International Mother Earth Day, which raises awareness of the need to protect our planet, is rapidly approaching, falling this year on 22 April.
So, it’s a great time to reflect and think about how you could live a “greener” lifestyle.
Even a few small changes to your everyday routine could boost your eco-friendly credentials and help make the world a better place for future generations.
For example, washing your clothes less frequently is likely to reduce your carbon footprint by cutting your energy consumption.
Keep reading to discover some simple yet effective ways to live more sustainably.
Switch to a plant-based diet
Eating less meat is one of the most effective ways to play your part in combating global warming.
According to a study published in naturefood, a vegan diet emits just 25% of the carbon emissions produced by most meat-eaters. What’s more, both vegans and vegetarians use significantly less water and cause less harm to biodiversity on average, than meat eaters.
If you’re not quite ready to give up your Sunday roast or swap your lunchtime sausage roll for a vegan version, try making slow and gradual changes. Perhaps introduce one meat-free meal a day or join an event such as Veganuary to trial this way of eating for a short period.
Make regular contributions to eco-friendly causes
One of the simplest ways to “green” your lifestyle is to support eco-friendly causes.
There are thousands of UK-based and international charities that do important work to care for our planet, and most – if not all – rely heavily on contributions from the public.
Worryingly, the UK Giving 2025 Report from the Charities Aid Foundation reveals that in 2024, charities relied on donations from only 50% of people, down from 58% in 2019.
This is perhaps unsurprising as the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis have squeezed household finances, making it harder for many people to support worthy causes.
So, setting up a regular donation to your favourite eco-charity could be a great way to embrace sustainable living. Many charities also offer gift-giving options. As such, the next time a special occasion crops up, consider asking for, or giving, a charitable donation.
Reduce your energy consumption
You might think that any small changes you make to your lifestyle couldn’t possibly affect large-scale problems such as global warming and climate change.
In fact, reducing the amount of energy you use at home could make a real difference.
The National Audit Office has reported that heating the UK’s 28 million homes accounted for 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available.
Some eco-friendly home improvements might require a significant budget and considerable disruption, such as installing solar panels or replacing your old boiler with a heat pump.
However, there are plenty of small changes you could make in your everyday life to consume less energy. For example:
- Turn lights off when you leave a room
- Swap traditional bulbs for LED versions
- Turn the thermostat down a notch or two
- Only boil the amount of water you need when using a kettle
- Make use of smart meters to monitor your energy consumption
- Use air fryers and microwaves instead of an oven when cooking small meals
- Hang clothes outside to dry when the weather is fair (instead of tumble drying them).
Making just two or three of these small lifestyle changes could help to reduce your carbon footprint. What’s more, you might benefit from lower energy bills – an attractive proposition considering the increase in household energy prices over the past two to three years.
Embrace vintage clothes shopping
Figures published by the World Bank Group reveal that the fashion industry is responsible for 2 – 8% of annual global carbon emissions. It takes 3,781 litres of water to make a single pair of jeans, which equates to the emission of around 33.4 kilograms of carbon equivalent.
However, living a greener life doesn’t mean sacrificing your passion for fashion altogether. You could do your bit by:
- Avoiding “fast fashion” which is often made using unsustainable materials and processes
- Choosing retailers who have eco-friendly credentials or support green causes
- Hosting a clothes swap party for family and friends
- Supporting second-hand, thrift or vintage shops
- Recycling any clothes you don’t wear anymore
- Buying fewer clothes.
With the rise of platforms such as Vinted, Depop and eBay, there are plenty of options for recycling and reclaiming fabulous clothes from the comfort of your home.
Get in touch
If you’re interested in “greening” your finances or building a sustainable financial plan, we can help.
Please get in touch by emailing info@lloydosullivan.co.uk or call 020 8941 9779 to see how we can assist you.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
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