New Years' Resolutions.
Always a difficult one to get right, but when done right, can be a great way of staying on track to reaching your goals.
Now our favourite resolution is to eat more chocolate, and it's safe to say we're nailing that one.
But, one month into 2021, how are we doing with the rest of our resolutions?
With the help of fans Imogen and Andrew, we collated a list of eco-friendly New Years' resolutions to get through the year in the most awesome way. After all, with the planet heating up, what's cooler than pledging to have the most sustainable year yet, and protect our home?
If you like the sound of them, take them and make them your own. Sustainability is a team sport and needs us all to do our bit, so pick your favourites, make them work for you and go for it!
1 - Switch to bamboo toothbrushes
Plastic toothbrushes are largely unrecyclable and often end up at landfills or in our oceans where they break down into microplastics. The average person in the UK will go through 300 toothbrushes in their lifetime - switching to an eco friendly toothbrush that is compostable is a great way to cut down on plastic waste.
2 - Invest in a reusable coffee cup
In the UK we throwaway over 2 billion (yes, billion with a ‘b’) disposable coffee cups each year. Disposable cups contain plastics which can’t be recycled so end up at landfills. By reusing a coffee cup you could save up to 100 cups going to landfill and save roughly £50 in the process (based on average discounts for reusing).
3 - Try veganism
Whilst veganism is a big change, there are small parts of your life where you can incorporate areas of veganism. If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of changing your entire diet - try ‘meatless Mondays’ or you could switch our products such as chocolate with vegan alternatives *hint hint*. All of you with good taste will know that each and every one of our chocolates are Vegan Society certifed!
Aside from food there are many other vegan options out there including soaps, shampoo bars and even vegan candles.
Cruelty free and sustainable - win win.
4 - Rethink your fashion choices
The fashion industry is the cause of over 10% of the world’s current CO2 emissions - a statistic many of us would be shocked by.
Materials such as polyester, cotton and leather are all energy intensive and release copious greenhouse gases during their production.
Next time you think you need a new outfit, why not try to buy second hand? Thrifting is definitely on trend in 2021! Places like Depop and eBay can be a great place to start whilst the charity shops are still closed.
5 - Turn off your devices when you’re not using them
This year, try to focus more on turning off switches to devices that are in idle mode. Phantom energy, or standby energy, accounts for around 10% of a household’s typical energy bill. Again, this is not only more energy efficient but will be saving you money too!
6 - Reduce water waste
Your new year’s resolution this year could be to simply get out of the shower 2 minutes earlier every day. 2 minutes doesn’t sound like much but over the course of the year you’ll be saving almost 1,000 litres of water.
7 - Support small, local businesses
In 2021, you could try to support small local businesses. These types of businesses are usually more aware of their impact on the environment and are likely to take more measures to ensure sustainable practices. Plus, with more and more of them having websites and selling on marketplaces like Etsy and Not On The High Street, they're never too tricky to find.
8 - Think outside the box
Sustainability comes in many forms, from the obvious to the downright quirky. Try to think outside of the box this year when it comes to buying new things. Looking for new bowls for breakfast? Try eco-friendly coconut bowls. Is your dog in need of a new lead? Try recycled rope dog leads. With more and more innovations coming to the fore this year, the possibilities for alternatives are endless!
9 - Cycle more
Getting more active this year is something we can all get behind but aside from getting fitter and healthier, you’d also be contributing to the indirect benefit of zero emission travel. If you commute to work by car but could probably cycle it, why not choose a couple of days a week to get on your bike? Bear in mind that driving in one of the most inefficient forms of transport.
10 - Recycle more
On the subject of cycling, why not make a commitment to recycle more this year? Whilst the UK has one of the better recycling rates in the world, it’s still fairly low (around the 40% mark). We’re all guilty of being a bit lazy sometimes when it comes to our rubbish so try to be more mindful of where your rubbish will actually end up, especially if you could’ve just recycled it in the first place.
11 - Upcycle more
Aside from recycling, there’s a fairly new trend emerging called upcycling. Repurposing old items that are no longer effective at their job is a great way to save on waste and money. Lots of household items can be upcycled including toothbrushes, old jars and worn out clothing. Finding a new purpose for old items is much more sustainable than buying new.
12 - Take more care planning your meals
Food waste in the UK is a particular problem. Latest figures suggest that overall we throw away 6.6 million tonnes of food every year. By planning mealtimes more carefully you can ensure food waste is kept to a minimum. Think about bulk cooking some of your meals and freezing the leftovers. Not only will you save on wasted energy but you’ll save your wallet too.
13 - Compost your waste
If you are stuck with organic waste often, now might be a good time to invest in a compost bin. Home composting is suitable for a variety of things including food waste, bamboo toothbrushes and organic cotton products.
Some of the benefits of composting include:
- Reduction in waste weight and volume
- Soil enrichment
- Increases plant disease resistance
Hopefully you can take something away from these tips and live a more sustainable lifestyle this year. Remember not to overwhelm yourself - simple switches will still have enormous environmental benefits, and think of all the chocolate you can have as a reward. Good luck!