Greener pastures: Five eco-friendly resolutions for 2022

By now, most of us have started carrying a keep cup and long said goodbye to single-use plastic bags. But is there more we could be doing to make our everyday lives even greener? Probably! And, importantly, many of the not-so-obvious ideas are the ones that can have the biggest impact on our carbon footprint.

Here are five lesser-known ways to make 2022 a more sustainable year.

Swap bottled toiletries for solid bars

Plastic waste continues to be a major problem in Australia. Recent figures from the ABS show that we disposed of 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste in the 2018/2019 financial year, with households contributing 47%¹ of that figure. If you’re looking to reduce your household plastic waste, you could start with the contents of your bathroom cupboard. Bottling toiletries contributes greatly to plastic production, and solid bars have come a long way since the harsh soap bars you might remember. Brands such as Ethique and Nuebar are leading the pack with their comprehensive range of solid hair and skin products, all sans plastic. In fact, Ethique estimates it has saved over 13 million bottles from entering landfill². Major retailers such as L’Occitane and Lush are also on board, offering plastic-free cleanser bars, solid shampoos and body-scrub bars.

Buy in bulk

Instead of buying multiple small packets of pantry supplies from the supermarket, consider taking your own containers to a bulk food store, such as The Source, which has six outlets in NSW and the ACT. The Source reckons its bulk food sales have saved 102,900 kilograms of packaging waste from landfill in the past year alone³. And if that’s not motivation enough, you’ll probably save on your grocery bill, too. If a bulk food store isn’t an option, perhaps commit to taking your own reusable containers to the butcher or supermarket deli each time you shop. And while we’re talking plastic in the kitchen, consider saying goodbye to cling film and investing in beeswax wraps instead.

Reduce your ‘phantom’ power use

Australia is one of the highest carbon-polluting countries in the world, and more than one-third of our emissions come from electricity consumption⁴ – so it makes sense to try to curb our household energy use as much as possible. You probably know that household appliances continue to consume small amounts of electricity when they’re switched off or in standby mode. But did you realise that so-called phantom power can account for 10% of a home’s electricity bill⁵? The fix is simple — unplug your devices or switch them off at the wall when you’re not using them. It’s a habit you’ll soon get into. And don’t forget about your laptop, which guzzles phantom power to maintain 100% charge.

Compost your food waste

Composting is not a new concept, but many of us, especially those who live in apartments or urban areas, still add our food waste to landfill, where it decomposes to produce methane. In fact, Australia’s organic waste tonnage is increasing, and households are the largest contributor¹. The good news is that you don’t need to have a backyard or a complicated composting system — many local councils now accept food waste in green bins (some even provide countertop food caddies) or offer food recycling services. So, make a note to research what’s available in your local area.

Rethink your paper use

We often think of paper as an eco-friendly choice, but paper production has its issues, including water wastage and the chemical processing required to make raw wood suitable for use. It’s astounding to think that 90,000 litres of water are needed to make one tonne of paper, and more than 100 million trees are harvested each year just to make junk mail⁶. The general consensus is that single-use paper is preferable to single-use plastic, but there are still simple changes you can make. At home, that might mean using reusable cloths instead of paper towels, swapping out your regular toilet paper for recycled or bamboo varieties, and opting out of receiving paper bills.

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¹ Waste Account, Australia, Experimental Estimates | abs.gov.au
² The journey of Ethique | ethiqueworld.com
³ Zero-wastemovement | thesourcebulkfoods.com
⁴ Reduce your energy use | wwf.org.au
⁵ Scare the phantom power out of your home | nrcan.gc.ca
⁶ Paper and card recycling | cityservices.act.gov.au

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