Evidence suggests that human activities are increasing the amount of some greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We all have the power to reduce carbon emissions through the way we live, behave and consume.
Changes to our lifestyles and behaviour can result in a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Below are some attainable actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.
Eat sustainably and reduce your food waste
One of the biggest contributions to our carbon footprint is what we eat. Globally the food system (production, transport, and waste) generates 25-30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Animal agriculture is very carbon intensive. Eating more vegetables and avoiding meat and dairy will significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
10% of all global greenhouse gas emissions comes from food we throw in the bin. The UK throws away 9.52 million tonnes of food per year, estimated to emit around 36 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Households produce 70% of the UK’s food waste. Reducing household food waste can have a huge impact on the environment and will reduce your carbon footprint. Meal planning, writing a shopping list or taking a photo of your fridge before you shop can help you do this.
For more tips on eating sustainably and reducing your food waste visit: eatlikealondoner.com
Reduce your consumption
Carbon dioxide is released in the manufacture and transport of all your household items. That’s why it’s important to make the best use of what you already have, consciously deciding to buy less, reusing items, repairing them so that they last longer and buying second hand rather than new.
Use reusable/refillable containers
Plastic is made from fossil fuels. Its production contributes to 3.3% of all global carbon emissions. By switching to reusable cups, bottles, and bags you can reduce your carbon footprint by 457kg per year.
Disposable coffee cups
2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used per year in the UK, but only 1 in 400 are recycled. Producing these cups takes 152,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. With a single-use cup producing 61g of carbon, using a reusable cup could decrease your carbon footprint by 9.5kg per year.
Plastic bottles
35 million plastic bottles are used every day in the UK, 16 million of those aren’t being recycled. Each bottle has a carbon footprint of 100g CO2e.
Plastic shopping bags
Producing each plastic bag creates 1.58kg of carbon dioxide. Plastic shopping bags cannot be recycled at home, and are tricky to recycle.
Visit bringitbarnet.co.uk for more information on using refillable containers.
Buying second hand electrical and electronic Items
Electronics contain precious metals such as titanium, copper, lithium, gold, and cobalt. These natural materials are extracted from the earth and are being depleted at an unsustainable rate. The mining process also generates greenhouse gases. Metal mines often sit within forests that have been cleared to make way for them, threatening biodiversity.
With 180 million electrical and electronic products being sold in the UK every year and 1.6 million tonnes thrown away, growing demand and disposal is having a negative impact on the environment. Buying second-hand electricals is a greener way to consume.
- Buying a refurbished laptop saves 225kg of carbon dioxide, a reduction of 75%
- Buying a second-hand computer saves 270kg of carbon dioxide
- Buying a second-hand TV saves 168kg of carbon dioxide
- Buying a refurbished phone instead of a new one saves 77.59kg of carbon dioxide.
For more information about reducing your consumption of electrical items, read our blog on repairing household items and our case studies on buying second hand electrical items.
Switch to reusable nappies
On average, 128,000 babies are born in London every year. If each of them used at least 4,000 single-use nappies over 2.5 years, 512 million nappies would be wasted over that time, with most going to incineration. By using just one reusable nappy in place of a disposable every day can save 912 nappies from landfill or incineration.
Using reusable nappies produces 25% less CO2e. For more information about switching to reusable nappies, including how to get a £70 nappy voucher, visit our reusable nappies page.
Switch to reusable period products
On average people who menstruates use 9,472 disposable products over their lifetime, producing 238.6kg of carbon dioxide. Using a menstrual cup instead can reduce your carbon footprint by 210.5kg or using reusable period pants saves 148.2kg of CO2e over a lifetime.
For more information about switching to reusable period products visit Reduce Reuse Your Cycle – our reusable period products website.
