You’re on board with the plastic bag ban, you always remember your reusable coffee cup, and you’ve nailed the classic eco-warrior ‘no straw please’ line when you’re ordering a smoothie… but what next?

The list of things you can do to protect and respect mother nature is endless, but when tackled bit by bit, it’s far from overwhelming! Starting with your coffee cup and canvas tote bag is good, and striving to make bigger changes that benefit people and the planet is great.

5 things to do after you’ve mastered the keep cup…

Consider how you get around

Research by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has revealed that Kiwis believe recycling and plastic waste have more of an impact on the climate than their transport use. This is not true. Transport is responsible for 48% of the country’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, and we need to ensure we’re doing all we can to reduce this statistic!

If possible, swap one of your regular weekly trips for a climate-friendly transport option. For example, take the bus with your child to their weekly ballet lesson, or why not pop out to grab takeaways on your bike instead of starting up the car. Public transport may be difficult in some situations, but if 5 million of us changed just one trip a week, we could save thousands of tonnes of carbon every year.

Invest responsibly

Now more than ever, the media is encouraging us to vote with our wallets and purchase products from small kiwi businesses; support local! While it’s always important to use your ‘wallet power’ to purchase a $4 bamboo toothbrush from a kiwi business like Oh Natural instead of a plastic toothbrush from the supermarket, what about the thousands of dollars you squirrel away as life savings? It’s investing in something, and you have the chance to decide if that something is good or bad.

Mindful Money is a helpful tool to compare KiwiSaver funds and learn about responsible investing. It’s easy to find a scheme that fits your personal ethics without compromising on lower returns or having to sign a thousand documents to make the switch! Promise.

‘Green’ your beauty regime

The pantry is often an obvious eco journey to start, but what about your bathroom? Swapping to an eco-friendly beauty regime is another easy way to better your footprint. ‘Greening’ your bathroom can reduce waste, improve your health, and stop harmful toxins from entering waterways.

Start by checking out Oh Natural’s skincare options, begin with a simple but daily product like your deodorant, or get straight to it by reevaluating your makeup.

Save water

There’s a reason we celebrate World Water Day every year on the 22nd of March; water is the world’s life source. In Aotearoa New Zealand, we are fortunate to have access to safe water sources in most places. However, 2 billion people live in countries that experience water stress (contaminated or lack of water), and if our current trajectory continues, the world will face a 40% global water deficit by 2030.

Ways to conserve water include

• Use a bucket to collect shower water while you wait for it to turn hot and use this water to water your garden, wash your car – there are lots of ways to use this water.
• Keep a tub in your kitchen sink and water the garden with this water.
• Have 3-4 minute showers.
• Change your tap nozzles and showerheads to water conserving ones.

Use your voice

It’s easy to think that one little human cannot make a difference; it’s also easy to look back in history and see how one person can change everything. Rosa Parks was one person; her act of sitting at the front of the bus changed the lives of billions of people. Gandhi; also one person. Greta Thunberg = one person.

While you don’t have to wake up tomorrow and become Mother Teresa, there are simple things you can do to use your voice and push for positive change. And you only need to do one at a time. 

Attend a peaceful protest, email your favourite brands asking them for their stance on sustainability, sign petitions, attend beach cleanups and get involved in ways that suit your situation and interests.

Mastering the basics of sustainable living is excellent; you’re already ahead! Continue being an epic human by taking further action to protect the environment. Consider your transport options, invest responsibly, ‘green’ your beauty regime, save water, and use your voice. These things may take extra time and consideration, but they will reap personal rewards and ensure we can all continue enjoying life on this beautiful earth.

Written by Kate Hall from Ethically Kate