sustainable shopping
sustainable shopping

10 Simple Swaps to Live More Sustainably

 

For those wondering how to be more eco-friendly in their day-to-day living, many sustainable options can take the place of your old products. Go greener with these ten easy switches you can make for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

1. Shop for plastic-free products

plastic free shopping

1. Shop for plastic-free products

Swapping out plastic goods and packaging for plastic-free products is an easy way to go green. Next time you do your big shop, take refillable containers to shops that offer zero-waste groceries, refillable beauty products, and plastic-free dry food goods sold by weight. Check out these plastic-free shops in your area.

 

2. Buy second-hand instead of new

second hand clothes

2. Buy second-hand instead of new

Next time you're in the market for a new piece of furniture, clothing options, or appliances, why not shop used instead? Second-hand purchases are now only cheaper but also lower the environmental impact of the manufacturing process. Check out these amazing second-hand shops in London for your next purchase.

3. Use a car sharing club, like Zipcar, instead of buying a car outright

Friends using a Zipcar for more sustainable travel

3. Use a car sharing club, like Zipcar, instead of buying a car outright

Become a Zipcar member to have easy access to cars in your local area when you need it, while saving money on insurance, parking permits and repairs. Car sharing means fewer personally owned cars – which means less traffic and more space for bikes. Zipcar allows its members to lower their bills as well as their emissions footprint.

 

4. Eat fewer animal products

fresh vegetables

4. Eat fewer animal products

The meat industry is one of the biggest producers of greenhouse emissions in the world. By cutting down on the consumption of animal products, you will lower your emissions output and make some healthy switches to your diet. There are now so many delicious and cost-effective meat alternatives on the market, so swapping meat for vegetarian and vegan dishes is easier than ever before.  

5. Choose reusable products

Reusable coffee cup

5. Choose reusable products

Swapping out single-use products for reusable products is another great way to go green. Buying and using one reusable water bottle will significantly reduce the number of plastic bottles that wind up in the landfill. Other eco-friendly alternatives include reusable shopping bags, travel mugs, cloth napkins, toothbrushes with detachable brush heads, and glass food containers.

6. Break up with Google 

Person using a laptop

6. Break up with Google 

Next time you need to find an answer on how to be eco-friendly, consider using Ecosia over Google. Ecosia is the search engine that plants trees every time you use it. Find your answer quickly and plant trees at the same time, with this green alternative.

7. Pick eco-friendly laundry detergents 

Doing the laundry

7. Pick eco-friendly laundry detergents 

Make your laundry as sustainable is possible. Switching out your old laundry detergent for natural and eco-friendly detergents is one small change that can make a big difference with every load, as they are gentler on fabrics and kinder to the environment.

8. Opt for loose leaf tea

Making a cup of tea

8. Opt for loose leaf tea

Many tea bags are made up of non-biodegradable materials and contain harmful toxins. Replacing single-use teabags with loose leaf tea and tea strainers means ditching the added packaging, as well as a fresher, healthier cup of tea.

9. Consider a sustainable shower

Sustainable shower

9. Consider a sustainable shower

If you're asking yourself how to be sustainable when it comes to your bathroom, look no further than your shower. Low-flow fixtures, shorter showers, refillable body washes, and plastic-free shampoo bars all provide sustainable options for a greener, cleaner bathroom experience.

10. E-readers over paperbacks 

relaxing with an e-reader

10. E-readers over paperbacks 

If you enjoy reading, why not consider swapping paperbacks for electronic books instead? E-readers will save you money in the long run, as e-books typically cost less than their paperback counterparts. Less paper usage means less damage to the environment, and fewer books in your home means less clutter overall.

Enjoy these eco-friendly options?

Find out more ways to be sustainable at home.

Why Zipcar?

piggy bank jar with Pound symbol on the front

Save money

We pay for fuel, parking, Congestion Charge and insurance – so you get access to a car without all the hassle of owning one!

map icon

Rent a car locally

Zipcars live just around the corner. We've got the largest car sharing fleet in the UK (not that we're boasting) and you'll find us in cities across the UK. 

moving car icon

Drive on-demand

Whatever you need wheels for, we’ve got them. Rent cars and vans by the minute, hour or day when and where you need them.

trees icon

Live greener

We’re the perfect addition to buses, trains and bikes for those times when you just need a car. We've also got hundreds of electric cars in our fleet. 

Join now