Sustainability - The 4Rs - Rethink
Reduce Your Ecological Footprint

The best way to reduce your ecological footprint is carry out the 4Rs at home:

Reduce:

Buy products that have little, or no, packaging
Buy products that will last a long time
Buy products that are made using renewable resources and renewable energy sources
Buy food that is grown near where you live, not processed, and in-season
Grow your own vegetables and herbs if you have a garden or balcony
Only buy as much as you need
Conserve energy and water in your home
Try to spend less time in your car. Think about why, when and where you travel.

Reuse:

Recycle:

Rethink:

If you think before you buy, and find out about the products you buy, you can reduce your impact on the environment.

Before you shop, ask yourself “what do I need?” instead of “what do I want?”. Decide what you need and how much of it, and think about the best way to buy it.

Try not to think about advertising. The best product may not be on TV and it doesn’t have to be the most expensive. Find out how a product is made, where it’s made, what it’s made from, and how it’s packaged.

Some companies make their products in poorer countries, because wages and materials are cheaper there. Then they send the finished goods to richer countries to sell. Find out how these companies work in the poorer countries. Do they pay fair wages to workers? Do they help the communities in those countries?

Think about the food you buy. Fruit, vegetables and grains (cereals) need less land, energy and resources to grow them than meat does. When you can, buy fresh food from local small farms.