The green resolutions

On a mission to help the planet this year? Alex Lloyd reveals 20 easy ways you can be more eco-friendly

DOES

the future of our planet keep you up at night? You’re not alone. The Royal College of Psychologists has revealed three in five people in the UK say the climate emergency is affecting their mental health.

Dubbed eco-anxiety, sufferers feel overwhelming concern for how climate change will harm their livelihood and their family.

But we all have the power to make a difference. Not only this but making lifestyle changes to benefit the environment will also provide a reassuring sense of control.

“Taking what actions you can to improve things in the real world will give you a sense of empowerment,” said psychotherapist Noel McDermott (noelmcdermott.net).

So if you’ve made it your mission for 2022 to go green, here’s how.

1 Flush of success

Around 30 per cent of water delivered to homes is flushed away. But a 2019 survey by Thames Water found three-quarters of us are confused by dual-flush loos and press the wrong button for a short flush.

If you only have a single flush option, reduce the volume of water use by placing a filled 500ml plastic bottle inside the cistern or see if your water supplier offers free Save-a-Flush bags.

2 Turn off your engine

Exhaust fumes produce air pollution that affects health and contributes to climate change, and idling your engine can produce twice as many pollutants as a car in motion. Turn off your vehicle when stationary and don’t disable the stop-start function if you have one.

3 Lower your thermostat by 1C

Not only will adjusting the temperature save the average household £60 a year but it will reduce your carbon dioxide output by 310kg too, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

4 Reusable period products

Tampons and sanitary towels are filled with plastic that ends up in landfill or our water system.

Try greener, reusable options like menstrual cups, washable panty liners or period pants, which will save you money too.

5 Loose produce

Buying loose fruit and veg means you won’t buy more than you need and you’ll cut the wrapping that fills your bin. Lakeland sells reusable mesh bags you can take to the shops to hold your produce.

6 Water down the drain

Crumbs, cooking sauces and oil contribute to fatbergs in sewers, leading to flooding and water pollution. Dispose of scraps in a food recycling bin, invest in a sink strainer and collect old fat in a jar or tub.

7 Say no to plastic

Plastic is challenging to break down but glass and aluminium can be infinitely recycled into the same original item.

When buying a pre-packaged drink, opt for cans or glass bottles instead of plastic. Or, better still, carry a reusable water bottle around with you.

8 Go climatarian

Veganism isn’t always the most planet-friendly option because staples like avocado rack up air miles and farming them leads to deforestation and drought.

The climatarian diet centres on cutting your carbon footprint at mealtimes by favouring seasonal and locally grown food, avoiding pre-packaged produce, and cutting back on beef and lamb.

9 Litter pick daily

Every item of plastic removed from your beach, park or street is one less thing to endanger wildlife and pollute our environment.

Join the #2minute movement by doing a daily beach clean if you’re near one or go on a litter pick, which also encourages you to get outside in the fresh air.

Visit beachclean.net

10 Washable wipes

Disposable baby and face wipes do not biodegrade and clog waterways, while production of cotton wool is water and energy intensive. Switch to flannels or washable brands.

11 Pull the plug

Switch off sockets and electrical devices when not in use. Even equipment on standby is using energy – the TV being the biggest culprit. Avoid charging phones and laptops overnight too – they only need a couple of hours to reach full battery.

12 Check labels

Consider the fabric of clothes before you buy them, opting for natural materials such as hemp and bamboo over synthetic, and avoid anything that requires dry-cleaning. While cotton is biodegradable, it is one of the most environmentally demanding crops to farm.

Look for sustainable cotton and only buy jeans second-hand.

13 Fill a flask

Working from home? Boil the kettle at the start of the day and fill a flask to keep the water warm for your cuppas, rather than brewing up each tea break.

14 Love your leftovers

Treat food waste as ingredients and try to use every scrap to make new meals. Alternatively, sign up for food-sharing sites like Olio, or find neighbours with a compost heap at sharewaste.com.

15 Let your garden grow

Mowing your lawn less often not only saves energy but allows grass to thrive for bees and other wildlife. Flower beds should be allowed to grow freely too – fuller planting locks in more carbon.

16 Stop ironing

Hate ironing? Give it up and save an estimated 190kg of carbon each year.

17 Tyre pressure

Keeping your tyres at the right level of pressure increases safety on the road and saves fuel, reducing carbon use. Michelin estimates that underinflated tyres use an extra tank of fuel a year.

18 Take your tea loose

Most teabags are partly plastic and don’t biodegrade. Use loose-leaf tea instead. And ditch fancy coffee pods – ground or beans are best.

19 Natural cleaners

Old-school methods with fewer chemicals are better for the environment. Swap shop-bought cleaning products for traditional ones such as white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, which can be mixed up in reusable spray bottles and applied with a cloth or old toothbrush.

20 Ditch your car

Replace a regular trip on four wheels with one by foot, bike or public transport. Aiming to reduce your use of fossil fuels and air pollution is one of the biggest ways to help the planet. Think ahead and plan, and it will soon start to become a habit.