How To Reduce Your Environmental Impact At Home

 

In September 2015, the United Nations established seventeen Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030 to prevent irreversible climate change. Although of different severities, everybody has an environmental footprint and therefore a part to play in achieving these goals. You can calculate your own carbon footprint to determine the most effective ways that you can reduce your environmental impact.

 

Carbon footprint calculator: https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

 

As the saying goes, change begins at home. Therefore, there are numerous ways to begin or continue your journey towards a sustainable lifestyle under your own roof- many of which involve reducing your energy use.

1.      Switch to renewable/ green energy

Renewable energy is collected from sources which are carbon-neutral and replenish naturally. Wind and solar power are (most commonly) converted into electricity and heat for use within the home. As countries aim to achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2030/50, renewable energy sources are becoming more affordable and accessible.

 

2.      Use energy-efficient appliances

Appliances are tested and rated on a scale from A to G according to their energy use (with A being the most efficiency and G the least). When purchasing new appliances, look for the energy label and consider its rating relative to its size. Energy efficient products reduce unnecessary energy consumption (often obtained from non-renewable sources) by up to 40% and lower energy bills.

 

3.      Wash clothing at low temperatures

Setting the washing machine at 30 degrees (instead of 40) will not only preserve the quality of your clothes but also lower your energy bill by £52 per year. Cooler temperatures prevent colour loss, fabric damage and shrinkages within garments to prolong their lifespan and therefore lessen the demand for new products which diminish the Earth’s resources.

 

4.      Buy in bulk

Unnecessary (often non-biodegradable) packaging is avoided when products are purchased in bulk. Single-use plastic accounts for 40% of annual plastic production and therefore contributes massively to plastic pollution and the saturation of greenhouse gases within the atmosphere [National Geographic, 2019].

 

Jamilla - Pink Bias Cut Ruffled Skirt

5.      Reduce, reuse and recycle

When purchasing items, consider their longevity and re-usability. Look for refillable or recyclable packaging to avoid single-use plastic and minimise waste. if an item is near its end-of-life, research ways which it can be re-purposed or upcycled, rather than throwing it away to become landfill. Check out our range of Curated Brands for zero-waste home wear.

 

Madia & Matilda Curate Brands – Home wear: https://www.madiamatilda.co.uk/allclothing-madiamatilda/New-Homewear-c14656008%3Fsort%3DnameAsc

 

Storage Baskets

 

References:

Parker, L. (2019). The world’s plastic pollution explained, June 7, The National Geographic. [Online]. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution

 

 Sincerely Madia & Matilda