Weall know that the consumer
and investment choices we make
have a significant impact on the
environment, but what’s good for
the planet isn’t always good for our
wallet, right? Surely, going fully
green only puts us in the red? Not so
fast. Contrary to popular belief,
living sustainably and saving money
aren’t mutually exclusive. Here are
five ways to make a positive
difference to the climate crisis
without breaking the bank...
1
ELECTRICDREAMS
Nothing beats taking public
transport – or, better still,
walking to work. But if you do
need to use a car, follow Norway’s
example and get with the electric
revolution. Almost half of all cars sold
in the first six months of 2019 were
powered by fully electric engines,
according to the Norwegian Road
Federation. In the UK, only around 50
per cent of electricity is generated by
renewable sources, but electric
vehicles (EVs) are still the greener
option, explains Professor Jillian
Anable of the Institute for Transport
Studies at the University of Leeds. Yes,
the upfront costs are greater, but
Professor Anable claims prices are
falling all the time and you could even
receive a government grant towards
the cost. ‘Buyers should also factor in
the reduced running costs – around 4p
per mile compared to 15p per mile for a
family petrol or diesel car. And most
EVs are exempt from car tax and the
congestion charge.’2WASTENOT
Food waste is responsible
for a whopping 8 per cent
of global greenhouse gas
emissions, says Libby Peake, senior
policy adviser at Green Alliance.
‘The average UK family puts about
£700 worth of food straight into the
bin each year,’ she adds. Thankfully,
there’s plenty we can do to reduce
this, such as batch-cooking and
freezing, planning meals in advance
and only buying what you can use
before a product expires. For more
tips, visit lovefoodhatewaste.com.3MINDHOW YOU SHOP
Another way to cut food
waste is by making more
mindful purchases. Using an
app such as Giki, which scans a
product’s barcode to assess its
sustainable, health and fairness
credentials, could make you think
twice about what you put in your
basket – and help you source low-
carbon and better packaging options(^5) w
ays
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(often the cheaper alternative).
Giki’sfounder Jo Hand also suggests:
‘Pick up a reusable water bottle for
under£ 5, which could save you over
£100a year.’ (On average, we each
buy 150 single-use plastic water
bottles per annum.)
4
GREEN,NOT CLEAN
Disposablefashion has had
a bad rap of late, and rightly
so – but splashing out on
pricier labels isn’t always the answer
to greening up your wardrobe.
Dr Mark Sumner, a sustainability,
retail and fashion expert at the
University of Leeds, carried out tests
on the durability of garments and
found some fast fashion pieces lasted
longer than high-end alternatives. If
you really want to dress more
sustainably, it’s all in how you look
after your clothes, says Sumner. ‘If
you can make garments last for
longer you’re reducing your overall
carbon and water footprint. Only
wash clothes when they need it, and
at no more than 30 degrees, and
avoid tumble drying. Not only will
you extend their lifetime, you’ll also
save money in terms of water, energy
and washing powder use.’
5
‘SAVING’THE PLANET
Get this – moving your
savings to sustainable funds
can be 27 times more
efficient to lowering your carbon
footprint than reducing your shower
by two minutes each time, taking one
less international flight per year,
taking the train instead of the car and
eating a maximum one piece of meat
each week combined. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH BY NORDEA (NORDEA.COM/EN/SUSTAINABILITY/SUSTAINABILITY-NEWS/USE-YOUR-SAVINGS-TO-LOWER-YOUR-CARBON-FOOTPRINT.HTML)