According to Flight Free UK, flying is the fastest growing cause of climate change. If aviation were a country, it would be the 7th worst polluter globally. So pledge to be flight free this year. When you need to drive, car-share with DriveNow or Zipcar.
If cutting meat out altogether feels unrealistic, try living by the ethos that ‘meat is a treat’. Make other dietary swaps such as changing to an oat milk like Oatly.
Cut your energy usage’s footprint by turning off appliances on standby and ditching the tumble dryer, and try a green energy provider. Good ones include Bulb, GoodEnergy, Octopus, Ecotricity and Tonic Energy.
Plastic waste is a hot topic at the moment, and for good reason. Do your part in cutting out unnecessary packaging waste by carrying a refillable Jerry Bottle or KeepCup, refusing plastic carrier bags, using your local milkman, and bringing a packed lunch to work.
The latest National Travel Survey states that around 20% of journeys under 1 mile were taken by car. Ditch the polluting engine and walk or cycle if the journey is short. If you don’t have your own bike, try a Lime or Uber Bike.
Food waste isn’t only a moral problem (as some have surplus, others go hungry), but an environmental one too. Wasting food also wastes the energy used in its production. So challenge yourself never to throw food in the bin, by repurposing leftovers and composting the rest. Support organisations like City Harvest, who are putting surplus food to good use.
Check where you food is coming from, and avoid air-freighted, exotic perishable foods. Use a grocery supplier like Farmdrop to help you buy local, seasonal produce, or grow your own herbs and salad in window boxes.
Be prepared to ask yourself the hard questions – are you actively fuelling eco-toxic industries?
A backlash is brewing against cheap, disposable clothing. Jump on board – swap clothes with friends, go vintage, browse charity shops or use Depop or eBay.
Making lifestyle changes can be hard; it can feel like an insignificant drop in a very large bucket. But consider the impact it would have if everyone reading this list of tips were to embrace them together – you’d start to make a difference.