“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Dr. Jane Goodall.
This quote reminds us that even the smallest choices we make each day can shape the future of our planet.
A few years ago, I visited a national park. At the far end, after a long drive and a short walk through the bush, I found a beautiful, secluded beach. As I wandered along the sand, I noticed a stretch covered in litter. One particular item caught my eye — a plastic wrapper from a snack I remembered fondly from my childhood. This surprised me, because it has been a few years since they no longer produced this particular snack. Its expiry date read “15 June 1992.” It was 2023 at the time meaning that the same piece of plastic had survived more than 31 years, still intact, looking much the same as it had when it was discarded three decades earlier.
Many of the products that make our modern lives so convenient — from food packaging to fashion — come at an environmental cost.
They’re often designed for single use and can end up in places they were never meant to be, like that remote beach or a thousand kilometers away in the middle of the ocean. David Attenborough once observed, “We live our comfortable lives in the shadow of a disaster of our own making. That disaster is being brought about by the very things that allow us to live our comfortable lives.”
But there’s good news: by making small, conscious choices, we can reduce our negative impact without giving up the comfort we’ve become accustomed to. Here are a few simple swaps that can make a meaningful difference:
1. Use a reusable water bottle.
A stainless-steel or glass water bottle reduces plastic waste and keeps your water cooler (or hotter) for longer.
2. Bring your own coffee cup.
For those of us who rely on our daily caffeine fix, a reusable mug helps cut down on single-use takeaway cups — and often earns you a small discount at your favourite café.
3. Choose unpackaged produce.
Many fruits and vegetables come naturally wrapped! Opt for loose produce and bring your own cloth or recycled bags to reduce unnecessary plastic packaging.
4. Switch to loose-leaf tea.
Many teabags contain microplastics that end up in our bodies and the environment. A teapot and some good-quality tea leaves make a more sustainable — and flavourful — alternative.
5. Ditch disposable razors.
Swap single-use plastic razors for a durable safety razor or one with replaceable blades. You’ll save money over time and prevent countless plastic handles from entering landfills.
6. Buy in bulk or avoid single-serve sized goods.
Purchasing dry goods like rice, pasta, nuts, and grains in bulk reduces packaging waste and often saves money or choosing something like one big tub of yogurt would also be a more sustainable choice over many small ones.
7. Choose sustainable fashion.
Before buying something new, ask yourself if you truly need it. Opt for secondhand, thrifted, or sustainably made clothing — and repair items when possible instead of throwing them away.
10. Switch to bar soaps and shampoos.
These often come with minimal or no packaging and last longer than their liquid counterparts. It’s a simple swap that significantly cuts down on plastic bottles.
Each of these changes may seem small on its own, but collectively they create a ripple effect — one that helps protect the planet for generations to come. The key is not to strive for perfection, but to make progress. Every refill, reuse, and rethink counts.
an article by Hannah Frösler