Every day we make choices in our lives that impact the environment and the climate. Here are five simple ways to be kinder to the planet and live more sustainably.

Photo: Casey Horner, Unsplash

1. Reduce food waste

 
Cutting down on food waste reduces the amount of food in landfills, which is important because landfills are one of the worst sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing waste is bound to save you money too. An average family of four can save around £60/month by reducing their food waste.

Here are some simple actions you can take:

• Plan recipes for the week and buy just what you need.
• Create meals from leftovers, or freeze them to enjoy another day.
• Using a food bin is another easy way to reduce the number of scraps that go to landfill too; these will often be delivered free of charge by your council. To check for your local area follow this link.
• Donate food you cannot eat to a local food bank, to help those in need.

How to Stop Food Waste

2. Incorporate more plant-based meals

Photo by Jane Doan on Pexels

 
A plant-based diet can have a significant positive impact on the environment as both the dairy and meat industry are known pollutants. Vegan and vegetarian diets are associated with the greatest reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions, so why not get involved in ‘meat-free Monday’ or challenge yourself to having at least one plant-based meal per day.

How to go Vegan

3. Save water

 
Cast your minds back to Geography lessons at school and you will remember that conserving water saves energy. This is because energy is needed to filter, heat and pump water to your home, and therefore reducing the amount of water used also reduces your carbon footprint. The time has come to cut down on time spent singing in the shower and embrace other methods of saving water:

• Use a bowl in the sink when washing fruit, veggies and dishes. Then use the waste water to water your plants.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving,

• Fill a jug of water and store in the fridge if you are someone who likes to drink really cold water, as this saves you having to run the tap for a long time waiting for it get to the right temperature.
• Wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine and dishwasher; and don’t be afraid to use a dishwasher, as studies reveal it is more cost-effective to run a full dishwasher than to wash dishes by hand!

13 best ways to save water – Friends of the Earth

4. Cut down on the single use items

• Wipe spills with a cloth rather than paper towels or kitchen roll.
• Invest in a sturdy Tupperware to store your leftovers in the fridge so you don’t have to rely so much on cling film and tin foil.
• Take a KeepCup or reusable cup when going out as you never know when you will need a caffeine pick-me-up.

Easy Ways to Save the World

5. Invest in a sustainable wardrobe

Photo by Rachel Claire on Pexels

 
The fashion industry is currently responsible for more annual carbon emissions than all international flights and shipping combined! Investing in a capsule wardrobe, where most items match with one another, is a great way to cut down on clothes ending up in landfill. We also love borrowing from friends, or even hiring clothes online for a special occasion.

Easy Ways to Create a Capsule Wardrobe

Find out more:

50 simple ways to make your life greener – The Guardian

3 Actions to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint