Climate change. Sustainability. Carbon Footprint. These are things we hear brands talk about all the time. So much so that they probably start to lose meaning a bit. But one thing we can all agree on, is that we can each do our part to save our planet. And by making small, incremental changes and repeating them daily, we can really make a difference.

So on this Earth Day, we've pulled together 5 simple and manageable things that we all can do to make a change. Feel free to let us know any other ideas and we will share on social....after all it takes a village...

1. Break out the clothes line.

Ok no excuses here, the weather is getting finer so its time to embrace the outdoors and fine drying conditions :). Yes its easier to throw your freshly washed clothes into the tumble dryer and to have them ready to wear in no time but more than three-quarters of your laundry’s carbon footprint comes from using dryers. We might not have the weather in Ireland to do this all year round but when we do, make the swap from dryer to the clothes line.

2. Invest in reusable water bottles and coffee cups  

Girl drinks from Outwest reusabe water bottle

The trick here is to remember to carry them with you! Maybe make sure to store it in the car or your backpack after washing it? There is an alarming amount of plastic waste created through disposables on a daily basis, so do yourself and the planet a favour, and opt for your own cup/bottle when you need that caffeine or hydration fix. Shop our reusables here or check out another fab Irish business that we love Mother Resuables.

3. Turn off that water tap

Whether you are brushing your teeth or washing your face, we've all been guilty of letting the water run. But did you know that leaving the water running uses about 4 gallons of water? That's a lot! So why not do the planet a favour and get into the good habit of turning it off and only using what you need.

4. Start composting

Food waste is inevitable, no matter how dedicated you are at doing an efficient shop! So why not get into a habit of composting. It's great way to make use of food waste and it might be the start of a wonderful new hobby! For tips on how to get started check out https://stopfoodwaste.ie/resources/composting

5. Cycle to work, cycle everywhere

 

Well, as you know, we are big fans of a cycle here at Outwest! I mean what better way to explore your surroundings than hopping on a bike! Cycling is a very eco-friendly mode of transport, so try incorporate it into you work/life a bit more. Let the car in the driveway and get out and explore more during the weekends. And hey, don't forget we rent our e-bikes too. See here for more details.

Happy Earth Day Outwesters!

Rebecca Hoban