A large part of going zero waste is creating a sustainable home where we can practice low impact living and manifest an eco-conscious space, implementing best practices to share with the world, align our actions with our sustainability ethics and influence our friends and families.

Here are 30 simple swaps to creating a more sustainable home today:

1. follow your city’s waste guides to make sure your trash is properly recycled

2. compost or reuse your food scraps

3. do shorter, cooler laundry washes (this will also help your clothes last longer)

4. air-dry your laundry

5. boil only as much water as you’ll need

6. use a hot water bottle and blankets instead of heating your entire home with electric heating

7. switch to a renewable energy supplier (sign up to Octopus Energy and receive £50 here: share.octopus.energy/rich-rose-480

8. make your own cleaning products with natural ingredients like distilled white vinegar, lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda

9. use plastic-free and reusable cleaning cloths rather than sponges 

10. use a washing up bowl or plug your sink when washing dishes

11. buy second-hand furniture over new

12. eat plant-based

13. food prep your meals to reduce energy usage from the hob or oven

14. go paperless where you can (online banking, bills, etc)

15. reuse and repurpose broken items and things you no longer have a use for in their original form

16. buy rechargeable items that don’t need batteries (or use rechargeable batteries)

17. switch to eco-friendly light bulbs

18. grow your own herbs, fruits, veggies… whatever you have space for

19. buy second-hand books or borrow from a friend or the library

20. use organic, natural material soft furnishings like cotton, bamboo, hemp or linen blankets, duvet and pillows

21. ditch the tin foil and use silicone sheets to cook

22. ditch the cling film and use glass containers to store your leftovers

23. use sustainable toilet paper made from recycled paper or fast-growing bamboo

24. shower less often

25. reuse parcel packaging as storage boxes, wrapping paper, etc

26. use plants as air purifiers

27. use essential oils to scent your home

28. if you live in a warm climate, open your windows and use fans rather than using air con

29. reduce the things you own, use the things you already have as decorative objects, having less saves on cleaning and management

30. use natural bathroom products like haircare and skincare to save on harmful chemicals being flushed to the oceans

Here’s a video going into a bit more detail about each point to help you on your way to a sustainable home and future!