Every single person has their own carbon footprint yet don’t know what it really is or how to reduce it. A carbon footprint is a measure of each individual persons carbon emissions. You can work out your personal carbon footprint with this calculator by Carbon Click. Often people think that they have to make big changes but even a small thing can help towards reducing your footprint. Here are a few small ways that I try to reduce my carbon footprint.
Grow your own food
Growing your own food is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint because it’s local, seasonal food and it won’t have all the food miles that comes with a lot of food at supermarkets. Plus, it is so much fun because you get to monitor the day by day progress. At the moment, I’m growing some pea shoots and they’ve literally only taken 2-3 weeks to grow. Start with simple veggies like herbs and make your way up to harder ones. Growing your own food also makes you value the food a bit more and you are less likely to throw food out. This week is National Gardening Week so when better to start?
Use eco-friendly packaging
With lockdown and not being able to see family members or friends means that we are sending more packages out. It’s so lovely to receive and send a package but we have to make sure that the packaging is eco-friendly and plastic-free. Luckily for you, Lil Packaging is just that! The whole Lil Packaging range is FSC certified, accredited plastic-free, 100% recyclable, plant and water-based inks and with the highest possible plant-based glue. They cater for lots of different businesses and people and have custom packaging so whether you own a small business or you’re sending a package to a loved one, there’s something for you.
Walk or take the bus
Walking or taking the bus is much more sustainable than driving a car. Did you know that 40% of America’s carbon dioxide emissions are from cars? (Glaeser and Kahn, 2010) Imagine if all those people walked, cycled, took the bus or even had an electrical car! I understand the feeling of wanting to take a car instead of walking because maybe you’re tired or just want to get there a bit quicker. Try listening to some music or a podcast – my current favourite is The Secret To…by Vicky Pattison.
Eat less meat
I know everyone says this, but it’s only because it’s true! If you don’t want to go vegetarian or vegan, try a couple of meat-free days a week. There are so many alternatives out there today, for example, Richmond veggie sausages taste exactly like pork sausages – I personally don’t really like the taste of pork but for a meat-eater, they are perfect. Quorn is the one for me, I’m currently loving their sausage rolls & dinos!
Related post: The benefits of being a vegetarian
Buy second-hand clothes
I could write pages and pages about why you should choose second-hand & the amazing benefits. To sum fast fashion up, brands that mass-produce clothing garments are not sustainable! They produce clothes so fast to get in with the trends but don’t use good quality material which means they don’t last long. But, this is all part of the plan. They don’t want your clothes to last long so that you’ll buy more. Not only is fast fashion really unsustainable, but it is unethical. The poor workers don’t get paid enough money for the amount of work they do & the conditions they are forced to work in. This is why you should buy second hand! Charity shops, apps like Depop or Vinted, online thrift shops or even a clothes swap between your friends. There are loads of ways!
What do you do to reduce your carbon footprint?
Best wishes, Cx
Great post! Growing your own food is such a wholesome way to protect the environment. Thank you for sharing x
Thank you x
Thanks for sharing that survey link. It’s a great way to learn how your actions impact the environment. I think I need to take it again after the pandemic is over, though. Most years, I can’t say I have taken 0 flights in the last 12 months.
It’s great to see what impact lockdown has had
Great post! I love growing my own vegetables and have recently planted for the season! I’m a big walker and walk to most places within a few km of home. Thanks for sharing.
Aw great, what have you planted? x
We’ve planted corn, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and onions.😊
Aw, lovely! I love corn & lettuce 😍
Great post! I have made it mandatory for myself to contribute to growing my own food for atleast 2 weeks in a year! 🙏
Aw yay!
Some great ways to reduce your carbon footprint, one thing I did six years ago was stop eating red meat, I don’t miss it at all and I like to think that it’s made a small impact on my carbon footprint! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I totally agree! x
These are great tips. I enjoy reading your blog post and getting to learn more ways to help our planet. I would love to one day have my own garden and grow my own food.
Aw, thank you!
These are excellent tips! Lil Packaging sounds wonderful!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thank you 🙂
So many great ideas here! I’ve actively been trying to be more sustainable with my clothes and in lots of other areas of my life – love your tips especially about the packaging x
Thanks <3
Fantastic post! I literally love your blog so much. Such great suggestions too. I’ve started getting more second hand clothes recently, I also became a pescatarian a few months back and am purchasing cruelty free products. So good to do little things that can potentially make a huge difference.
Thanks for sharing x
Thank you! I love those changes x
Brilliant post! I’ll never understand how the majority can eat so much meat, but each to their own I guess. Love the eco-friendly packaging tips! My latest thing has been obsessing over sustainable toothbrushes.
https://lylastone.com/
Me too :/ Thank you! Ooh yes, I have an electric one but for holidays (which never happen anymore 🤣) I’ve got a bamboo toothbrush.
Love all these ideas, Caroline. We do try and grow our own food and I’m eating less meat these days too, although I have yet to convince the two carnivores I live with to try the same!
Thank you, growing your own food always tastes best too! x
These are great tips. I try to buy second hand as much as I can. I would love to start growing my own food.
Thank you x
These are all really helpful suggestions and there’s something on this list that everyone can do!
Thanks 🙂 x
Aw, love this! I’m a big walker too! If I can walk to it, I’ll do it. I also LOVE thrifting! I haven’t gone in so long but hope to once I’m vaccinated! Thanks so sharing, Caroline xx
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thrifting is just the best! x
These are some really great suggestions to help reduce your carbon footprint. I do as much recycling as I can and give my clothes to my little sisters. X
Thank you, LOVE that x
I really enjoy going to second hand shops and even donating to them when I need to get rid of some items.
As far as growing my own vegetables that’s one of my goals for this year. Hopefully, this weekend my husband and I can get our raised flower bed together.
Thank you for sharing these helpful tips.
xo Erica
Same, aw that’d be great x
Nice job! My (former now) work did something on this, might be interesting to compare! https://www.imperial.ac.uk/stories/climate-action/
I’ve never heard about the carbon footprint, but you gave such important tips. It’s true, even little actions, little choices can make an enormous different for our planet. Hope that everyone will do their part.
xx Dasynka
https://dasynka.com/
Thank you, me too x
What a great post, Caroline! We’re trying to grow our strawberries and tomatoes (we consume so much of both!) and we try to not buy/use too much clothing. Sustainable it’s not easy, but we love trying!
That’s so great to hear – love homegrown strawberries 😍