How green is your family?

As a landmark report by UN scientists lays bare the realities of climate change, Hannah Britt finds out how everyone – big and small – can play their part in cutting waste and saving the planet

The amount of waste produced by UK households is falling, according to reports, but the average family still throws away 13.6kg of plastic bottles a year and food worth £1.36 a day – that’s almost £500 a year in the bin.

And this all adds up to bad news for the environment.

So what can be done? Thankfully it’s easier than you think to make a difference.

“Being green is such a broad idea that often people get overwhelmed and only think about the big changes,” says Rory Capper, sustainability expert at recycling company Paper Round.

“But often the small things can be just as important. Wasting less food, buying second-hand items and using public transport all have a positive environmental impact – and save you money too.”

It’s a win-win. So where should you begin?

MEAT-FREE MONDAYS

Eating less meat lowers your carbon footprint. So have a go.

“Start meat-free Mondays,” says Rory. Try a tasty three-bean chilli or aubergine curry.

“As time goes on, add another day and so on, and before you know it your actions will add up to a big impact.”

ECO DRIVING

Be aware of how you drive and take steps to improve it, says Thomas Townsend, spokesman for Vauxhall Corsa and Mokka.

“Be a green driver by cutting out sharp braking and acceleration, anticipating changes in traffic flow and switching your engine off if you’re stuck in heavy standstill traffic.”

Electric-powered cars or EVs are a big step towards reducing emissions too.

GREEN CLEANING

Chemicals in cleaning products spell bad news for the environment. And the answer lies in your kitchen.

“Baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice are just some of the natural ingredients that can neutralise odours, kill bacteria and deep clean,” says Manu Sareen from Green Facilities (greenfacilities.co.uk).

“Use cold water instead of hot to reduce emissions.”

BETTER BEAUTY

Switch from liquid shampoo and conditioner to solid bars.

“Not only are they better for the environment because they don’t use plastic packaging, they are also highly concentrated so you don’t need as much each time, so they work out cheaper,” says Tony Maleedy, trichologist and founder of EarthKind (iamearthkind.com).

“Try to buy products that are made in the country you live in to reduce the negative environmental impact of long-distance transportation.”

SHOP CLEVER

“Almost 900,000 tons of plastic packaging is sold by UK supermarkets each year,” says Daphna Nissenbaum, co-founder of biodegradable packaging company TIPA. “Plastic films around cucumbers, bread and ready meals more often than not go unrecycled.”

Buy loose fruit and veg, sign up for a veg box, or visit a no-waste store, taking containers with you to fill up with rice, pasta and more.

RENT KIDS CLOTHES

“With children growing and changing so rapidly they get limited use out of their things, particularly clothing,” says Charlotte Morley at

The Little Loop.

Yet the best thing we can do to improve the environmental impact of clothing is to prolong its use. Enter thelittleloop.com, the UK’s first shared wardrobe for kids.

“Parents choose the items they need, and then send them back when they’re done to swap them for a whole new set.” From £15 a mo month.

USE YOUR LEFTOVERS

The UK wastes around 4.5 million tons of food each year, and when this food ends up in landfill, it rots, releasing toxic gases such as methane into the atmosphere which warms the earth.

“Meal planning and using leftovers drastically reduces how much food you throw away,” says Lisa Gibson from The Low Waste Weekly (thelowwaste weekly.com).

“Using vegetable scraps to make stock, and eating last night’s dinner for lunch means you’ll make your money go further and avoid adding to landfill.”

In the UK we waste around 4.5 million tons of food and it ends up in landfill

ON-THE-GO KNOW-HOW

“One of the easiest switches as a family is using reusables rather than single-use plastic for lunches on the go,” says Alina Anghel, founder of sustainable marketplace ecoeri.com.

“Start with reusable water bottles and lunch boxes, then try replacing cling film with beeswax wrap.

“Try washable cloth napkins instead of disposable and swap single-use straws for washable bamboo or stainless steel.

“There are many great alternatives out there now at affordable prices.”