1. Turn Things Off
Energy conservation is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. Leaving your electricals on standby needlessly uses up energy – hit the off switch and you could see huge improvements!
2. Eat Less Meat
Being careful with what you’re consuming is at the heart of being more eco-friendly, and cutting down on the amount of meat you eat can have a huge impact. Not having red meat – even if it’s just for two or three days a week – can have quite a significant impact on reducing your carbon footprint.
3. Don’t Waste Food
This isn’t just a huge waste of food and money, it adds to the amount of CO2 being created in landfills. Try composting!
4. Compost
If you have let your food go that little bit too far past its ‘best by’ then you need to be sure to compost it rather than putting it in the bin. Not only will this help create a natural fertiliser and keep your garden green, it’ll also reduce the amount of waste going to landfill!!!
5. Recycle Everything
Chances are that if you’re thinking about taking on a more eco-friendly lifestyle then you’ll already be recycling. But could you improve your recycling-ability (now a word)? You can recycle almost everything, from batteries to paper to cars. Before you throw it away, take a minute to find out if you could recycle it instead!
From clothes to food, the closer to home these products are made and bought, the less carbon is created with their transportation. Not only that, but you’ll be supporting the local economy which means that in time you’ll likely have even more local items to choose from.
7. Say NO to Plastic Straws
Disposable plastic straws are not recyclable, so 500 million of them per day often end up in landfills or our oceans. It’s one of the top 10 marine debris items contributing to our massive plastic pollution problem and we have to get a hold on it. The simplest solution? When you order a water, cocktail or iced coffee- say no to the straw. However, if your drinking experience is made more pleasurable through straws, you can always purchase their reusable counterparts!
Fast fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world with Americans throwing out 13 million TONS per year! In our throw-away culture, shopping second-hand is a great way to reuse and reduce textile waste that otherwise ends up in landfill. If something doesn’t fit or look quite right, see how you can alter it to give it new life.
9. Buy A Reusable Water Bottle
If you forget your bags, opt for paper instead so at least they can be recycled. It’s an effortless yet responsible choice to make for something you do so frequently!
10. Donate or Volunteer Your Time To Earth Friendly Organizations
Last but definitely not least, get out and support the non-profit organizations that do good for the Earth! It’s inspiring to see all the non-profits paving the way towards a better future and it’s a great way to get involved!
