Nine ways to be more sustainable at home

More than 90% of Australians are concerned about sustainability and the environment yet only 48% of people believe they are doing enough to be sustainable in their daily lives.

But becoming more sustainable around the house doesn't have to be difficult or require huge sacrifices.

Pure Planet Club Commercial Manager Christina Kjaergaard shared her top simple ways to be more sustainable in your daily life.

Top up your pool responsibly

Use a hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, watering can or bucket for a maximum of 15 minutes per day. Only replace water lost through evaporation though, not water deliberately removed or splashed out by the kids. Help our environment and the drought across Australia by saving water, starting today.

Say goodbye to disposables

Take-away plastic cups, forks, knives and food containers are on the way out. It began with the switch from plastic straws to recyclable paper types, but now all the hype is trendy re-usable metal straws. When you buy something, consider its life expectancy. How long can it be used and will it have more than one use? When you're finished, will it end up in landfill?

Make the swap to plastic-free and tree-free toilet paper

Try options made from 100% plant-based materials like bamboo and sugarcane waste. Making this simple choice means you're saving some of the 27,000 trees which are normally used to make toilet paper per day.

Use half-flush when possible

If you have a dual-flush toilet, using the half-flush button reduces your water usage which helps to preserve the environment and save money on your water bill. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates more than 15,000 litres of water can be saved annually in a residential household that uses a dual-flush toilet.

Time your showers and stick to 4 minutes

Believe it or not, it is possible to wash your whole body in four minutes. Set a timer, do it for a few weeks and soon you will be in the habit of efficient showering. Save water and energy used to heat the water.

Choose eco-beauty products

Plastic pollution is causing irreversible damage to our planet at an alarming rate; go plastic-free today to protect the Earth's future. Think about your toothbrush, hairbrush and all those other beauty products you use that are packaged in ridiculous amounts of plastic and swap them out ASAP.

Use non-toxic cleaning products

A few natural products you have lying around the house can be awesome eco-friendly cleaning products. For example, the acid in white vinegar makes it naturally capable of killing mould and bacteria so you can use it on your taps, mirrors, shower floors and bath. Natural products are healthier for you and healthier for our planet.

If you're not using it, switch it off

Always turn off appliances, lights, switches and everything you're not using. It's amazing how much of your household energy you can save when you're consciously taking action. Not only will you reduce your electricity bill, you'll also reduce your impact on natural resources, pollution and your overall impact on global warming.

Resell and donate items

If there's anything you no longer need, everyone is keen to give your beloved items a second life. Vintage items will be more popular than ever before so think twice before tossing something out and adding to landfill. Try reselling at the local markets, offer to or donate to a charity organisation.