I know you’re keen to get going so I thought I’d help you out by putting together a list of quick-fire eco-friendly tips.

 

Reduce waste:

  • Follow the 5 R’s (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot)
  • Use beeswax wraps instead of cling film
  • Take your own coffee cup and cutlery when out and about
  • Switch to reusable sanitary protection 
  • Ditch all unecessary packaging
  • Only buy what you need
  • Plan meals ahead of time to reduce food waste
  • Ditch disposable razors, instead grab a safety razor
  • Refuse all single use plastics
  • Use bar soap instead of shower gel

 

Save water:

  • Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than stocking up on plastic bottles
  • Turn off the tap when not in use
  • Carry a water bottle around with you
  • Only fill the kettle with the amount you need
  • Take shorter showers
  • Water the garden with rain water collected in a butt 

 

Laundry:

  • Only run the machine with a full load
  • Ditch the fabric softener
  • Wash at a lower temperature
  • Only wash clothes that are dirty
  • Air-dry clothes rather than running a tumble drier
  • Give ironing a miss
  • Avoid purchasing dry-clean only garments

 

Energy:

  • Turn lights off when leaving a room
  • Put lids on pans when cooking – no lid? Use a plate!
  • Cook more than 1 meal at a time
  • Match the pan size to your hob size
  • Allow food to cool before putting it in the fridge
  • Use energy efficient light bulbs
  • Invest in rechargeable batteries 
  • Turn off all appliances, don’t leave anything on standby
  • Nudge the thermostat down 1°c
  • Look into green energy suppliers 

 

Home:

  • Look for pre-loved items for your home instead of buying new
  • Open windows and let in fresh air rather than using a can of air freshener
  • Find eco friendly cleaning products 
  • Check the insulation in your home
  • When decorating use water based paints with natural pigments
  • Use FSC certified wood

 

Garden:

  • Build or buy a bird box/house and bath
  • Plant wild flowers to attract butterflies and bees
  • Build or buy an insect hotel
  • Avoid pesticides and synthetic fertilisers
  • Have gaps in your boundary fence for hedgehogs to pass through
  • Invest in a water butt
  • Get a compost bin (most councils will provide these either for free or heavily subsidised)

 

Transport:

  • Leave the car at home! Walk or cycle as often as possible
  • Jump on public transport for longer journeys
  • Shop local instead of heading out to a supermarket
  • Buy locally produced items
  • Drive at a lower speed – a journey may take a minute or two longer but you’ll save loads of fuel 
  • Get your car serviced regularly to keep it running smoothly
  • Make sure your tyres are properly inflated
  • Check to see if there is a car share scheme you could join

 

Waterways and drainage:

  • Other than toilet paper, never flush anything you haven’t swallowed first!
  • Avoid products with microbeads
  • Never pour cooking fat/oil down the drain
  • Avoid using wipes and definitely don’t ever flush them
  • Switch from your regular sunscreen to a natural one – some coastal resorts have started banning commercial sunscreens in order to protect nearby coral
  • The oceans are being over-fished so check before you buy a particular species
  • Join a clean up group to get litter out of our rivers, lakes and oceans

 

Have I missed anything? Let me know!