More and more people are becoming aware of the impact that they have on the environment, so it’s only natural that they’re looking for ways to reduce it. Whether we like it or not, the way that we live in these modern times does affect the planet and it would be impossible to live without doing so. Unless you lived in the middle of the woods without any electricity or running water, and only grew and ate your own food, it’s pretty hard not to have some negative impact. But there are changes you can make. Even something as small as switching from non-recyclable cups to recyclable plastic drink cups can make a difference. So, keep reading and find out 4 ways that you’re impacting the environment on a daily basis and what you can do about it!
- Takeaway Coffee Cups
We all love a coffee in the morning but using takeaway cups from your favourite café everyday is having a devasting affect on the earth. Apparently, 7 million takeaway cups are used each year in the UK, with all of them ending up in landfills. The problem is that they take about 30 years to decompose completely, causing them to just pile up more and more. Some coffee shops are taking a more sustainable approach and using biodegradable cups instead or allowing you to bring them back to them to be recycled. A good way to combat the use of them completely is to bring your own reusable coffee cup instead. Sometimes you can even get some money off your coffee too, so it’s a win-win situation for you.
- Commuting
A lot of people are still working remotely, but a lot more people have headed back into the office. With this, we’ve seen a rise in carbon emissions as people have got back behind the wheel and started commuting again. While it’s totally necessary for some people to drive to work, there are some people who could maybe make a few changes to the way they travel. Instead of taking their car 5 days a week, why not use public transport for at least 2 of them. This could really help you to lower your carbon footprint and reduce the number of cars on the road. You could also look to start a car pool system at your office, so you can travel with multiple different colleagues in one car. It could also save you a bit of money when you travel like this too, so it’s beneficial to both the planet and your wallet.
- Wasting Food
While it can feel impossible to not have any food waste, people in general definitely have too much of it. It’s estimated that 2.5 billion tonnes of food are wasted each and every year across the globe, which leads to a huge amount of methane gases being release while it rots in a landfill. It’s been suggested that around 6%-8% of all greenhouse gases caused by people could be eliminated if we lowered our food wastage on a daily basis. The problem with wastage is also that the demand for more food puts pressure on the planet. It takes 100 buckets of water to make just one single loaf of bread, and 54 buckets of water to grow one chicken for just one breast. As you can see, wasting food is then causing us to use more water and energy to replace what was wasted. So, try your best to shop smart and lower your food wastage, and you’ll be able to really help the environment.
- Too Much Energy Consumption
Energy consumption is necessary in every aspect of our lives. From using a computer at work to having your fridge on, we all need to use some form of energy to live. It’s been said that around 30% of all energy purchased in the UK is actually wasted, showing you just how much we’re overconsuming it. With governments working towards making countries at net zero, it’s not going to come without it’s challenges. Something as simple as switching plugs off when appliances aren’t in use can make a huge difference. Just because the appliance is off, doesn’t mean electricity isn’t going to the plug if it’s still switched on. So, make sure you switch things off when they aren’t in use and unplug things from the wall. You’ll notice a big difference in your energy bill when you do, which will also help you lower your outgoings each month.
It can be hard to live a completely eco-friendly lifestyle in this day and age, but there are things you can do to get part of the way there. Lowering food and energy wastage, changing how you commute, and using reusable coffee cups can all make a huge difference. So, if you really want to change the way you impact the environment on a daily basis, be sure to assess these things and see if there are any changes you could make. You’ll be surprised at how easy they are to implement!
