5 steps to get you started towards contributing to a more sustainable planet.
You hear so many people talking about the subject of the impact of waste on our planet, in newspapers, magazines, online and in the media.
As consumers many of us are far more conscious of things we typically wouldn’t have considered years ago, such as single use plastic bags, wrapping and packaging, and coffee cups. Just a few years ago many of us wouldn’t have considered the impact of selecting a plastic bag for our apples at a supermarket would actually be having on the planet today.
Even in the last 24 months, so many businesses have reflected on their own footprint, not only through manufacturing and packaging but what they offer the conscious consumer.
Starting with some simple steps, every day will take you closer towards achieving your own contribution, making the changes stick for life whilst encouraging others to do the same.
Simple steps and tips to get you started:
- Take a few moments to evaluate your own consumer habits and reflect on the purchases that might be considered wasteful. Think about a typical day, at work, at home, what you buy and reflect where you could make simple changes. Your daily latte for example could easily be your first step by using a reusable cup rather than a disposable one.
- When buying fruit and vegetables, avoid using single use plastic bags by being prepared. Using a small shallow cardboard box will be an easy step, take your own or ask for one from the store. Wash the produce carefully when you get home.
- Buying loose seeds, flour, nuts, dried fruit, a lot of health food stores have loose items, often organic and more affordable than packaged items. Rather than filling the bags provided be prepared by taking some clean jars to fill instead.
- Preparing homemade food and making packed lunches will also save pre-packaged waste, transport fuel costs as well as saving you money too. Eating a healthy home prepared meal is always a welcome addition to any work or school bag.
- Recycle and reuse. Reusing glass jars from shop purchased items is a great way to get started building your own storage jar collection for your pantry. Glass jars can be used to refill items from the health food store to purchase loose seeds and nuts for example as well as using as a lunch container for salads, and yogurts.
