At the Optimist Daily, we’re always looking for ways to be kinder to the planet—whether it’s through the food we buy or the clothes we wear. Recently, The Guardian published a list of 50 simple ways to make your life a bit greener. We’re not going to post all 50 right here, but we’ve cherrypicked three of the expert tips that we thought our readers would appreciate.
Shop little and often: A lot of waste comes from doing big shops, putting two-for-one “bargains” in the trolley and buying on repeat rather than planning meals. The problem is we often buy too much and allow those food items to go to waste. According to Sky Gyngell, chef of a waste-based restaurant in London, there “is no point in doing a weekly shop if you like to decide what you’re going to make for dinner at 6 pm, like me. I shop in small increments, and I find I waste less this way, too.”
Change your showerhead: According to Brian Horne at the Energy Saving Trust (EST), investing in an aerated shower head will make a significant difference in energy and water consumption. They inject air into the water stream, limiting water usage and energy spent on heating.
Choose an environmentally friendly bank account: Since the Paris agreement was adopted in 2016, banks in the UK have invested nearly £150bn ($192bn) in fossil fuels. We know the same has been happening in the US (see today’s story on arctic drilling). What we need to remember is that the banks are investing our money, so if you choose to store that money in an ethical bank, you’ll take away money that major banks would otherwise use to invest in fossil fuels. An example of such a bank is Triodos, which invests only in projects that create positive cultural, social and environmental outcomes.
Want the full list of simple ways to make your life greener? Look no further.
