeswax wraps as an alternative to cling wrap.
"It's great because the wraps mold around the bowl and keeps foods nice and safe," Ms Kent said.
"Our April session has already booked out but we will hold another workshop for Plastic Free July."
Mr Lonsdale said he recycles all the water throughout his house as well as using a composting system.
"We live in Ladysmith so it's a semi-rural area and so the opportunities to be more sustainable are there because you have more space," he said.
"You can have food scraps, because if your compost is full you can give them to the chickens and then eat the egg.
"We have a garden at home with produce trees and even though we purchase from our store and markets, we grown our own garden and foods and we use products like beeswax wraps instead of cling wrap.
Transport
The Greens' Ray Goodlass said he chooses to ride his bike or take public transport as options of travel rather than drive.
"I sold my car by choice years ago and either cycle, walk or use public transport instead," he said.
Ms Kent said cutting out driving might not be possible for some but people should find ways where they can reduce their usage.
"Finding ways to reduce the amount of car travel rather than doing lots of little trips or whether people can replace all or some trips with active travel, which is also a great way to get fit," she said.
Food
The Red Pomegranate is a little gem tucked away in the Neslo Arcade and offers a variety of fair trade and sustainable products.
Peter Lonsdale and his wife Karolina opened the shop 13 years ago and work with a range of companies that show innovation through the way they display their products.
"For example, our chocolate bars are packaged in all recyclable cardboard and the plastic wrapping the chocolate inside are plant based which are 100 per cent compostable," Mr Lonsdale said.
"The product itself is completely fair trade and certified organic and we have that throughout the shop and have since we opened.
"We also offer products in bulk and people can fill up their containers of food and also shampoos instead of using more plastic."
All produce from Mates Gully restaurant is sourced daily from the Mates Gully Farm, which hosts a stall every Saturday for people to purchase organic produce.
From the farm to the plate, hens produce Mate Gully's eggs, sheep supply the meat and the farm processes the seasonal fruit.
The Source Bulk Foods is coming to Wagga mid-May and co-owner Jenny Storrier said she holds a "holistic" view that multiple facets need to come together to achieve wellness.
"People are becoming more conscious and aware of the impact to the environment through the amount of waste that we are having, so we feel very confident that our shop will appeal to a lot of locals," Mrs Storrier said.
The store will offer a "package-it-yourself" concept, which enables locals to scoop produce into brown paper bags, containers brought from home or purchasing glass jars in store.
Since mid-December Boost Marketplace have offered paper straws as an alternative to the plastic straws as well as encouraging customers to bring their own reusable cups and are offered a discount.
Boost Juice are now selling a reusable cup with straw for $25 and a reusable straw kit and will receive a discount on every drink purchased using the cup.
Similarly, cafes across Wagga offer reusable cups to purchase and discounts on coffees for those that bring in their cups in store.
Trail Street Coffee Shop has branded keep cups available for purchase and according to the head chef Evan Garbutt, the cafe strongly discourages people using disposable cups when eating in.
Organic gardening
Ms Kent said growing your own veggie patch or herb garden can also cut down on packaging and save money as consumers will only use the amount that is needed.
"At this time of year we're seeing a little bit of rain and so it's the perfect time to start growing your own veggies or even simple things, like herbs," she said.
"Herbs are a good example as often in shops you buy more than what you need and they come in heaps of plastic."