Top 10 Ways That You Can Help the Earth (Starting Today)
Feeling overwhelmed by environmental issues? The good news is that reducing your personal carbon footprint doesn't require massive lifestyle changes. In fact, some of the most impactful actions are simple shifts in consumption habits—especially when it comes to technology.
Here are 10 effective ways you can make a positive difference for the planet, starting right now:
🌱 The Top 10 Action List
- Embrace the Circular Economy: This is the biggest win. The production of new electronics accounts for up to 80% of a device’s lifetime carbon emissions. By choosing to buy refurbished or second-hand, you halt the demand for new manufacturing. Give devices a second life!
- Invest in Home Energy Efficiency: Reduce the amount of coal, oil, and gas used to power your home. Switch to a green energy supplier, install insulation, reduce your thermostat by a degree, and swap old bulbs for energy-saving LED lights.
- Choose Active or Public Travel: For short journeys, walking or cycling significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves your health. For longer commutes, prioritise public transport (trains or buses) or carpooling over driving solo.
- Reduce Meat and Dairy Consumption: Food production, particularly beef and dairy, has a high environmental cost. Shifting to a more plant-rich diet—even going vegetarian one day a week—can significantly lower your food-related carbon footprint.
- Hold onto Your Tech Longer: The simplest way to fight e-waste is to delay your next upgrade. If your device is working, protect it with a case, keep the software updated, and use it for an extra year or more.
- Cut Down on Food Waste: Food waste is a major contributor to global emissions. Plan your meals, properly store leftovers, pay attention to expiration dates, and look into composting food scraps rather than tossing them in the general waste bin.
- Eliminate Single-Use Plastic: This is an easy win. Carry a reusable water bottle, coffee cup, and cloth shopping bags. Refusing plastic straws and packaging drastically reduces the plastic pollution that ends up in landfills and oceans.
- Repair Before Replacing: Don't throw away a valuable item because of a minor fault. Whether it’s a broken phone screen, a ripped jacket, or a faulty appliance, look for a local repair service or tutorial before you rush to purchase new.
- Use Water Wisely: Conserve water at home. Fix any dripping taps, switch to a water-saving showerhead, and remember to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Recycle Properly (The Last Resort): When a product truly reaches the end of its life, ensure it enters the correct waste stream. This is especially vital for electronics (WEEE waste) and batteries, which contain hazardous materials that should never end up in a landfill.
📱 Our Biggest Impact: The Power of Reuse
When it comes to technology, the single most powerful action is Reuse. Every choice you make to extend the life of a mobile phone or tablet saves the planet from having to mine tons of raw materials and endure the energy consumption of manufacturing a new device.
Ready to make a sustainable choice? Find a high-quality, long-lasting device that helps the planet when you buy a refurbished smartphone. Alternatively, ensure your old tech is reused, or responsibly recycled, by getting an instant quote when you sell your old handset to Envirofone today!
