As our awareness of the human impact on our planet grows, we all want to be a bit kinder to Mother Earth.

That being said, it can be a bit overwhelming knowing where to start. First of all, just know you don't have to do it all on your own! However, there are lots of eco-friendly ways we can reduce our personal footprint. Read on for 8 ways we can lighten the load we put on this amazing planet that we call home. Differences can be made in the way that we shop, eat, drink and in our beauty regime. You can still enjoy the things you love while doing it a little more green.

7 Ways To Be More Eco-Friendly

1. Walk, Cycle or Take The Bus

Switching to walking or cycling for shorter journeys creates less noise, less air pollution, and results in fewer emissions that are warming the atmosphere! We know this isn't always an option for everyone, but it's great to do it if we can.

2. Take Care Of The Things You Own

Taking care of the things we love helps to make them last longer. A little love keeps our belonging in our care (and out of landfill) for as long as possible! It also reduces the strain we put on natural resources and the carbon footprint that occurs every time we buy new. Ask yourself if something really needs to be thrown away or can it be mended or maybe even upcycled?

3. Buy What You Love

William Morris famously said, "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be beautiful or believe to be useful". We think these are wonderful words to live by! Buying things that we truly love or things we'll get lots of use out of means we'll keep and treasure our belongings for longer. Here at Utility, we are proud to stock beautifully designed products that we hope you will love for years to come.

4.Choosing Materials

Some materials are much kinder on the planet than others. Look out for renewable or recycled materials wherever possible as these are much more eco-friendly. Once our belongings come to the end of their life (hopefully after years and years of love!) the time comes to dispose of them. From home accessories to food packaging, we have the power to choose products whose materials are recyclable or biodegradable.

5. Eat Well

There is lots of evidence that reducing our meat consumption is kinder on the environment. Buying locally produced, seasonal food where possible is another great change we can make. Choosing fruit and veg that comes without any plastic wrapping is a simple way to reduce our waste. Too Good To Go have loads of great ways we can reduce food waste by meal prepping like a boss!

6. Everyday Swaps

There are lots of things we can do to bring more environmentally friendly products into our homes. Start with basic things like swapping plastic toothbrushes and cotton buds for bamboo versions. Swap the plastic dish sponge for a natural dish brush. These little things all help to reduce the amount of plastic we consume in our day to day lives.

7. Be Prepared With Reusables

Keep your reusable coffee cup and water bottle with you and never get caught needing to use a 'disposable' cup again! If you're someone who eats on the go often, reusable travel cutlery might be really useful for you. Sometimes the need for a straw cannot be escaped, whether you're sipping on cocktails or slurping up smoothies. We all know too well that paper straws go soggy and plastic straws are code red for the environment. That's why we love a reusable bamboo straw! It is most definitely the more stylish and environmentally conscious option.

8. Use What You Have

Don't forget - the most sustainable items are the ones you already own. This is because they already exist, so no additional natural resources need to be used! Before buying a new outfit, dig deep into that wardrobe. We bet there is something fabulous in there you'd forgotten all about!

We are really proud of our Eco Edit. From handy reusable that help you reduce waste to jewellery and slippers crafted from environmentally friendly materials, we have got the planet-friendly gift for you!

Shop our Eco-Friendly Edit here.

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