Simple ways to be more Eco-Friendly, Reduce your carbon footprint

Did you know that there are many different ways which you could be more sustainable and reduce your carbon footprint? From buying less, walking or cycling more to upcycling and reusing fashion. Creating an Eco-Friendly greener lifestyle is something we should all be striving towards, if not for ourselves then for future generations.

Evidence shows that due to global activity, temperates are rising at an alarming rate which is not sustainable. There are lots of Simple ways to be more Eco-Friendly and reduce our carbon footprint, as well as saving ourselves money in the process.

So what can we do to make a difference?

…THESE WILL ALSO SAVE YOU MONEY

USE LESS WATER

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth! There is no need to keep the tap running and you could end up to wasting as much waster as 10L Per minute!
Spend less time in the shower. Even if it is 1-2 minutes shorter each time, the amount of water you could save is huge. Keep showering times down to 2-3 minutes maximum.
Use the 1/2 Flush on the toilet
Have a water butt in your garden to collect the rainwater. – The plants will love it!
Wait until your laundry is full before you do the washing.
Check for any leaks around your home and garden
Swap to a water efficient showerhead

USE LESS ENERGY

Not everyone has the money laying around to buy a hybrid car or to have solar pannels in their home. However, there are still small changes which can be made to save energy with these simple steps;

Purchase energy efficient appliances such as washing machines, fridges and dishwashers. They may be more expensive to buy initially but choosing an appliance with a 5 star energy rating will give you lower energy bills.
Swap your lightbulbs to LED Lights. They chew up less energy
Turn off the lights if you dont need them on and are not in the room
Do not leave your TV on standby
Unplug chargers such as phone chargers and laptop chargers when you’re not using them. Did you know that they still chew up the power, even if there is nothing attached.
Walk or ride your bike for short trips. The fresh air will also do you the world of good.
Buy local products. It takes energy to transport food and other products across the country. Buying local not only supports your local economy but it also helps use less energy.
Switch to solar

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Also known as the three R’s. You can reduce the amount that you buy, especially when it comes to fashion! From reusable mentral cups to pantry items, look for more sustainable products which you can swap to.

DID YOU KNOW THAT AUSTRALIANS DISCARD 6 TONNES OF CLOTHING EVERY 10 MINUTES?

Recently I was browsing through an Op Shop when I came across a poster ‘‘Moving the Needle”. I went home and did a little bit of reseach and was horrified on the amount of clothing that ends up in landfill each year! Moving the needle is working towards a long term change of how we purchase and dispose of fashion!

Reducing your waste starts with buying less! It’s about living a minimal lifestyle – and cutting out on the needless fashion buys.

And you thought that beef was bad in terms or water consumption to produce? Well so is the fast fashion industry, especially cotton. It can take 10,000 litres of water to produce just 1kg of cotton. And lets not forget to mention that cotton is often produced in third world countries which usually do not have the resources to dispose of their toxic, chemical waste products which get pumped into waterways and end up in rivers.

DONT WEAR IT ANYMORE?

Sell it on eBay
Donate it to Charity
Pass it on
Swap it with a friend
Upcycle it

And do you even need it anyway? – Try only buying new items of clothing with the old ones need replacing.

GROW YOUR OWN FOOD

Not only is it satisfying, healthier for you, fresher more diverse and better for the environment, growing your own food is like printing money! Food is something that we all need so by spending a small amount on seeds you can produce an abundance of fresh produce. Often food has to travel for miles before it reaches us, using up precious resources and causing pollution. Here are 8 Kitchen Scraps You Can Regrow.

While it may not be possible for everyone to do this, there are lots of fun and creative ways that you can grow your own food. Even with limited space, why not try a verticle garden, made out of an upcycled pallett.

And if you are not able to grow your own food at all, then look for local producers or shop from farmers markets. Locally produced food has less impact on the environment and is also fresher and healtheir for you.

MY FAVOURITE ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS

Here are my top 5 Eco-friendly products that I cant live without. These are products which I love and want to share with you are they have made my Zero Waste Journey a lot more easier with these items.

Reusable produce bags – They may have banned the plastic bag, but what good does that do when people are still putting one apple in a plastic produce bag? These reusable produce bags are a lifesaver, they are lightweight and come in a pack of five and you can use them instead of plastic bags when fruit, vegie and bulk-food shopping.

A Mini Composting Bin – I LOVE My composting bin! What I love even more about my composting bin is that we very rarely have to put our rubbish bin out for collection! What with the rabbits, chickens and ducks, there really is no waste. Its a great investment as it turns your scraps into nutrient-rich soil!

Wire Pegs – In the end i got so sick of the plastic ones breaking (the heat does that to them in australia) and the wooden pegs make a nasty mark on your clothing, so these wire pegs are a godsend!

Reusable wraps – You can wrap and seal your food or even bake with them! They replace baking paper, aluminium foil and cling wrap! They also last for years.

Reusable dish cloth – Not only are these super cute and funky looking, they can also be composted when they are no longer needed!

10 MINDFUL HABITS TO FOLLOW

It might seem like a tough challenge to start making changes and to change that habit of a lifetime but grabbing your reusable bag should be as natural as grabbing your phone or wallet before you leave the house. Here are some mindful habits to follow;

Carry your waterbottle with you at all times so youre not tempted to buy bottled water
Store your reusable bags in your car or handbag, if you have a habit of forgetting things
Purchase from eco-friendly and ethical brands
Support your local farmers and growers
Aim for over 10,000 steps a day – Walk rather than drive if it will take you under 20 mins
Choose packing free items such as shampoo bars, soaps and conditioners
Refill your glass jars from a wholesaler
Compost food scraps
Eat less meat
Turn the light off when your not in the room