Nine ways to start living an eco-friendlier life

The last two years have provided plenty of lessons – but one of the most important is our combined effect on nature. The lockdown gave our planet a breather, a slight break from all the non-stop pollution, and forced us to take a closer look at how much rubbish we create at home. The good news? We’re (slowly) getting the better of COVID-19 and we’ve all learnt some crucial lessons.  

And here’s the thing: it’s not just about learning to recycle at home or composting (which are both very important); it’s also about making many small, smarter decisions at home, at work, and in your downtime. You just need to know what these small changes are and start incorporating them into your routine (and that of your family).

We’ll help you with some of these points, as some of these changes can be helped with innovative products and smart new technologies.

It’s still the golden mantra of sustainability – if we can each consume less, it means less energy created and wasted, along with creating less rubbish. Focus on not buying cheap or seasonal clothes: it takes up to 20,000 litres of water to produce just one kilogram of cotton (one t-shirt and a pair of jeans)! Instead, swap or buy second-hand goods: there has been a sharp increase in second-hand and vintage stores where you can sell and find great clothing.

Sadly, there is plenty to watch out for with personal care products, but the most damaging are microbeads, tiny bits of plastic found in some shampoos, body washes and scrubs. They aren’t biodegradable, and they end up in the food chain. Try to steer clear of harsh chemicals, too – check out this site for better options.

We’re talking about both home and the office here, as there’s a wide variety of more innovative products for you to choose from. We’re HUGE fans of having extra storage options (check out our previous blog here), and these Banker’s Boxes are super-versatile, eco-friendly winners. While they are perfect for filing, they’re ideal storage options for just about anything (including kid’s toys). And while we’re talking about kids, we love these World Colour EcoPencils made from reforested wood (no judgement if you use them too). There’s a wide variety of green options for your workspace if you are willing to do a little research, start by looking at these recycled mousepads.

It’s a small change, but if you can invest in an eco-cup for your coffee and tea refills (and when you head to a coffee shop) and a refillable water bottle, you immediately cut down on coffee cup packaging and plastic water bottles

The world is going more digital by the second, and printers have become much more efficient (here are some of our favourites), but it still pays to be a little more eco-conscious as it saves paper, ink and power. Don’t print out documents unless they are really needed; if possible, try print on both sides of the page.

This should be part of rule 1, but most people forget about their e-waste – according to research, only 12% of electronic goods are recycled in South Africa, making up 8% of all our rubbish. Instead of sitting in a drawer somewhere or causing issues in a landfill, drop your old electronic goods with an accredited e-waste recycler. Find out more here.

We are huge fans of Meat-free Mondays, as it helps drive down carbon emissions and costs of meat production – and it’s easy to start. When buying groceries and going out for meals, you can drastically reduce your carbon footprint by focusing on locally sourced food and supplies.

In both cases, you can invest in permanent options that you can wash and re-use. In the long term, it cuts down on vast amounts of plastic.