Eco-Friendly

Caring about the planet and living a more sustainable lifestyle is what a lot of people are now trying to achieve. In turn, businesses have had to follow suit and change how they operate to meet consumer expectations. For instance, switching from single-use plastic food containers to paper takeaway salad boxes can make a massive difference. This change is relatively small and won’t negatively impact the business. However, it will have a brilliant effect on the environment. If you want to become more eco-friendly but aren’t sure how to keep reading, keep reading and discover how easy it can be!

Eat Sustainable And Local Food

Food is a big part of all our lives, but where it comes from has a significant effect on the planet. Did you know that the food you consume contributes to your carbon footprint? Reducing this is essential if you want to become more eco-friendly, so try shopping local and seasonally. This way, you’re not spending money on food brought halfway across the world, only to end up uneaten at the back of your fridge. Visit local grocers and butchers to ensure that your food has come from sustainable practices and is farmed locally. You’ll probably see a massive difference in the quality too as it’s not been mass-produced like the food in the supermarkets. Eating more plant-based meals is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint, but you also want to ensure you’re eating vegetables in season. Otherwise, you’re still contributing to the increase in your carbon footprint. If you don’t fancy going veggie, try going for things like eggs, chicken, and pork as they have a way lower carbon footprint and impact on the environment.  

Be Energy Conscious

Another top tip when trying to be eco-friendly is to watch your energy consumption. Start by ensuring that your home is draught-proof, as this will allow all the heat you generate to stay in rather than leak out. Switch up your lightbulbs to LED or energy-saving ones, and try not always to leave them on. The same for your heating, only use it when you really need it and try not to have it up too high. Not only will you be helping the planet, but you’ll also save a fair bit of money on your bills!

Change Up How You Travel

Traveling is essential in our daily lives, but how we do it can play a massive role in our carbon footprint. Try changing how you travel if you want to live more sustainably. For instance, if you drive everywhere, why not get the bus or train now and then or try walking shorter journeys? Although a 3-minute car ride makes it much more convenient to pop to the shop, a 10-minute walk instead isn’t that bad. When it comes to your holidays, try not to fly every time. Instead have staycations or choose places that have alternate means of getting there. You can have just as good a time on a holiday with a smaller carbon footprint than a long-haul flight!

Shop Smarter

Regarding food shopping, we need to be more thoughtful about how we do it. Try buying produce that you will use immediately with a shorter shelf life, as it will help stop it from ending up in the landfill. Similarly, if you’re buying something you’re not going to use right away, go for a more extended use-by date so you can ensure you have plenty of time to use it. When you go to the supermarket, try going for food in recyclable packaging to drive your carbon footprint down even further. It’s also a good idea to shop occasionally to help reduce food waste. People tend to do large shops and then don’t eat everything, with most of it going into the bin. However, buying what you need when you need it can help cut down on your daily food waste.  

Use Kinder Cleaning Products

Cleaning products are usually very harsh chemicals that have an awful effect on the environment, especially when put down the drain. The toxins leak from the water into the ground and impact the ecosystem. Try changing your regular cleaning products to ones that aren’t harmful, like lemon juice, white vinegar, and bicarbonate soda. You could even use diluted vodka! Many people like to use a mix of castile soap and water when cleaning as it can be infused with natural essential oils to make it smell excellent and clean well. These things can do just as well as strong chemicals, but they don’t harm you or the environment.  

Bee-Friendly Flowers

Bees are essential for the health of the planet, so try to encourage them into your garden. Honeybees, in particular, will only be drawn to one type of flower each time they visit your garden, so you should plant lots of the same flower in one area. Lavender, foxgloves, and marjoram are gorgeous flowers that can help bring more bees to your garden and help keep the earth pollinated and the ecosystem well-balanced. Without bees, food crops would die out, so it’s crucial that we help out the bees by creating their own little space in our gardens.

Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to be difficult, and your changes don’t have to have a massive impact on your life. Instead, the more minor changes can have the most significant effect. By simply turning your thermostat down, you can save energy and help reduce the burning of fossil fuels. Try switching up your dinners, too. Maybe one day a week you only eat vegetarian or vegan. And then when you do eat meat and dairy, try to source it locally. These changes will positively impact your life and help you leave the world better.