Waste has a huge impact on the environment. Not only does it contribute to climate change and air pollution, but also directly affects many ecosystems and species.
In this article we look at 10 ways we can easily reduce our waste to protect the future of the planet.
In the UK, we waste 4.8 million tonnes of food every year, with 40% of this ending up in landfill, creating vigorous greenhouse gases with 21 times greater global warming potential that CO2. If we could work together to reduce food waste, we could prevent the release of 7m tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.
In fact, if global food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter to greenhouse gases after China and the US [1].
While eliminating food waste altogether would be the ideal scenario, it is almost impossible. There are certain food constituents we will never be able to eat or save, for example eggshells and animal bones. [2]
Here are just a few ways we can help to reduce food waste:
Many people already have a reusable bottle or cup, but they are often left at home. By putting reusable bottles to use you can save money and reduce waste. While most cans and bottles can be recycled, they require a lot of energy to be produced, shipped, and stored. Recycling is also energy intensive. Not only that, it takes 17 million barrels of oil to make one year’s supply of bottled water. That much oil could fuel 1.3 million cars for a year or power 190,000 homes! [3]
Reusable bottles are also better for your health. They are made from materials such as stainless steel or glass. These materials don't break down in high temperatures and stop toxic chemicals from transferring into your drink.
Organic waste in landfills generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By composting wasted food and other organics methane emissions are significantly reduced. Compost reduces and, in some cases, eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers.
The diverse materials in compost break down at different rates, slowly releasing nutrients over a long period of time, whereas fertilizers release them all at once.
Compost provides many benefits. It saves water by helping the soil hold moisture, reduces water run-off, reduces landfill waste and is just great for the environment on a whole.
If you have items that are still in good condition but are no longer much use to you, take a few moments to sell them locally online or take them to a charity shop.
Rehoming unwanted items minimises the volume of discarded materials and the volume of waste being sent to landfill each year. The second-hand market reduces the production of new items, therefore reducing the need for new raw materials. All this adds up to a reduction in air pollution, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Reduce, reuse, rehome, resell, recycle!
Reducing your use of paper helps to prevent trees from being cut down and eliminates the energy that is used to convert a tree into a piece of white printing paper.
More stores are offering e-receipts, which are great if you need to return something because an e-receipt is much harder to lose.
Another thing to consider would be digital subscriptions for magazines that you can read on your tablet or computer. Digital subscriptions are often a little cheaper than the hard-copy version, as-well.
You can also go tree free in the bathroom too by choosing only recycled loo paper or buying loo paper made from Bamboo. Bamboo is a more sustainable, fast-growing plant and often companies using bamboo deliver to your home and provide everything in plastic free packaging.
Fewer plastic bags mean less plastic in landfill and less chance of wildlife becoming entangled in or eating them. Like the reusable bottle, most of us have them, we just have to remember to bring them with us to the shop.
Pop them in your car, most used handbag, nappy bag, the pushchair, whichever you're most likely to have with you most of the time, then they are less likely to be forgotten. Or you could even put BAGS at the top of your shopping list as a reminder.
Not only is it great to support local, but local markets and shops usually use less plastic to wrap their foods. Changing where you shop can have a huge impact on the environment. By planning ahead perhaps you can part of your weekly shop at your local farmers market or green grocers before heading to the supermarket.
Where possible, try to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Fresh produce doesn't come with extra packaging waste, which will reduce the amount of plastic you throw away. Reuse fabric bags to carry your fresh produce, so you don't need to use the plastic bags offered in store.
Remember, if we all try to reduce our waste, then together we can make a real difference to save our planet.
Reducing the 92 million tonnes of fashion waste that ends up in landfill should be a focus for us all. Many of us buy far too many clothes and treat cheap clothing as dispensable.
Long before clothing ends up in the boutique the textile starts as a raw material. The textile industry is one of the least efficient and remains one of the world’s biggest consumers of energy. About 34% of energy is consumed in spinning, 23% in weaving, 38% in chemical processing and another 5% for miscellaneous purposes. [4] The process is generally the same whether the fibre is nylon, cotton, hemp, wool, or polyester.
Once the materials are made, they are shipped globally to be made into garments. Then shipped again to brand warehouses and stores.
According to the global report conducted by Thredup with analysis by market research firm GlobalData, the resale market is growing at a rate 11 times faster than traditional retail and should be worth $84 billion by 2030.
Thrifting and buying second hand can be fun, but you can also pick up brand names and designer labels at a fraction of the cost. Buying well and buying less is a much more sustainable way to build your wardrobe.
Before the age of fast fashion, people would repair their clothes at home or seek the help from a professional tailor or seamstress. These days, replacements can be so cheap that we do not see the worth in repairing.
This throw-away and replace mentality has transcended to all manner of things in the home, from sofa cushions, curtains and other fabrics to electricals and furniture.
You do not need to be trained in needlework, electronics or carpentry to repair everyday things at home. Popping up all over the country are repair cafes, where you can seek help for all manner of things which can be easily repaired with the right advice.
Ever heard of the saying ‘a stitch in time saves nine’? This old English proverb prompts us to sew up small holes or tears in a piece of material as soon as they appear. Thus saving the need for more stitching later when the hole becomes larger.
Click for a full list of repair cafes near you.
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Header image: by micheile dot com
REFERENCES:
[1] Why Save Food | Love Food Hate Waste
[2] - Reducing food waste to tackle the climate emergency (circularonline.co.uk)
[3] Plastic Water Bottle Pollution [Infographic]: Facts & Effects (printwand.com)
