With summer fast approaching (or, at least, we hope it is!), it can be easy to feel overwhelmed in your journey to living a more eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle. With the change in weather and, if you’re a parent, the kids at home, it can be so easy to feel a little out of your depth with all the sustainable options out there.
That’s why, this week on the RAINE Clothing blog, we’re sharing our top 5 ways to ensure your summer is as eco-friendly as possible, wherever you are!
1. Ditch single-use plastic
As we mentioned in our ‘5 ways to live more sustainably’ blog post, single-use plastics are currently one of the largest contributing factors to pollution in the ocean, but can also often be found in landfills, too, contributing massively to both consumer waste and global pollution. Luckily, as there has been so much focus on the impact of these types of plastics in recent years, there are plenty of great alternatives on the market that make not using them much easier.
The best places to start? Get refillable water bottles for the whole family, if possible, so you don’t have to rely on purchasing plastic bottles of water when you’re out and about, and grab some tote bags or reusable shopping bags from the supermarket to keep with you so you’re not having to use plastic bags from the supermarket or shops!
2. Head on a staycation
With everything that’s happened so far in 2021, lots of us are excited at the prospect of finally being able to go abroad again – but if this year has taught us anything, it’s that there’s plenty to do in the UK, too! We all love heading off on holiday, but incorporating some staycations into your holiday plans is a great way of reducing your carbon footprint, whilst also allowing you to discover some hidden gems in the UK.
3. Try meat-free options
With the meat and dairy industries accounting for 14.5% off all global carbon emissions, according to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), and with issues like deforestation and water degradation so closely linked to both of these industries, there are plenty of reasons to try and incorporate more meat-free meals into your diet.
A great way to lower your carbon footprint in this area is to try having one meat-free or plant-based dinner per week! Alternatively, you could always try incorporating some milk alternatives into your diet, like replacing regular milk with almond, soya, or oat-based products.
4. Skip fast fashion
We’ve mentioned previously on our blog how much of an impact fast fashion has on the environment, with consumers now purchasing 60% more clothing per year vs. 15 years ago, leading to higher levels of landfill waste and overall consumption of resources.
A great way to combat this is to incorporate more eco-friendly materials and sustainable fashion into your summer wardrobe; if you’re not sure where to start, take a look at our ‘5 best eco-friendly fabrics to add to your wardrobe’ post for some inspiration, as there are lots of breathable, summer-friendly options on offer!
5. Drive less
We all know that driving less or taking public transport can have a good impact on our own carbon emissions, but the added bonus of some (hopefully!) nice weather this summer means that you’ve got a great excuse to get out and do some walking, where possible. Even if it’s just a 10 minute walk to the shops instead of a quick drive, or taking your children for a day out on the train instead of heading there by car, these choices do add up!
We hope we’ve given you lots of inspiration on ways to make more eco-friendly choices this summer, and left you feeling a little less overwhelmed with the prospect of trying to balance sustainability with the changing seasons!
We always love to hear your ideas, tips, and tricks to live a more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle, so please do leave any suggestions you have below – and if there’s anything you’d like to see us write about next, that’s always welcome, too!
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