How to be more sustainable
Your sustainability checklist to becoming a planet-saving superhero
Figuring out what you can do to tackle the climate and nature crises can feel pretty overwhelming. So many things to consider! Here, we synthesise some key areas where you have the power to make a positive difference in your everyday life.
Have a read then download your own ‘Everyday Superhero’ Sustainability Checklist. Tick the boxes for each action you’re taking, and see what else you can try!
If you fancy another fun way to implement these sustainable living changes, check out our Impact Challenge - a new change everyday for a month to make for a swift transition to everyday sustainable living!
Note to readers: In reality, we know this stuff is COMPLICATED and we can’t do everything all the time. Often there are trade-offs where we have to do one thing at the expense of another. No worries. Just take the ideas here as suggestions for things to explore for yourself.
Sustainability Checklist
How to be more sustainable
Sustainability Check-list
The Fundamentals
Everything we consume comes from the Earth. The Earth’s resources are finite and there are lots of others on the planet to share with! So the first question is, “Do I need this?” If it’s a yes, then “quality over quantity” is your mantra. Apply that to pretty much anything you buy, and you won’t go far wrong. Just have a mull on what ‘quality’ really means to you.
How to be more sustainable with... Food
Buy from Zero Waste shops. This will massively reduce the amount of packaging required for your food, much of which is hard-to-recycle plastics.
Go organic – try growing at home or in your community, sample a local veg box scheme, seek out organic retailers. Support the transition away from the chemical pesticides and herbicides which are harming the health of people, wildlife and ecosystems.
Eat a more plant-based diet. High levels of emissions and environmental pollution come from livestock farming, though deforestation to create pasture, the production of their feed, the methane they produce and waste & fertiliser runoff damaging waterways.
Reduce your intake of ‘ultra-processed’ food. This will benefit both you and the planet – read more here.
How to be more sustainable with... Body
Use the most natural products you can. Would you feel OK smearing your moisturiser/deodorant/shampoo/makeup/shaving foam onto the Earth? Ultimately, what we put on our skin ends up in the planet’s ecosystem. Check out the ingredient lists or make your own!
Reduce the plastics in your bathroom. Try soap bars or refill your existing product bottles from your local zero waste shop.
Buy long-lasting beauty tools, such as non-disposable razors and washable makeup pads. Use a handkerchief instead of tissues. All this will reduce the amount of raw resources you’re using.
Women – opt for non-disposable menstrual products. Replace tampons with a cup and swap single-use pads for period pants or washable pads. (Yes, you can get reusable pads which don’t leak!) This will virtually eliminate your contribution to landfill, microplastics and your exposure to toxic chemicals! It’s also a great way to reconnect with your cycle. Sustainable products do require a bit more effort, but this can be a great reminder to actually engage with the fact that you’re on your period, and to go easy on yourself at this time of the month.
How to be more sustainable with... Cleaning
Approach cleaning products in the same way as you approach body care. Your body, your home, your planet – it’s all intimately connected. So –
Use the most natural products you can find. Read the ingredient lists or make your own!
Reduce plastics by refilling your existing product bottles or buying plastic-free alternatives.
Use durable cloths, sponges and scrubbers, or those made from natural materials which can be composted.
How to be more sustainable with... Water
Take showers the majority of the time. Try viewing baths as a ‘treat’, as they generally use more water.
Install toilets that reduce water use. Composting toilets are great, because they require no water and create a valuable resource to fertilise soils. If this isn’t an option for you, check out minimal water toilets, such as dual flush and air-assisted flushing systems.
How to be more sustainable with... Energy
Explore ways to minimise the amount of heating you need. Set your thermostat to 16.5°C, wear more layers and put draught-proofing around windows and doors. If possible, ensure you have floor, wall and loft insulation and double-glazed windows. See if you’re eligible for financial assistance with this here.
Choose the most low-carbon heating system you can. If you’ve got a well-insulated home, consider a Heat Recovery System (circulating the warmth generated from your kitchen and bathroom around the whole house – see here) and/or a heat pump. Other options might be district heating, a wood burner (if you can get sustainably managed wood and the heat can spread into the rest of your home), or simply the most efficient gas boiler available to you.
If your home gets overly warm in the summer, having plants inside & outside your home will help to cool the air. Outdoor plants can also provide shading.
Switch to a 100% green electricity tariff. Better yet, explore generating it yourself, or with your community, through solar panels, wind turbines or hydro systems!
Use less electricity by buying efficient appliances when you need to replace something.
Decarbonise your cloud! Have you got loads of photos or emails stored online? Everything on ‘the cloud’ requires energy from a huge server somewhere in the world. Get decluttering to lighten the load.
How to be more sustainable with... Transport
Use active transport wherever possible. This means using your own energy to get around – e.g. walking, cycling, wheeling, scooting. Better for your health and virtually zero emissions!
Opt for public transport - e.g. coaches, buses, trams, trains – especially those which can be easily electrified.
Try to avoid flying when travelling abroad.
If you need access to a car, join (or start) a car club (ideally electric) instead of owning your own. The average car in the UK is parked up 96% of the time. Join the sharing economy to use fewer of Earth’s precious resources.
How to be more sustainable with... Things
We all need some ‘stuff’ – clothes, furniture, tech, things for our hobbies… A few considerations here are:
What’s it made from? Ideally recycled, natural or renewable materials.
Where has it come from? As local as possible, to reduce transport miles, and from a company with a strong environmental policy and decent working conditions.
Can I get it second hand or upcycled? Supporting the ‘circular economy’, where resources are reused over and over again.
Is it repairable? So you can mend it as needed instead of buying new.
How to be more sustainable with... Finance
Get ethical in your banking! A lot of us don’t realise the power we wield through how we invest our money. Is your bank/mortgage/pension/financial services provider investing your money in fossil fuels or arms? Find a provider that aligns with your values, e.g. Triodos.
How to be more sustainable with... Gift Giving
We love to express our care for others by giving presents at Christmas, birthdays and special occasions. It’s tempting to throw out all concept of sustainability here, especially if we think others might not like ‘eco’ gifts. Some ideas for ethical gift-giving:
Give experiences – activities, days out, treatments, tickets to a show
Give the tools to be a creator – seeds, crafts
Give subscriptions – to an interesting magazine or a course
Give something you made – a poem, letter, mixtape or something arty
Give via charity – using charities’ online stores or a donation with gift certificate
If they need ‘stuff’, give something which aligns with your ethics – this may open their eyes to a greener alternative
How to be more sustainable with... Creativity
Be a creator. In all this talk of consumption, it’s important to remember that sustainability is not just about what you consume – it’s also about who you are. How you spend your time, what you give your energy to, how you relate with others. You’re not just a consumer, but also a producer, a creator. What gifts are you giving the world? What values are you embodying? What are you creating through your work, your home life, your community?
At Impact, we believe in the power of positive actions. Not just reducing the bad, but generating more of the good! So give more time to the actions which will create the kind of world you want to live in. Through this, we have the power to stimulate systemic change.
Download your Everyday Superhero Sustainability Checklist here
We’d love to hear what positive impacts you’re having and what you do as an everyday sustainable superhero. Maybe you have some ideas and suggestions that we can share with the community? Or have you been inspired to explore new actions? Come meet us and let us know!
Want to discuss what you’ve read or troubleshoot your ethical living with like-hearted people? Join the next Impact Meet-Up here
