Being eco-friendly is not always about grand gestures. It’s the little things that matter too! Think about it: if we all made small changes to be more eco-friendly, it would make a massive difference overall, wouldn’t it? So, here are our top ten tips to help you be more eco-friendly…

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Turn it off 

To reduce your carbon footprint, one of the best things you can do is conserve energy. We tend to think that being eco-friendly is all about recycling but there is way more to it than this! If you leave your electricals on standby, you are only going to be using up energy that you don’t need. Simply hitting the off button can make a huge difference. Whether it’s your computer or your PlayStation, always turn it off. It may be a little bit difficult to remember to do this at first, but once you get into the habit of doing so, it is something that will come very easy to you. You will start to do it without thinking.

Plant some trees 

If we do not have a stable ecosystem, everything will start to fall apart. Trees are like the lungs of the planet; they breathe carbon dioxide in and breathe oxygen out. Planting some trees will ensure we protect the environment while also improving air quality. Plus, it can help wildlife too. For example, planting trees is important for the survival of bees, and without bees, we wouldn’t have some of the delicious plants we eat! 

Buy local 

From food to clothes, the closer you buy to home, the less carbon required for transport. Plus, you are going to be supporting the local economy too. This has a snowball effect, meaning there will be more items to choose from in the future. Local, sustainable, and eco-friendly is the way to go when shopping today.

Upgrade to an eco-friendly car

When you next purchase a new car, make sure you go for a model that is eco-friendly. It is also important to make sure that you repair products regularly, from your coilover springs to your suspension. If you allow your car to break down to the point of no repair and you do not maintain it properly, more energy is going to be used in the production process, so this is something you do need to think about carefully.

Use eco-friendly cleaning products 

A lot of cleaning products contain harmful chemicals, which are not eco-friendly to create and they are difficult to dispose of. Switching to green cleaning products is a must. You can even create your own! You can find some great green homemade cleaning product recipes online.

Use LED light bulbs 

LED light bulbs are much more efficient and they last a lot longer than conventional bulbs. They last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting and they use 75 per cent less energy, yet you still get the same amazing brightness. 

Bye, bye to plastic!

Plastic seems to be found in all aspects of our lives! Look for ways to make simple switches. For example, use paper straws, buy your fruit and vegetables loose, and take a canvas bag when you go shopping.

Don’t waste food 

Did you know that hundreds of tonnes of food are wasted every year worldwide? Not only is this a massive waste of money and food but it adds to the CO2 being created in landfills. Now is the perfect time for you to start being more organized with your grocery shopping list, as it will benefit the environment too. 

Eat less meat 

Simply cutting two to three days of red meat out of your diet can have a big effect on lowering your carbon footprint. This is also a good opportunity for you to add more variety to your diet and eat more nutritious and balanced meals. If you are struggling for meat-free recipes, there are lots of creative and tasty suggestions online.

Switch your energy supplier to a renewable one 

Switch to a 100% renewable tariff, either at your current supplier or switch suppliers for a better deal. All it takes is a phone call! Comparison websites are great for beginning your search and seeing what is out there!

So there you have it: ten things you can do to be more eco-friendly. A little bit of effort goes a very long way when it comes to helping our planet. From cutting down on your weekly steak nights to simply changing your lightbulb choice; these changes can make a big difference. 

This is a contributed post and therefore may not reflect the views and opinions of this blog or its author.