17 Tiny Tips To Be More Environmentally Friendly
When it comes to saving the planet, every little helps!
We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community what tips they had for being more being more green. Here are some of the most useful responses!
1. When you can, hang your clothes out on a washing line instead of using a tumble dryer.
2. If you have a little one, invest in reusable nappies.
"I have used reusable nappies constantly for over a year since my baby was 9 weeks old, I have never looked back!"
3. Buy fresh groceries from your local shops.
"It saves the food going to landfill and creating greenhouse gases."
4. Or if you normally drive to the shops, consider getting your food shopping delivered to your door instead.
"It’s like carpooling for food and groceries, and also helps curb impulse buys at the till?"
5. Instead of using makeup wipes, use a reusable cloth to clean your face.
"Saves so much money on other makeup removal products and reduced the number of wipes being thrown away."
6. Invest in a portable metal straw.
7. And get a reusable coffee cup.
8. If you're buying clothes, try looking in second-hand shops first.
"Yes, it takes a bit longer, but when you see what people are prepared to give away, and see the resources required to make even a single pair of jeans, I find it hard to justify purchasing new such items to myself."
9. Or, if you're not a fan of thrifting, save up to buy higher quality, longer lasting clothes.
10. Use bars of soap and solid shampoo instead of liquids in bottles.
"And don't forget to make sure they're palm-oil free!"
11. If you have periods, try switching to a reusable menstrual cup.
"Buying a menstrual cup is a great start for anyone trying to be eco-friendly. It's better for your wallet too!"
12. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
"When you don't turn it off, there's so much waste going down the drain. Shut the tap off until you need the water again – so easy!"
13. Reuse jars and plastic packaging instead of buying dedicated storage containers.
14. Where you can, cut down on meat and dairy.
"There are so many great alternatives now."
15. Instead of kitchen roll and napkins, use washable cloths.
"At home, we have a paperless kitchen. We only use dishtowels and linen napkins."
16. Put a recycling bin in your bathroom.
"Most people really don’t think about it because it’s in their kitchen, but shampoo bottles, toilet paper rolls and many other things in your bathroom are perfectly recyclable!"
17. If it's safe where you live: drink tap water!
"For the love of all that is holy, the overwhelming majority of people have clean, safe drinking water literally flowing from the faucets and yet they insist on buying bottled water all the time. I just don't get it."
Some submissions have been edited for length or clarity.