In my last blog post, I set the stage for some of the changes you can make, that are simple to do, and also have a real impact on the environment for the better.

But I merely scratched the surface in that post, and thought it would be a great idea to continue on in that same vein for this post also. So let’s dive straight in.

Create a Compost Pile: 

I detailed in a previous blog post about how this can be done. This is a great way of using up food waste that would otherwise be tossed in the trash, maybe for the benefit of the refuse collection companies.

Check that post out for more details!

Use Your Own Cup at the Water Cooler:

How often do you visit the water cooler in work each day? Do you use a new cup each time? That is a serious amount of plastic, when you think about it, even in terms of a month.

Using your own cup means you will never need to use a disposable plastic cup again!

Love Hot Tea? Ditch the Tea Bags:

You will have 2 main benefits achieved here, by ditching tea bags. Firstly, the flavor is greater, as tea leaves are far fresher than those found in tea bags.

Secondly, there is far less packing material used, so you are benefiting the environment.

Imagine all the tea you drink over a year, and the amount of paper that goes into making those tea bags. It’s a lot, huh?

Choose Farmer’s Markets for Produce:

Choosing your local Farmer’s Market over big name shopping chains has many benefits. The produce you get is fresher and not genetically modified.

You are benefiting your local economy by buying there, rather than paying to a nameless, faceless brand. And you will benefit from having food that has not been sprayed from seed to harvest in harsh chemicals.

Why not get a bunch of friends together, and for best effect, carpool over to your nearest Farmer’s Market?

Start Your Own Gardening Routine:

If you don’t already, why not throw your hand at some gardening? You can grow your own veg, and even your own herbs, meaning you are getting the ultimate in freshness.

Gardening is good for the soul, and is a very rewarding and healthy past time, to boot.

BYOB:

No – Not beer! Bring your own bag to the store with you when you go shopping. Plastic bags are extremely durable, and can be re-used over and over.

So why not use them again, instead of getting a new bag each time. Better yet, look out for “Bags for life” that you can purchase, ideally made from plant fibers.

There we have it. All small steps that can make a huge difference. Why not examine your routines, and see what changes you can make?

My friends sometimes poke fun at me (non blatantly!) with regard to the changes I have elected to make to my lifestyle, that make me and my actions more friendly to the environment.

But when the fun has died down, they will often call me aside, and ask for advice on how they, themselves, can take steps to lessen their carbon footprint, or how to be friendlier to the environment. I guess my passion is infectious enough that it runs off on them a little.

But it is amazing what difference, even tiny changes, can make in the overall scheme of things. We only have one planet folks, there’s no second chance or place to go if we mess this one up!

Here are just a few things you can try to do your little bit.

Cycle More – Or At Least Choose Public Transport:

We could all do with a little more exercise, and cycling is among the best methods of getting this tick marked off your daily “to do” list.

But, if for whatever reason, you don’t want to cycle, at least choose public transport as a way of getting to and fro. This way, you are not firing up the car for smaller journeys that could be taken on public transport.

Get a Kindle:

I know this might seem like a funny one, but if you love to read, imagine all the books you read in a year.

Then imagine the process that book has gone through, to get from the forest of trees to your coffee table. There’s a huge amount of steps that raw material has to get through to become the paperback in front of you.

Kindle (or alternative e-reader) displays virtual characters in front of you, in e-ink, so it’s almost like reading a real book. Plus, a Kindle device is extremely power friendly, only needing to be charged very occasionally.

Reduce Your Food Waste:

This one is easy. Make a shopping list, don’t forget to bring it to the store with you, and stick to it. When cooking dinner, make realistic portions.

I think a lot of us are guilty of making portions that are too big.

It’s amazing to see the difference in portion sizes from the 1950s and 1960s to today. Seriously, our side plates today were dinner plates back in those times!

Make Use of Leftovers:

If you do happen to make too much food for a sitting, use up the leftovers.

You could bring them with you for a handy lunch to reheat in work, or create an entirely new dish – look around online, there are hundreds of sites offering ideas up for what to make with leftover food items.

This is only scratching the surface guys – look out for part 2 of this series, coming up real soon.