It is well known that recycling is an eco-friendly activity to do. We are encouraged to do it at home and everywhere we go and it feels good to do the right thing. Although recycling plays a role in getting to Net Zero because it circulates existing resources for longer in the economy, it is not a perfect solution. Recycling requires energy to transport, sort and turn rubbish into new products. Surveys also show that many people find recycling very confusing and there are missed opportunities because the wrong things end up in the wrong bin. The opportunity to recycle also varies depending where you live and how easy local councils make it to recycle.

What is a better solution than recycling is buying less items. Buying less is much better for the environment because it reduces demand for materials taken from our ecosystems. Our consumption of materials has increased dramatically since 2000 and it is unsustainable. Not only does buying less reduce the materials we need for consumption, we need to reduce our demand for energy. Our demand for energy has increased at an astonishing rate in the past 50 years and electricity grids cannot take an unlimited increase in carrying electricity.

Although part of the solution of cutting down carbon emissions is replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy and electrifying our energy use, it is not the whole solution. To live within the ecological limits of the planet, we need to reduce our energy demand as well. The more products we make, the more energy is required to turn raw materials into products and transport them to us.

Buying less is win-win situation for ourselves and the planet, because we spend less money on things we do not need and improve our finances. We also take less resources out from the planet leading to less destruction of our ecosystems. But where is the best place to start?

Do not be tempted to over-consume

There are so many tactics that companies use to encourage us to over-consume. Fast-fashion, Black Fridays, three for two offers, the list is endless. Not to mention there are millions of adverts and influencers on social media selling us certain lifestyles. This is SO tempting. However, this is terrible for the planet and our budget as we end up throwing much of what we buy.

Food waste and fast fashion are taking a big toll on carbon emissions. It is estimated we waste a big percentage of food we buy. The USA wastes more than any other country, throwing away 30-40% of food, which is 40 million tonnes of food a year. Global food waste is responsible for 11% of global warming. Our wardrobes are not fully used either. Research shows we only use 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time, so it is worth being honest with yourself when you are clothes shopping about how you are going to make use of your wardrobe. Fast fashion is responsible for 10% of global emissions. It is the second largest polluting industry and really should be avoided because it has a devastating impact on our environment when it gets throw away. When shopping, it helps to be more aware about what you need rather than getting tempted and wasting money on things you like temporarily.

Substitute single-use items with reuseable products

Using reusable products is a way of cutting down using and throwing away single-use items. Reusable items you can carry around with you are shopping bags, water bottles and coffee cups. This will save you money, as you will not be spending money on bottled water when you go out or will not be charged for buying a shopping bag. Other ways to cut down your use of single use items is to get a milkman to deliver milk to the house. Buying in bulk also means you will buy less individual products and save money.

Buy second hand items

There are increasingly more opportunities to buy things we want second-hand. Things that are easy to buy second hand are cars and electronics. Buying clothes second hand has never been easier. The most popular app for second hand clothes is Vinted and other places to look are vintage shops and charity shops. If you would rather buy new clothes for yourself, you can build a wardrobe that requires buying less by only shopping for durable clothes that are made to last a long time.  

Repair instead of buying new products

Repairing products is a good way to save money and make your household items last longer. There are an increasing number of repair shops run by volunteers that can repair all sort of things for free, from clothes to furniture.  The Repair Café is a voluntary movement that started in the Netherlands and has gone global. Repair cafes have been set up everywhere in the world. Check whether there are repair shops near you that help refurbish your things for free.