easy & positive ways
to help your environment
Easy action we all can take on a personal level.
Environmentally aware and wise consuming.
Every new product requires energy and manufacturing resources to make it - most manufacturing processes require use of energy and materials and many contribute to environmental degradation and air pollution.
2 If replacing a broken appliance - ask "Can I have the old one repaired?"
3 With electrical goods - seek one that has an energy efficient ranking. If it doesn't, ask the retailer to obtain its energy usage rating from the manufacturer. Firmly suggest to the retailer to only stock appliances that show this information.
4 Wherever possible purchase products that are made with recycled materials - check labels to see what percentage of recycled material has been used. In most cases, products from recycled materials creates less air pollution and water pollution than making ptoducts from virgin materials.
5 Do not buy over-packaged or disposable products, you will be buying literally, trash. Trash contributes to land fill in most cases or is incinerated which creates air pollutants.
6 Choose products that you can use over and over again. For example washable/reuseable cotton dish towels instead of kitchen paper towelling.
7 Buy large or economy size wherever possible - this reduces the amount of packaging per product and saves on the amount of discarded packaging.
8 Choose products with the least packaging and thank the store staff for stocking them - encourage good practices.
9 Buy whole fruits and vegetables to avoid the unnecessary trays and wraps.
10 When you purchase only an item or two, say "No bag thanks".
11 Use durable (non-throw away) items. Re-usable items such as plates, eating utensils, cloth napkins, sponges and dishclothes are better for the environment.
12 Look for products that are available in refillable packages or containers ie. dish washing detergent.
13 Maintain and repair durable products
14 Bring your own shopping bags to the store or re-use theirs.
15 Sell or donate things you no longer require, instead of throwing them out.
16 Buy reusable alkaline batteries (with no toxic cadmium or mercury)
17 Buy in bulk. This is less costly to you and also uses less packaging.
18 Refuse to buy throw away items like plastic razors, cleansing pads, non-refillable pens or foil baking dishes.
19 Choose containers that your community can recycle ie. glass, aluminium, etc. Avoid product containers that are difficult to recycle (eg. many "squeezable" dispensers for sauces for instance are made from numerous layers of different types of plastic).
20 Beware of manufacturers labelling plastic products "biodegradable". The simple truth is that "degradable" plastics don't degrade in modern landfills and, at best, merely break up into smaller pieces that release toxic substances.
21 Tell supermarket managers, store owners, restaurant managers and others that you are making your purchasing decisions based on the environmental impact of products. Email manufacturers too (many companies indicate addresses or phone numbers on their packaging)>
22 Request information from companies whose products you use or are considering using, to supply you with their companies environmental policy. Ask questions also about do their suppliers of materials consider the environment in their company's decisions and policies.
23 Do not buy household pesticides. Seek alternative organic or environmental-friendly alternatives on the internet.
24 If you own a car (and are unable to use alternative means of transport - walking, biking, public transport etc) and need new tyres, ask the suppliers what is done with the old tyres - how are they disposed of and have they considered environmental friendly alternatives.
25 Don't buy souvenirs made from wild animals.
26 Consume less energy by better insulating your home, switch off all unused lights and appliances, use low wattage bulbs wherever possible, turn the heat down in winter and wear a pullover/jumper, always wait until you have a full load of laundry before using your washer etc
27 Don't buy foods or household products in styrofoam containers if there's an alternative. They can't be recycled and they don't break down in the environment.
28 Buy locally grown food and locally made products where possible. This means less transportation fuel use and reduces protective packaging needed for long haulage products.
29 Don't buy "exotic" pets.
30 Purchase and use only phosphate-free laundry and dish washing detergents.
31 Consume environmentally-wisely. Convert others by your example. Your example will encourage others to save resources and protect the environment.
32 Email this list to your friends and collegues - spread the word
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Planet first 2000?
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Planet first 2000 promotes environmental awareness and appropriate action however, please note that listing any linked sites is for directory purposes only and does not, in any way, imply endorsement of any of the sites, their views or policies or the accuracy of the information that they contain. We have no control over the content of these sights listed. The lists of sites are regularly updated but are by no means exhaustive.