March 18th is Global Recycling Day and to celebrate, here are 9 ways to make your life more eco-friendly.
If you think you're ready to take the plunge and go green, we're here for it!
Every little helps, as the saying goes, therefore it's important that we all make changes in our lifestyles to help protect the environment, cut down on waste, and improve our health.
It can seem overwhelming if you're just starting out but trust us; there's nothing more rewarding than realising small and consistent shifts in your behaviour can make a HUGE difference when it comes to the future of our planet.
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If you need some help and encouragement, here are 9 ways to make your life more eco-friendly.
9 ways to make your life more eco-friendly
- Reduce the number of single-use plastics in your house: You could try using products that have a refill option, or going back to basics and using soda crystals and vinegar to make household cleaning products.
- Use eco-products where affordable: Eco brands are far more friendly to the environment and are less toxic for our health. Yes they are more expensive, but they are more than worth the investment when you can afford them.
- Reduce the amount of product you use: Just a squirt is enough! This goes for washing-up liquid, laundry detergent, and cleaners. Using less will save you money and reduce your carbon and plastic footprints.
- Use laundry liquid instead of laundry powder: There are fillers in laundry powders that can cause clogging in the treatment process and prevent the wastewater from being treated properly. These fillers increase the sludge burden at larger treatment plants where it is separated, transported, and sometimes heat or chemically treated. Using laundry liquid helps to reduce these energy intensive-processes.
- Stomp out cling film and reduce tin foil: Cling film is non-recyclable and as for tin foil, aluminium requires a huge amount of energy to produce, including mining for bauxite ore. It also has some negative health impacts. Why not just use a plate or bowl to cover food, and eco-friendly products where necessary.
- Cut out plastic bags: Stop with the single-use plastics and invest in a reusable bag for life.
- Bring your own bags to the supermarket: Especially for fruits and vegetables so you can avoid bringing home lots of little plastic bags.
- Compost your food waste: Place your raw fruit and veg waste along with grass cuttings into a compost bin and then use this to feed your flowers or plants months later.
- Grow your own: The best thing you can do at home to help the planet is to grow your own fruits and vegetables. It's better for the environment, it will cut down on the toxins in your diet, and it's a great and rewarding family activity.
