It’s easy being green

With all the demands of a busy lifestyle, balancing work, family and a social life can mean that living a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle is likely to be the last item on a long list of priorities. It’s easy to be put off by the thought that being sustainable is for those with more money and time – and really, what difference can one person’s effort make?

But the reality is that when it comes to being green, little changes in our daily lives really do add up. For example, if everyone in the UK cut two minutes off their shower time whenever they shower, in one day they would save enough water to fill 373 Olympic swimming pools! Not only would it mean Britain’s swim team would have plenty of places to practise, it would also help reduce the amount of resources we use with one small behaviour change.

While not everyone can start out with a solar panel on the roof of their house or a wind turbine in the garden, there are plenty of ways we can make a start through small changes in our routines that can quickly become habit – without changing your lifestyle.

Making a difference with inspired little acts

One way is through the products we use at home, such as the trusted P&G brands involved in the Future Friendly programme. Future Friendly is a partnership between these brands and leading sustainability experts the Energy Saving Trust, Waste Watch and Waterwise, helping raise awareness of the inspired little acts we can each do every day to reduce our impact on the environment. By simply using Future Friendly products, such as Ariel, Fairy, Flash, Lenor and Pampers, you can save energy, water or reduce waste by up to 50%. Little changes like these can help you make a big difference, and it doesn’t involve compromising performance.

In fact, Whether it’s using bigger bottles of a concentrated fabric conditioner like Lenor to save packaging, or washing at a colder temperature with Ariel to save up to 30% of energy*, it’s simple to save both resources and even money off your energy bill.

While most people have mastered switching the lights off when they leave the room and turning off dripping taps, here are a few more inspired little acts to help you make a start. You can find out more information about Future Friendly products and get tips and advice at www.futurefriendly.co.uk

Outdoors

• Install a water butt
• A remarkable 85,000 litres runs off an average roof every year – and it’s better for your plants than tap water.
• Use a mulch, such as cocoa shells, to prevent evaporation.
• Water wisely in the morning or evening to give the water a chance to soak into the earth. A thorough watering twice a week is more effective than light watering every day.
• Choose drought-resistant plants when you’re buying for your garden. Look out for Mediterranean or desert-style plants, such as yucca, which thrive in dry soil.
• Fit a trigger nozzle if you have to use a hose – it helps to reduce water waste.

Indoors

• Keep a jug of water in the fridge and you won’t need to run the tap until the water is cold.
• Wash salad or veg in a bowl and use the dirty water on your plants.
• Don’t run the tap when you brush your teeth – it wastes 12 litres in two minutes.
• Shower rather than bath but don’t stay in too long – in Australia shower timers are set to four minutes.
• Install a cistern displacement device – they’re free from water companies and could save up to 3 litres every time you flush.

* when turning from 40° to 30° with Ariel Liquitabs or Powder