The recent COVID-19 pandemic has ruined nearly everyone's plans this year. In addition, it has also largely affected our way of living - more specifically our environmentally friendly lifestyles. In this article we are going to try and give some helpful tips which we hope will help you to continue living sustainably as our lives slowly get back to normal.
1. Travel
More and more countries are allowing people to travel, whether this is to visit family, work or just taking a well needed break. However, just because we are allowed to travel does not mean we have to completely forfeit our methods of sustainable transportations. Examples of sustainable transportation include walking, cycling, transit, carpooling, car sharing, and green vehicles. We are well aware that these methods of transport may not get you far enough for a holiday. Firstly, we encourage you to travel locally, for the safety of you and the environment. Yet we understand that the local hotel 2 miles from your house is not your dream vacation. Therefore, we suggest, if you were to travel abroad, that you keep the sustainable methods of transport in mind, such as driving through Europe instead of booking a plane ticket. Not only is this better for the environment but it is a safer option as well!!
2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Reluctantly, everyone is slowly returning to work. Although this may seem normal, the new regime is far from it. Masks and gloves are the basic essentials of PPE and almost every on site job requires them. The materials these masks and gloves are made from are very hard to recycle - that is if you dispose of them. That is why we urge you to purchase reusable PPE (for specific information on what equipment you should buy, click here). Generally, natural fabrics like organic cotton and linen (made from plants) and tencel (made from sustainable wood pulp) are more sustainable than man-made fabrics like polyester and nylon (which are petroleum-based and take hundreds of years to biodegrade). So, to stay safe at work whilst protecting the environment, invest in sustainable PPE.
3. If you can, Stay At Home
Not only does staying at home, as often as you can, maintain your safety, but it will also reduce your carbon footprint. Working from home will cut out your commute and henceforth reduce your personal use of vehicles which have negative effects on the environment. The environmental impact of transport is significant because transport is a major user of energy, and burns most of the world's petroleum. This creates air pollution, including nitrous oxides and particulates, and is a significant contributor to global warming through emission of carbon dioxide.
We hope these tips are practical for you and you can use this information to stay sustainable and most importantly stay safe.
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