In less than a decade there’s been a continuing shift in the impact we have on our world. An awakening to dirty energy is realised according to data from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and many financial institutions with coal exit strategies. Government incentives are ushering a new era of new clean technologies with many governments deploying long terms plans to reduce their carbon footprint within the next two decades.
The pursuit of living more sustainably and trying to make small efforts to make a change is something we can all do to eliminate some of the problems that will impact us all in the future.
You don’t have to be perfect and completely change your lifestyle, but small efforts can still make a world of difference. Did you know, for example, that some simple changes in the bathroom can greatly reduce our impact on the environment?
Nobody says you have to give up your beauty routine, but small adjustments can help us to do our bit for the environmental effort.
Switch Up Your Cosmetics
Some countries do better than others when it comes to recycling and reusing. Sadly, however many people recycle, there is still an increasing amount of rubbish that is being sent to landfills as they are not made from environmentally sustainable materials. The plastic containers used to store our beauty products are a big part of the problem.
It’s up to us to be more conscious about the products we choose. Some certain brands and products have the environment at the centre of what they do. You can update your products and ditch single-use plastic in your bathroom by using liquid hand soap Tirtyl or by investing in some soap and conditioner bars that use less packaging and contain fewer harmful and toxic chemicals. The products you use don’t have to (literally) cost the Earth.
Take Timed Showers Instead of Baths
There’s nothing like a nice hot shower to start or end the day. A bath can be nice sometimes if you have access to one, but they are incredibly wasteful of water and costly to heat. Besides, how many of us like to drain the water to top it up with hot water when we’re having a bath?
Plenty of us do it, and this is a habit that is costly to both the environment and our wallets. Instead, opt for a timed shower. Give yourself enough time to wash properly, and stick to hairwashing a couple of times a week instead of every day to reduce the time you are in the shower and water usage. Don’t have a shower? You can get showerhead attachments for your taps, too!
Rethink Menstrual Products
For those who have periods, did you know that using single-use products such as sanitary towels and tampons have a severe impact on the environment? Tampons can take over six months to biodegrade – but that does not include the non-biodegradable plastic applicator designed for the comfort of the users. Regular pads can take roughly 500 to 800 years to break down. Switching to things such as menstrual cups and period underwear can help to take the stress out of your cycle. If they are well looked after, they can last for up to ten years. Not only will that save you from constantly repurchasing products, using these alternatives will help you to reduce your carbon footprint significantly.