Reduce...
consumption by only using or buying what is necessary. By taking care of what you already have you will need to replace items less often, or plan your food shop ahead of time by making a list of essentials.
Recycle
Find out what items you can recycle via your local council. You could also utilise Terracycle, a company that facilitates collection of items you cannot recycle at home, such as crisp packets, chocolate wrappers and batteries. Why not go one step further and set up your own collection point for an item without one in your area?
Reuse
Invest in a reusable bottles, coffee cups and bags, and be creative with how you can reuse other objects around the house. Freeze leftover food to reuse as a meal later.
Upcycle!
Buy clothes from second hand shops or try upcycling – Textiles West have some great ideas! If you must throw away, donate to charity shops or collection bins.
Limit your plastic use
Try alternatives such as bamboo cutlery and toothbrushes or metal straws. You could also learn how to make your own products and buy fresh food from local farmer’s markets to lessen packaging and the environmental impact of transportation.
Be aware of what you’re purchasing
A lot of products now display sustainability labels and you could avoid ingredients such as palm oil. Research eco-friendly companies and keep a list for shopping trips—Lush is a great high street example!
Install an app such as Too Good To Go
This revolutionary movement enables consumers to buy fresh food that would otherwise go to waste at the end of the day from shops and restaurants throughout Europe. So far app users have saved over 81,000 tonnes in CO2 emissions by reducing food wastage.