- ZERO WASTE
Zero waste focuses on reducing waste to zero by changing our consumption habits and approach to production. The main goal is to minimize the amount of trash that ends up in landfills and oceans, and to protect the environment.
ZERO WASTE BASICS:
- Avoiding disposable products and items
- Buying less, choosing quality over quantity and reducing the things you own to a minimum
- Using items repeatedly, fixing them instead of throwing them away
- Segregating waste and recycling materials that can be recycled again
- Turning organic waste into compost that can be used in the garden
BENEFITS:
- Reducing waste helps reduce pollution and protect biodiversity
- Less shopping means less spending, and reusing items and food can significantly reduce costs
- Practicing zero waste makes us think about how our choices affect the planet
HOW TO START?
- Learn more about the products you buy and their impact on the environment
- Make shopping lists to avoid impulsive decisions
- Choose local products (Buying from local producers is often associated with a smaller carbon footprint).
Examples of practical activities:
- Using reusable bags, glass jars or food containers
- Avoiding plastic packaging by choosing bulk products
- Sharing items you no longer need instead of throwing them away
Earth, our shared planet, is facing serious challenges that affect its future. Climate change, pollution, species extinction, deforestation, depletion of natural resources – these are just some of the problems that threaten our planet. While many of these threats are global, any change, even the smallest, can make a difference.
Habits shape our lives and have a huge impact on the environment. We often don’t realize how everyday decisions – such as our choice of transportation, the way we consume energy, the type of food we buy and the products we use – contribute to the degradation of the planet. Changing to greener habits is one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
Saving energy at home is one of the first steps we can take. It’s worth starting with the simplest habits:
- Turning off lights and electrical appliances: Be sure to turn off lights in rooms you are not in, as well as electrical appliances that are not currently in use. This is a small change, but it has a big impact on energy consumption.
- Choosing energy-efficient appliances: Replacing old, energy-consuming appliances with modern, energy-efficient ones (e.g., refrigerators, washing machines, televisions) reduces electricity consumption.
- Energy-efficient lighting: Replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs can reduce energy consumption by 75%, and they last up to tens of thousands of hours.
- Setting the right temperature in the house: Reducing the temperature in winter by one degree, for example, in rooms we don’t stay in, allows for noticeable energy savings.
Responsible use of water: saving resources
Water is one of the most precious resources available to our planet. Although most of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, only a small portion of it is drinkable. Excessive water consumption, as well as water pollution, is leading to increasingly serious problems with access to clean drinking water, especially in regions affected by droughts and climate change. Each of us can contribute to saving water through a few simple actions in our daily lives.
- Shorter showers: A shower uses much less water than a full bath, but it’s worth further reducing the time spent under the stream of water to reduce water consumption.
- Repair leaky taps: One of the biggest culprits of water waste is leaky taps, which can waste up to a dozen liters of water a day. By repairing such faults, we reduce losses.
- Rainwater collection: If possible, it is worth investing in a rainwater collection system. It can be used for watering plants, washing the car or other purposes that do not require drinking water.
- Use energy-efficient appliances: Washing machines and dishwashers with lower water consumption are an excellent investment that saves not only water, but also energy.
- Responsible water management is not only good for the environment, but also for our wallet. By reducing water consumption, we reduce the costs associated with water intake and processing.
Sustainable transportation: how to reduce emissions
Transportation is one of the main sources of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Daily use of passenger cars contributes to smog, climate change and pollution. While a full transition to zero-emission transportation is a challenge, each of us can take steps to help reduce the environmental impact of transportation.
- Using public transportation: Instead of traveling by car, use public transportation, which is more efficient in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per passenger.
- Biking and hiking: In cities, consider switching to biking or walking. It’s not only environmentally friendly, but also a healthy solution that reduces air pollution, plus it improves physical fitness.
- Carpooling: Carpooling with other people, known as carpooling, is an excellent way to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, leading to lower emissions from transportation.
- Purchasing an electric vehicle: For people who can’t give up their car, a good option is to choose an electric vehicle, which doesn’t emit emissions and contributes to reducing air pollution.
Changing consumption habits: less, but better
One of the main problems facing our planet is over-consumption. The production of new items requires large amounts of natural resources, energy and water. Instead of constantly buying new things, consider adopting a more sustainable living philosophy.
- Limit buying unnecessary things: Before each purchase, consider whether the item is really necessary. Often, impulsive purchases lead to a waste of resources.
- Recycling and repairing: It’s worth repairing things that have broken instead of throwing them away right away. This not only gives a second life to items, but also reduces waste.
- Upcycling and donating: Donating things we no longer need to other people or organizations can reduce the demand for new products, thereby reducing their production.
Dietary change: less meat consumption
The meat industry is one of the main culprits of greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Reducing meat consumption, especially red meat, has a huge impact on reducing our carbon footprint. It’s also a step toward a healthier diet. It’s worth introducing more plant-based alternatives to your diet, which are just as tasty and nutritious.
Performance: Zuzanna Gajewska, Izabela Barlak, Wiktoria Neiman
