As with every new year, you'll see lots of lists of good resolutions to start the year off on the right foot. However, at Planet Energy, we want this list to be useful not only for those who follow it, but also for our planet.
By Laura P. Gutiérrez
With a new year starting, many people make resolutions to start off on the right foot or to revamp habits in their daily lives. So, to kick off the New Year in a more environmentally conscious way, here are some sustainable resolutions for 2024. Let's leave behind the age-old wish lists that talk about "losing a few extra pounds" or "eating less of XYZ" or the lists that impose Herculean goals for January 1 itself: two new hobbies, taking up three new sports, sleeping nine hours a day, and not leaving anything until the last day. Instead, let's become aware of how we are all responsible for creating a positive impact on the Earth. So, here are eight ways to get started:
- Buy products from local stores and businesses
Goods that are closer to us have less impact on the environment and also help the local economy. For example, when you buy a product directly from the hands of the person who grew it, you ensure that the producers receive the wages they deserve for their work and save on transportation and CO2 emissions. In addition, local organic products are fresher.
- Being sustainable is in fashion
Go with ethically-produced garments with low-impact production and quality materials. And remember that before throwing away: repair, recycle, or sell. You can do this easily through web applications or at second-hand stores, where you will also find fashion or vintage alternatives.
- Know what you consume
When buying products, do not trust the "organic" logo. Use labels to check, in just a few seconds, if what you are buying is really good for the environment. For food products, look for organic food certifications, such as Euroleaf or the local organic seal of the regional governments. For clothing, look at the materials used in the manufacturing process, as well as the brand itself to see what its commitment to sustainability is. Research what you spend your money on and support organizations and companies that are aligned with your sustainable purposes.
4 Use energy efficiently in lights and appliances
According to figures from the International Energy Agency, cities represent 3% of the planet's surface, but are responsible for more than 60% of global energy consumption. It is important to remember that turning off the lights and household appliances when they are not in use, not just leaving them on stand-by, is one of the best ways to save energy, especially now that working from home is a common practice.
Learn how the applications you use on a daily basis operate to use them more efficiently. For example, take the opportunity to bake several foods at the same time; unplug your cell phone or laptop when it is already charged; do not use washing machines with few clothes; and avoid ironing clothes that do not need it.
- More sustainable food with vegetarian or vegan diets
The well-known impact on the environment of eating meat and fish has opened up other healthy and more sustainable alternatives for our diet. So if you are not interested in vegetarian or vegan diets, you can choose to use plant-based alternatives made from textured soy or legumes, such as Heura's vegetable meat and Beyond Meat.
- Goodbye to single-use plastics
Plastic is another of the great sustainability crises facing the 19th century. It is enough to remember that, according to the United Nations, plastic represents 85% of the waste that goes into the seas and oceans. How can we reduce consumption? Buy food in bulk and less packaged products, such as fruit in polystyrene trays. Do not accept plastic straws in restaurants. Switch from plastic cups to glass. Avoid plastic disposable products such as cutlery or cups at all costs and switch from "single-use" to " multi-use" instead.
- Travel green, both on short trips and on your long journeys
Our choice of daily transportation has a major impact on the environment. This is not just opting to walk, using public transport, cycling, or choosing to carpool. And it's not just about going electric or hybrid. It's about rethinking how to plan your vacation in a more sustainable way.
If we take a trip to enjoy unparalleled fauna and flora, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to preserve it. To do this, choose activities or tours that are environmentally conscious and promote respectful practices. Also, take the opportunity to raise real awareness of your destiny and support their community projects. In short, leave the place better than you found it.
- Join associations that also work together for the environment
We often give up our New Year's resolutions when we feel that, although they still matter to us, it is an arduous journey to go alone, and it turns out to be more difficult than expected. In this situation, surround yourself with people who will push your causes to keep you motivated and hopeful for the best of changes. For example, join a 'plogging' team, a practice that combines outdoor exercise with picking up trash.
Being more sustainable should not be limited to a single time of the year. Rather, it is about embracing a new lifestyle that will take time, determination, and effort over the next 365 days. So, to start 2024 as—this time around—a better version of ourselves, the most important thing will be to be informed, to know the impact of our future actions and not to give up on the efforts required to care for and respect our planet. A New Year's resolution that will pay off.