Earth Day is approaching, and thanks to a growing number of eco-conscious local businesses, there’s always a good reason to try and live a more sustainable lifestyle. Here are (at least) seven ways to start.

1. Reduce your energy consumption

Ok, it might take you some courage to turn off the air-con. But in the meantime, how about dabbling in solar energy? Online retailer Greenpal Store sells water filter pitchers (from $45.50) and reusable plastic bottles ($8.60), but their star product is the Changers Solar Starter Kit ($250) that charges mobile phones and tablets using solar energy.

2. Eat more local veggies

Singapore is far from growing all the food it needs, but making a conscious effort to buy locally grown produce at least some of the time will go a long way. The Kranji Countryside Farmers’ Market happens every quarter and brings together shoppers and Kranji’s farmers. Pick up fruits, veggies, goat’s milk and other food grown and raised on the island. Outside that, there are tons of organic farmers in Singapore, including Quan Fa Organic Farm, which does free delivery for orders over $50, and Fireflies Health Farm which has a retail area on-site.

3. Or try growing your own

Nong by Edible Gardens is a pioneer of urban farming in Singapore and their online store has everything from self-watering pots (from $36) and chicken manure ($2.90) to gardening tool sets ($5.60) and planting mixes ($4.90). Super Farmers is another local online retailer of urban farming supplies like compost mix ($3.50 per pot), non-GMO seeds ($2) and starter kits ($12), all geared towards growing food in small spaces.

4. Recycle and upcycle everything

And we’re not just talking paper and plastics. Repurpose your clothes, or at least repair them instead of throwing them away. Get some ideas with upcycler and blogger Agatha Lee of Green Issues by Agy who does regular workshops. Can’t be bothered? Then there’s homegrown mobile app Carousell, which got a huge injection of funds late last year to expand throughout Asia. The easy-to-use app lets you sell the stuff you don’t have the heart to send to a landfill.

5. Skip fast fashion

Buying from eco-friendly labels doesn’t mean adopting an Earth Mother look. There are plenty of super chic ethical designers in Singapore. Saught does minimalist, striking rings, earrings and necklaces made using scrap metal and unexploded ordnance salvaged from Cambodian landmines. For clothes, there’s local eco-friendly line Zhai, which does garments and accessories made from bamboo fibers for both men and women.

6. Travel green

Using Airbnb as a general model, new local startup Ryde puts you in touch with people who are going the same way so you can catch a ride. For more on this cool new venture, go here. Or use this excuse to finally get a bike: local store Bamboobee stocks eco-friendly bamboo bicycles. What’s more, they come in a Build-It-Yourself (BIY) starter kit that consists of seven bamboos, making it easy to put this bicycle together from scratch. 

7. Learn about local green businesses

In writing this story, we stumbled upon all sorts of local enterprises with ethical, environmentally friendly missions. There are tons more out there. For a start, mark EarthFest (Sep 26) on your calendars. Held at the Marina Barrage, it will gather some 50 eco-friendly local businesses like Popaganda, VeganBurg and the Dorsal Effect for a mega sustainability festival, with live music, interactive kiosks and of course, no plastic bags or disposable plates.