Often, when we think about social responsibility, our minds go straight to businesses and giant corporations and how they need to increase sustainability. However, social responsibility is crucial at a personal level as well. As part of the #MySocialSpirit campaign, I planned this post based on information from Glasdon. Here are some top ways you can be social responsible as well:
The 3 R’s
You’ve probably heard of the term ‘reduce, re-use, recycle.’ But how much effort are you actually putting into reducing your waste? I get it, we’re all busy, and it’s easy to throw something away without a second thought. However, there are plenty of ways you can reduce your own waste. One of my biggest issues is buying too much food and letting it go to waste. Every week I plan to cook each day and eat healthily, and I always end up cleaning out a fridge packed with food and vegetables that should have been eaten.
If this sounds like you, consider doing some meal prep at the start of the week to cut down on the number of times you have to cook through the week- and the chances that your food will go bad. Or maybe make an effort to go shopping a few times a week to stock up on the things you need, instead of just the once.
Save Energy
The less power you use, the less toxic fumes that power plants are releasing into the environment. If we all make an effort to reduce our individual power consumption, we can help protect the earth. That means drying your washed clothing on a rack or outdoors instead of in the clothes dryer, using blankets and warm clothes instead of turning up the heat, and turning off plug sockets and lights when you’re not using them.
On-the-go
It’s easy to forget to be socially responsible when you’re out and about. But there are a few easy ways you can reduce your footprint. Take shopping bags with you, and make sure you’re disposing of your coffee cup correctly. Whenever possible, choose takeout from businesses that you know use recyclable plastic containers instead of those that can’t be recycled.
Ditch the straws
Most of us have seen pictures of the turtle with the straw stuck in his eye, and it’s easy to see why global chains like Starbucks are getting rid of straws. It takes approximately 200 years for a straw to break down, but they don’t biodegrade- meaning they’ll be around for thousands of years. Say no to straws and make an effort to buy from establishments that offer versions that are environmentally friendly.
