Technology has helped in the invention of so many wonderful things that make life easier and more efficient. However, it’s fair to say that we are now learning that some of these ingenious inventions have left a negative mark on the environment.  

We can all agree that we want a better and more sustainable world, but for some people, the possible continued damage to the environment can be a real fear. Life is busy enough though, and we all need ways to make life easy for ourselves, right? But what if we could continue to have those easy life hacks while making a better impact on the environment? We could channel that fear of damage into action!

Here are five small and easy changes we can all make to help the environment. 

Start with the shopping list

Changing our shopping list can be a really positive thing for the environment. It may take a bit of thinking and planning initially, but soon it will become second nature.

• Buy fruit and vegetables in season and Irish-sourced foods where you can.

• Buy food with less packaging or with recyclable or compostable packaging.

• Make a meal plan for the week along with a shopping list and stick to it - reduces food waste and saves you money!

Change your shopping habits

It’s not just about the list! What about our shopping behaviour? We can reduce our negative impact on the environment by making some very small changes to our habits. 

• Bring your own bags for clothes shopping.

• Bring some small bags to put your loose veg in while at the supermarket rather than using the plastic ones provided.

• Aim to shop in places that have the same values as you, which may involve a little bit of research. Try to pay a visit to your local veg shop, fishmonger or butcher as often as you can.

Reduce appliance use 

The appliances we use to make our lives so much easier and more convenient but with energy costs increasing we don’t have to stop using them to reduce our impact on the environment, we just need to be smart about how we use them. 

• Check your washing machine manual to see what’s the best cycle you can use for clothes.

• We don’t have the best weather in Ireland but when you can, why not hang the clothes out and save the dryer for a wet day?

• Manage your boiler and immersion. Set timers on the appliances or failing that, set a reminder on your phone to turn them off.

• When using the stove, make sure the circumferences of the pot and the hob ring match. If the ring is bigger than the pot, you have a whole lot of heat escaping and energy wasted.

Rethink parties and events

We all love a get-together or a big occasion. It’s part of being human, but we could get a bit carried away when it comes to food and decorations. When planning your next event, ask yourself the following questions: 

• Do I really need all those balloons? Is the confetti necessary?

• Can I reuse decorations or ask relatives and friends to help make some decorations out of recycled materials? Kids especially love a project like this!

• Is there a caterer I can use who is sustainable?

• In what ways can I reduce possible food waste?

Do your research

When buying a product, it’s always useful to ask questions before you commit to a purchase. If the information isn’t readily available you may need to do some digging. The answers may encourage you to go ahead with your purchase, or you might decide to look elsewhere. Here are a few things to think about:

• Where does the product come from and how did it get here?

• What materials are used?

• Is this company sustainable or eco-friendly?

• How can I shop more responsibly? Is there a local alternative?

Sometimes some of the changes we want to make can come with a monetary or time cost, especially if we want to buy locally sourced products. But there are loads of ways we can save a few euros too when we are aware of our environmental impact! It may not be possible to implement all of these suggestions, so decide how many and which ones could work for you. It’s important to remember that over time, small changes can make a big difference!