Five habits to make your home more sustainable

As we become more conscious of our impact on the planet and grapple with the effects of climate change, there are small things Queenslanders can do at home to help make a difference.

These five ‘green’ habits to make your home more sustainable may seem small but can cement a path to an eco-friendlier future.

Invest in reusable food and drink packaging

If you tend to use excessive amounts of plastic film to cover leftovers, are a known hoarder of plastic takeaway containers or have not yet invested in a keep cup, it is definitely time to rethink your food packaging habits.

As a nation of coffee drinkers, it is daunting to think how many cups are sent into landfill every day, so investing in a reusable keep cup is not only an easy way to reduce your impact but could also score you a discount at plenty of coffee shops. 

In terms of at-home food storage, there are now eco-friendly plastic films available in supermarkets and also eco-friendly, cost-effective ‘bees wax’ food wraps which can be reused and are ideal for storing leftovers in the fridge.

Alternatively, investing in some reusable glass containers over plastic is a much more eco-friendly way of storing your next meal.

Know how and what to recycle

With a recent campaign launched by the Australian Government designed to increase Australia’s recycling industry by generating $600 million in recycling investment, it is hard not to think about how you can have an impact with your at-home waste habits.

Although recycling may still seem confusing to some, fear not as there is an Australasian Recycling Label on all Australian products which is helpful in deciding which products can be recycled.

Another easy way to boost your sustainability is to collect any soft plastics used at home and return them to your local supermarket through the REDcycle initiative.

With a bin dedicated to REDcycle at the entrance of most supermarkets, the Australian company encourages you to dispose of all soft plastics at their checkpoints with the aim of reducing the amount of waste in landfill as well as in our oceans.

Buy fresh produce rather than pre-packaged produce

Although it may be tempting to opt for pre-cut vegetables or individually packaged goods at your local supermarket, make the conscious decision to choose fresh produce instead, knowing you have made a difference.

Also included in the Australian Government’s recent recycling campaign is the goal that by 2025, 70% of plastic packaging in Australia will be recyclable or compostable, which means the transition to reducing our use of individually packaged goods is well on its way.

So why not start making ‘greener’ choices in your home by opting for products with minimal packaging or refusing plastic bags when you don’t need them.

Improve your gardening skills

Even if you don’t have a large backyard, a balcony will do for this ‘green’ habit which involves investing in a small outdoor produce patch as well as a small compost bin.

Improving your skills as a ‘green’ thumb could be an efficient way of reducing not only the amount of waste but also the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in mass agricultural production.

Utilising a compost bin next to a garden at home will also help reduce toxins in the air to create a healthier vegetable patch therefore reducing your carbon footprint in the long run.

Use eco-friendly cleaning products

The cleaning products we use at home can often be some of the most harmful pollutants to our environment.

Aside from reducing toxic fumes within your home environment, using Earth-conscious cleaning products and even opting for biodegradable sanitiser wipes are both equally important in reducing your environmental impact.

The same can be said for eco-friendly washing liquid which is also an easy way to make the switch to a ‘greener’ home.

Sometimes more cost-effective than traditional cleaning products, these sustainable, home-cleaning solutions really are a no-brainer. 

If you’re looking for more ways to reduce, reuse and recycle there are some more handy tips from the Australian Government here.

Find out how RACQ is supporting sustainability