The global climate crisis is the challenge of our time. Reading bad headline after bad headline in the news can be daunting, it's easy to feel that the things that are impacting our planet are beyond our control.
We’re firm believers in the power of thinking globally, acting locally. If we all take care of what’s around us, the world changes. As makers of conscious and eco-friendly skincare, our aim is to empower those who believe in doing right by our planet. We believe in humankind and that’s why we need you.
We need your help to help safeguard our future. By making small tweaks to your everyday life, we can considerably change the future environment. To help make things a little easier, we've pulled together a list of 50 small changes which we can all bring into our lives.
And if 50 sounds like too many to bite off in one go, why not pick five of the following challenges each week. Together we can create a more sustainable world, one small change at a time.
Home
1.Do the dishes! Run your dishwasher less, get a basin for the sink, and handwash dishes once a day. When using the dishwasher, don’t pre-rinse the dishes!
2. Take showers instead of baths. Invest in a water-saving showerhead which uses no more than two gallons per minute, and don’t spend all day in there!
3. Don’t run the tap unnecessarily, especially when brushing your teeth or washing your face or hair.
4. Turn down the temperature, cooler showers are actually better for your skin than piping hot ones, as well as saving energy and preventing carbon pollution.
5. Recycle properly. Wash out containers, let them dry and really focus on reducing landfill waste.
6. Compost. A really simple way to reduce landfill waste is to compost food waste and literally put it back into the earth.
7. Cooldown: Wash clothes at a lower temperature.
8. Let it dry: Take advantage of good weather, when we have it, and hang clothes out to dry, rather than use the tumble drier.
9. Return metal hangers to the dry cleaners, don’t just throw them out.
10. Layer up! Don’t automatically pop the heat on if you’re a little cold, wear a jumper or cardigan.
11. Turn off the lights and electrical appliances as you go along.
12. Use LED and energy-efficient lightbulbs.
13. Set timers for lights and turn everything else off while you’re on holiday or out for the day.
14. Support bird reproduction by putting up bird feeders, houses, and baths.
15. Avoid herbicides and pull up weeds.
16. Plant wildflower patches and/or window boxes to provide critical habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects, and wildlife.
17. Use only organic fertilizers, if required.
18. Use bark mulch to conserve water in your garden.
19. Go potty about plants! Return plastic plant pots to your local plant shop or garden center, after you’ve re-potted them.
20. Working from home cuts down on traveling and emissions. Video meetings are more commonplace now and cut down on overseas travel, therefore reducing carbon footprints.
21. Only print or copy what is necessary and use both sides of the paper.
22. Go online: cancel paper bank statements and bills.
23. As many people are working from home, they’re using less paper and packaging, but ensure everything is recycled. Shredding is great for confidential information, as well as providing padding for packaging and small animals.
24. When replacing electrical items, search for energy-efficient appliances.
Diet & Lifestyle
25. Meat-free Mondays and Vegan Fridays: We all know we should eat less meat but the benefits of a vegan diet are not just health-based, it reduces methane and nitrous oxide production, as well as greenhouse gases and supports marine eco-systems. Even reducing consumption two to three days a week can have a positive impact.
26. Eat seasonably: eat locally sourced vegetables that are in season rather than imported vegetables that come with thousands of air miles and huge carbon footprints.
27. Reduce all plastics. Use glass containers for leftovers or bamboo lunch boxes, but make sure you use any plastic containers that you have, over and over again.
28. If you use plastic bottles recycle them or use your own refillable water bottle.
29. Use a keep cup for takeaway tea and coffee, or ensure the packaging is compostable or recyclable.
30. Use washable glassware, cups, and dishes at home or in the office.
31. Pick it up: if you see litter, safely pick it up and dispose of it.
32. Pass it on: donate unwanted items to charity shops, or local organisations.
Sustainable traveling
33. Ideally, we’d all be driving electric cars or hybrids, but in the meantime ensure your car is serviced regularly and drive carefully to lower emissions.
34. Ensure your tires are properly inflated to save fuel.
35. Walk or cycle more.
36. Carpool, especially for long journeys.
37. Leave no trace. Wherever you go, ensure there’s no sign that you’ve been there. Whether it’s a picnic in the park or a stroll on the beach.
38. Staycation: Discover your surrounding and unearth hidden gems. Use cruise control on your car for long journeys and bring the bikes for rides through the previously unexplored countryside.
Buy consciously
39. Start small, be aware of the products you’re using. When it comes to skincare and beauty, what’s important to you? Is the packaging recycled and is it recyclable?
40. Think about what you’re buying and the brand or company’s environmental impact or contributions, whether that’s replanting trees are membership of 1% for the Planet.
41. Personalize gift wrap with old newspapers or magazines.
42. Shop local: support local suppliers and designers. They make great gifts and are often unique. Some people swear that honey from local bees helps their allergies.
43. Bag it up! Shop loose fruit, veg, and produce, using your own mesh bags rather than plastic or even paper ones in the store.
44. Make better habits, ensure you always have a shopping bag with you so you don’t require another plastic or paper one.
45. Slow down your fashion: Forget fast fashion for a while, set yourself a challenge to go without new clothes for one month, then make it six! Swap clothes with friends and scour vintage and charity shops. Recycle or upcycle older clothes in your wardrobe too. As well as encouraging sustainable practices and ethical working conditions, slow fashion will save you money in the long run.
Education is key
46. Join a conservation organisation to gain more information, stay abreast of what’s happening, and support financially if possible.
47. Pay it forward: encourage family and friends to adopt small changes into their daily lives.
48. Campaign for better waste management in your area, contact local councils, and suggest more wildlife pollinators, compost heaps, recycling, etc.
49. Volunteer your time for street clean-ups or beach clean-ups.
50. Practice what you preach and teach children to respect the environment and to put into practice daily habits from an early age.
That's a wrap! Let us know how you get on and share your small changes with the hashtag #50smallchanges and we'll send you a virtual high-five!
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