What you can do

Going plant-based is better for your wallet, the environment, and your health. These diets can help treat chronic conditions and may eliminate some symptoms by offering lower cholesterol and better digestion. Indeed, studies show that plant-based diets can lower cholesterol more easily than a low-fat ones, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wants to improve their health. You may also notice clearer skin after switching to a plant-based diet.

Red meat might be one of the worst foods for sustainable living, as animals like cows take up so many resources while releasing methane gas into the atmosphere. Around 26% of emissions in the atmosphere come from food production and livestock farming makes up over 50% of that amount.

Plants produce a tiny fraction of that gas, making plant-based protein sources the better option for any household that wants to put the Earth first. Even if you don’t cut out meat entirely, you can start by eating less meat overall and introducing some plant-only meal days into your week. 

• Buy only things that you need.

• Buy things that can be repaired and re-used. Fairphone is a great example for making mobile phones as fair as possible. Framework has shown that also elegant, powerful and small laptop computers can be repairable. And in German speaking countries, Refurbed gives you a great, cheaper alternative to buying new products.

• Avoid plastic: plastic is one of the greatest threats to the environment. Approximately 300 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide every year, with more than 90% ending up in landfills, the ocean or simply dumped.

One of the best ways to work toward a brighter future is to make adjustments to your home to make it more environmentally friendly. For example, proper insulation can save you money on your heating and cooling bills. And if you can change to heatpumps, they use only a fraction of the energy of gas- or oil-powered heating.

If you want to upgrade your home even more, consider adding something more permanent, like solar panels. Solar panels have low maintenance costs, so once you get past the installation price, they should pay for themselves in no time. Make it a financial goal and you’ll see it pay off for you in the future.

According to a publication by MHealthy, a green initiative at the University of Michigan, the average person generates approximately 6.5kg of carbon emissions annually by using the elevator. In order to save electricity and limit your carbon footprint, think about using the stairs whenever possible. And when you can, walk or bike to your next destination instead of driving. In addition to helping the environment, will benefit your health and fitness too.