Saving our Planet
Environmental Footprint
What is the Environmental Footprint?
Your footprint is a way of showing your carbon emissions, compared to other people and other countries.
It’s your impression on the planet.
By carbon emissions, we mean greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
Humans produce these gases in vast quantities by doing things like burning coal, oil and gas for energy and cutting down forests.
Your individual emissions are built up from the energy you use personally for electricity and travel, as well as the energy that’s required
to produce your food and all the other stuff you buy, whether it’s made in the UK or elsewhere in the world.
We convert all the different greenhouse gases into an equivalent impact from carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.
Your footprint value is in “tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent”.
In sumary, the footprint is the effect that a person, company, activity, etc. has on the environment, for example the amount of natural resources
that they use and the amount of harmful gases that they produce.
How can I reduce my Footprint?
Learn the 5 R's principle:
- Refuse: Avoid single use plastics and paper products by saying no thank you, opting for reusables.
- Reduce: Downsize what you purchase, opting to be more mindful of what you really need.
- Reuse: Always find a way to keep an item out of the landfill by keeping it in great condition, repairing or upcycling it when it breaks.
- Rot: Set up a compost system for your food scraps, or find a food scrap drop off center (like a farmers market, or community garden) near your house.
- Recycle: Properly recycle any plastic, paper, glass or metal that comes into your life you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse by researching your state’s recycling laws.
A few simple ideas:
- 🌍 Change your Diet: Eat less meat and animal derived products
- 🌍 Take showers instead of baths: Reduce your water waste
- 🌍 Switch off standby: Save energy and money
- 🌍 Buy energy-efficient appliances: Increase your home efficiency rating and save energy
- 🌍 Switch your washing to 30°C: Save energy and water
- 🌍 Say no to plastic bags: Reutilize your bags or use more tote bags
- 🌍 Buy in bulk / Unpackaged: Reduce plastic use and unnecessary packaging
- 🌍 BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug): Reduce the use of disposable cups and plastic
- 🌍 Buy second Hand Clothes: Reduce the consumption of items that end up dumped in landfills
- 🌍 Only buy the groceries you need: Reduce your waste
- 🌍 Eat at sustainable restaurants: Support those who are making a change
- 🌍 Start your own garden: Produce locally reducing transportation and use of fossil fuels
- 🌍 Use a reusable water bottle: Reduce your waste and plastic use
- 🌍 Unplug your unused appliances: End unnecessary energy consumption
Where to Start?
We understand it can be overwhelming to start by applying the ideas in the list above all at once, so why not
calculate your Footprint first to find the key areas that you need to improve?
