Reducing my environmental impact

Here’s a list of some of the things I do to try to reduce my impact on the environment. They’re not particularly earth-shattering, and I’m very aware that I fly far too much, but maybe if we all did lots of little things, it could make some kind of difference. I also realise that I’m privileged to be able to make some of these choices and that not everyone can do this.

• Recycle as much as I can.
• Write on scrap paper.
• Reuse envelopes.
• Don’t use straws.
• Drink water.
• Use just enough water when cooking or boiling the kettle.
• Use charcoal in a glass jug to filter my water, rather than plastic water filters.
• Use clothes and washable sponges instead of disposable plastic-based sponges and kitchen roll.
• Use toothpaste tablets/DentTabs instead of toothpaste.
• Use shampoo bars instead of bottled shampoo.
• Use soap bars instead of soap from a dispenser.
• Dry my hands on my clothes instead of using paper towels or a hand dryer.
• Write with pencils instead of pens.
• Save pens to be recycled.
• Switch off lights when I leave a room.
• Switch off my phone at night.
• Never leave things on standby.
• Switch off my computer completely.
• Take my own bags shopping, including for fruit and veg.
• Choose products in paper metal or glass instead of plastic if I can.
• Almost never order takeaways.
• Make my own bread and cakes instead of buying ones wrapped in plastic.
• Keep my electronic devices for as long as they are usable, rather than replacing them every couple of years.
• Only charge my devices when the battery has run down, and unplug themonce they’ve charged.
• Walk or use public transport – I’ve never wanted to learn to drive, partly for environmental reasons.
• Have reusable water bottles.
• Eat almost no meat at home.
• Reduce the amount of dairy I eat.
• Choose the most local fruit or veg.
• Eat what’s in season.
• Buy only as much food as I need and eat all of it before it goes off or freeze it if I think I won’t be able to.
• Use my own lunchboxes to take away leftover food from restaurants.
• Only buy clothes and shoes when I really need them.
• Buy clothes from charity shops or secondhand instead of new.
• Use Bookcrossing.com to pass on books I’m unlikely to ever read again.
• Use a solar-powered lamp in my bedroom.
• Use a solar-powered fan.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Put extra clothes on or use extra blankets before I choose to turn up the heating.

What haven’t I thought of? What else do you do?