The start of a New Year can bring excitement and the hope of new beginnings to many of us. New Year’s resolutions are a good way to set yourself some goals to achieve throughout 2023 and ensure the New Year gets off to a positive start.

While focusing on goals for yourself is important, there’s no time like the present to try to become more eco-friendly. Let’s take a look at some of our favourite Future Matters Challenges from the past year so that you can use them as your New Year’s resolutions throughout 2023.

Have a meat-free day

It’s thought that about 40% of carbon emissions come from farming animals for meat. As well as the emissions that animals alone produce, a lot of forests are destroyed when building farms. This means that habitats for wildlife are destroyed, and there are fewer trees to clean up the air. Reducing the amount of meat you eat or having a meat-free day per month will help to reduce your carbon emissions, as well as being really good for your health.

Wash your clothes at 30 degrees

When washing our clothes, a lot of us use the standard setting to wash our clothes at 40 degrees. However, switching to a colder setting is a really easy way to cut down on the amount of energy you use in the home, produce fewer emissions, and even save some money! By switching from 40 degrees to 30 degrees, you’ll be using around 40% less energy, and it’ll save you £20 a year.

Aim to pick up one piece of litter

Litter is a huge problem on a global scale. The rise in single-use plastic means that wrappings and bottles can be easily discarded and often not thrown away correctly. This can have a big impact on wildlife, as packets, wrappers and bottles become scattered across our green spaces. By picking up a piece of litter that you find, you’ll be helping to make a difference to local animals who may become trapped in the plastic or try to eat it.

Swap driving for walking or cycling

A typical car produces around 4.6 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. While driving to work or school may be necessary the majority of the time, try to think about where you can swap to eco-friendly transport. Choosing to cycle rather than drive could cut your carbon emissions down by 67%, and you’ll be saving money by not using your valuable petrol. Light exercise is really good for your physical and mental health too, so you’ll be sure to start your day on a positive note!v

Switch to a bar of soap

The majority of households use regular hand wash in their bathrooms. But these are usually in plastic bottles which often cannot be recycled. Bars of soap are a good alternative as they’re plastic-free, cheaper, and last much longer than regular hand wash. So not only will you be helping the environment by cutting down on your plastics, but you’ll also be able to save some money in the long run.

Buy at least one item from a local grocer or small business

Buying food produce from local shops or grocers is a brilliant way to improve your carbon footprint, as well as support your local community. When we buy food from big supermarkets, it’s often transported there from overseas or in lorries. Smaller businesses tend to buy their produce from local farms, so therefore the food doesn’t have to travel as far to reach the shop. Our top tip would be to go later in the day, as you might be able to pick up some reduced items.

Shop second hand

The fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of carbon emissions around the world. This is because of the energy required to make, sell, and transport them. Rather than buying brand new clothes, buying them second-hand is a greener and cheaper alternative. Many charity shops will still stock all of your favourite brands, but at a much lower cost. You’ll be helping your bank balance as well as the planet!

Try to reduce screen time

While many of us may have to spend a lot of time behind a computer screen for work, limiting our screen time outside of work can have many benefits. As well as giving your eyes a well-needed rest, it’ll also help you cut down on your electricity costs and carbon emissions. As well as this, social media has been linked to mental health issues when used too much.  Taking a break from your channels will help you stay in a positive mindset and preserve your phone battery at the same time.

Spread the word about climate change!

One of the best New Year’s resolutions you can have is to spread the word about Future Matters and climate change. Try to drop it into conversation with friends and family, as well as share some of the tips from this blog. If you have children,  you can also encourage them to play our Future Matters game if they haven’t done so already. Our game provides information about climate change in a fun, interactive way. Plus, they’ll even get a fun activity pack to complete when they’re finished.

We hope that our blog has helped you to feel positive about the year to come. If you’re feeling inspired by some of the New Year’s resolutions in our blog, you can follow us on social media @ForHousing for even more top tips around sustainability and money saving.