So many blog posts like this one really helped me when I first started to become interested in sustainability, but as I’ve progressed and implemented more changes, I’ve struggled to find easy but effective tips that I haven’t already seen. I’m not saying that you’ll see 10 never-seen-before tips here today, but I do hope that there is at least one that you’ve never thought about, because one new change for the better can make the difference in our fragile world.
1. SKIPS THE FANCY-LOOKING REUSABLE COFFEE CUPS
If you’re not clumsy, nice-looking glass coffee cups might work for you. But, they can break so easily, that it’s just not worth it for most. Opt for a durable stainless steel or a recycled plastic cup and you should be good to go, even if you drop it every single day! Stainless steel ones also tend to keep your drinks hot (or cold) for a very long time!
2. UNPLUG YOUR DEVICES WHEN YOU'RE NOT USING THEM, ESPECIALLY OVERNIGHT
In the UK, it’s quite a convenience to have a switch on the plug socket to be able to turn off the device. Whilst that helps with energy use, having a device still plugged in despite the switch being off still requires some energy. So, when you’re done with the toaster, just take out the plug – you’ll see your energy bills go down a lot too!
3. TAKE COOLER SHOWERS
We’re all told to take shorter showers, but sometimes a warm shower is one of the hardest things to keep short because it’s just so nice! A cool shower might be tough, especially in the colder months. But, my main tip is to start this habit in the warmer months. An ice cold shower is NOT needed, but go for it if you want to! Cooler showers = less water AND energy!
4. SWAP YOUR SOAP BOTTLE FOR A BAR OF SOAP
Unlike shampoo and conditioner bars that don’t seem to work for many people, body soap bars are one thing that I know would work for most. There’s absolutely nothing revolutionary about a soap bar, but so many of us are used to the modern convenience of liquid soap from a bottle. However, bar soaps can last so much longer and when you’re through with using them, there’s nothing to throw away! So, once your soap bottle is empty, go buy a bar of soap to replace it – they’re super easy to find too!
5. CLEAR OUT YOUR EMAIL INBOXES
Email storage takes up so much power. So if you can dedicate a couple hours to go through your old, no longer needed emails, then you will be saving much more energy than you can imagine. A big bonus is that you'll be a lot less overwhelmed and much more satisfied every time you look at your inbox! Even if you delete 10 old ones a day, it will add up!!
6. STOP USING DRYER SHEETS!
Most are single-use, made of toxic chemicals, and aren't necessary. Many use them because they smell nice. But your clothes should smell nice if you just wash them properly! Also, people think they’re recyclable or made of natural materials. But actually many of the chemicals are linked to serious health problems. So, opt for reusable ones or don't use them at all!
7. DON’T RECYCLE EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE NOT SURE
This one needs a bit more of an explanation, but if you’re someone who is not very savvy about recycling, then often your best bet is unfortunately not to recycle it, at least for now. One of the main issues with recycling is contamination (mostly from food and other matter being mixed with recyclables). So, ALWAYS wash out your items before putting them in the recycling bin, and make sure there is no oil on them too (e.g. oil on pizza boxes!!).
Big tip: upcycle glass containers! Also, even if you do throw something in the bin, it’s best to wash it out anyways. Also many plastic items such as cling film and plastic bags can contaminate batches because most recycling plants, at the moment, aren’t able to recycle them. They get caught in the machines and are very disruptive to the system. So try to avoid these products in the first place, or just don’t put them in the recycling bin if you have them.
Also remember: Compostable plastics are NOT recyclable!! (Something I will be diving deeper into in a future post)
8. UNSUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL LISTS AND MAGAZINES YOU DON’T READ
If you’re like most people and you subscribed to an email list once and never read the emails since, but for some reason, you still receive them, then simply unsubscribe! It’s so simple (most emails can be unsubscribed from at the bottom of the email) and will make your inbox and your brain less cluttered. Also each email sent requires carbon emissions!
9. YOU DON’T NEED TO GO VEGAN, JUST MAKE SOME SWAPS
Back to the whole philosophy of one small habit change can make a huge difference. So many people think that because they love fish too much, they can’t change anything. HOWEVER, if you really love fish, then eat fish! If you can instead stop eating an animal product that you don’t love as much however, then that’s great and can really make a difference! You don’t have to go all the way to make a difference, and it's completely ok to have some slip-ups!
10. SIMPLY, JUST BUY LESS
The most simple but effective tip of all! The less you buy, the less you have and the less you contribute to over-consumption (something our world has unfortunately become so used to). If you see something you want to buy, try not to buy it straight away, especially if you’re buying online. Take time to think about it, investigate the product more and see if you actually need it. It’s completely ok to buy something just because you want it, but, in our modern world where we have all the choices we could ever imagine, try to choose things that actually contribute more positively to the world. The best thing we can do is to use what we already have and to get used to becoming more resourceful and innovative in a world full of conveniences.
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