5 Ways You Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint on a Daily Basis
Transform Your Habits, Protect Our Planet
As we navigate through the challenges of preserving our planet, this week’s newsletter will give you some practical tips on how you could implement new sustainable habits in your daily life. From the clothes we wear to the food we consume, each choice we make has a ripple effect on the planet's health. This week, we delve into five key areas where small adjustments can lead to significant environmental benefits: consuming less, reusing and recycling, eating less meat and dairy, re-evaluating commuting choices, and saving energy and water at home.
1. Consume less
Buying new things can be tempting, especially when there is a great discount and you feel like you are doing a great deal buying something. However, did you know that 45% of the world GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions are related to consumer goods?1
Consuming less is thus one of the easiest ways to reduce our environmental impact. But how come we like to shop so much? A team of researchers from Stanford, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon did a study on subjects’ brains as they made decisions about whether or not to buy a certain clothing item2.
The researchers found that when the subject came across an item of clothing that they wanted to buy, the pleasure center of the brain was activated. This phenomenon appeared even stronger when this item was on discount. Retailers use this to make you want to buy items you may not need during special sales or events like Black Friday so stay aware of this and think wisely before buying something.
2. Reuse, repair, recycle
In line with consuming less, think about ways you can reuse, repair and recycle items you use in your daily life.
Do you need a new jar? Consider reusing a glass container like an empty jam or glass bottle to use as a new jar.
Looking to buy a new phone? Think about ways you could repair your current phone before buying a new one. You may be able to change the battery or the screen before needing to buy a new one.
Thinking of purchasing a new book? Explore local libraries or second-hand bookshops first. You might find the book you're looking for, and it's a great way to recycle and support community resources.
Do you want a new coffee table? Before buying a new one, see if you can upcycle an old table or create one from pallets or crates. Also consider buying a second-hand table which will also most likely be cheaper than a new one.
In general, it is also important to be aware of your local recycling guidelines. Sorting out your waste is a small daily step that can have quite an impact long-term.
3. Eat Less Meat and Dairy Products
Reducing meat consumption, especially beef, can significantly lower your carbon footprint. Try incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet to reduce our environmental impact. Here are some ideas on how you could achieve this:
Meatless Days: Implement "Meatless Mondays" or "Vegan Fridays" to eat plant-based meals once or twice a week. This is a great way to gradually shift to a more environmental-friendly diet.
Try Alternatives: Use plant-based substitutes like oat milk for dairy and tofu or beans for meat in your meals. Many great meals can be made without using meat or dairy. Google your favorite meal adding “vegetarian” or '“vegan” next to it and try to make it. Here is an example recipe of Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese.
Explore Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurants: One common worry when eating less meat or dairy is to know what to cook. Look for a well-rated vegan/vegetarian restaurant in your city and go try some of their best dishes. You may be surprised to see how many meals will simply be delicious. Here is 89 vegan recipes you can cook for dinner tonight.
4. Re-evaluate your commuting choices
Your daily commute can have a significant impact on your carbon footprint. Have you ever considered the impact of your daily commute to work or to school? The chart below demonstrates the significant gap between different types of cars with pickup trucks behind the most CO2-intensive vehicle among all.
The best way to reduce your carbon footprint is of course to switch to public transports (when available), to bike, or even better to walk. Taking the train is also a great way to reduce your carbon footprint if you have to travel larger distances. If none of these options are available, switching to an electric vehicle may also be a good alternative if the energy you use to charge your car is green. Finally, carpooling is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint. Ask colleagues if they need a ride or take a family member with you to your next family gathering.
5. Save energy and water
The energy and water you use at home or work is also a driver of your environmental footprint. Here are a few ideas on how you could reduce this impact with small daily actions:
Unplug electronic devices when not in use or when you go on vacation. This will be great for your wallet but also for the planet.
Check the energy label of your home. Insulating your home will help reduce the need for heating and cooling thus saving valuable energy.
Air-dry your clothes instead of using a dryer. Did you ever consider that air drying your clothes is actually saving energy? An electric dryer uses on average between 1,800 to 5,0003 watts per cycle to dry your clothes.
Ditch the elevator. Using the elevator uses a significant amount of energy for every usage. Not taking the elevator will be good for both your cardio and the planet. So why not take the stairs next time?
Conclusion
Adopting sustainable practices is not just about making big lifestyle changes; it's about the small, daily decisions that accumulate over time. Whether it's opting to repair instead of replace, choosing plant-based meals more often, or rethinking how we commute, each action we take moves us closer to a more sustainable way of living. Let's embrace these changes, not as sacrifices, but as steps towards a better world for future generations.
If you’re interested in subscribing to another sustainability newsletter summarizing all sustainability news weekly, including top news, company updates, and sustainable finance news, make sure to subscribe to What's Happening in Sustainability & ESG from Green Digest.
This Week in Sustainability is a weekly email from Brightest (and friends) about sustainability and climate strategy. If you’ve enjoyed this piece, please consider forwarding it to a friend or teammate. If you’re reading it for the first time, we hope you enjoyed it enough to consider subscribing. If we can be helpful to you or your organization’s sustainability journey, please be in touch.
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/completing-the-picture
https://www.earthday.org/driven-to-shop-the-psychology-of-fast-fashion/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/05/14/laundry-air-dry-energy-saving/