1. Be Selective

Make sure you don’t buy anything you don’t need! Try not to fall into marketing traps that make you feel as if you have to have something. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it! One of the biggest contributors to over-consumption is our ability to persuade ourselves to buy things we don’t actually want or ever use.

2. Buy local

Help your local community go green by buying local wherever possible. Not only does this mean a lower carbon footprint but it also keeps local independent shops running, they need all the help they can get in this age of big supermarkets and online shopping. Instead of driving to the nearest Tesco, walk to your local butcher, baker or delicatessen and help keep your local shops and producers open.

3. Recycle

Don’t let anything go to waste. Find out from your local council what recycling options your community has and recycle everything you can – from cans to plastic, from paper to fabric. Get down the local bottle bank and take the plastic bags that have accumulated from years of shopping to a recycling centre.

4. Re-use

If it can be re-used then don’t throw it away! Shopping bags, newspaper, plastic bottles and fabric are all materials that can be very useful around the house. Try to get the most wear out of all your clothes and shoes and make sure nothing goes to waste.

5. Plan Ahead

If you plan your meals in advance you’re guaranteed not to over-buy on your weekly shop. Make sure you know exactly how much produce you’re going to use so you don’t end up wasting food and drink each week.

6. Cut Down

Cutting down your intake of meat can make a drastic difference to the environment. Try to eat meat just once a day (or once every two days if you can!) to lower the emissions and carbon footprint caused by your food consumption.

7. Get Creative

Don’t throw that old pair of jeans out, turn it into a denim skirt! See what you can do with all those things you normally throw away. Wine bottles make great candle holders and old dresses can often be turned into wonderful new skirts. It’s good for the planet, your wardrobe and your imagination!

8. Make a Small Change

Small changes lend themselves to big differences. Try focusing on one aspect of your life a week that can be slightly altered to help the environment. It might be switching energy companies, it might be turning off appliances at the plug, it might even be walking or cycling to work every day. Buy your next party dress from an ethical clothes supplier rather than Topshop. Take small steps one week at a time and see your carbon footprint shrink.

9. Mend

If your favourite pair of shoes are starting to look a little worn then take them to the cobblers. If your favourite top has holes in then sew them up. Make the most out of what you’ve got by mending your current clothing rather than buying replacements.

10. Search Around

Check out your local charity shops before you go on that shopping spree. Not only could it save you money, but if you search around before buying ‘that’ top you might realise you didn’t need it in the first place!

MoreEco is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Make next year that year you make being green a habit and countdown to 2010 with the environment in mind. Check out our top ten New Year resolutions to help you conserve the planet and the cash in your wallet this New Year.

1. Cleaning without toxic chemicals is a wonderful way to turn your home into a healthy and healing place to be in the New Year. Unfortunately, over past decades the ever-expanding store of home cleaning products has included a number of dangerous weapons, loaded with strong, artificial colours and fragrances and harsh cleansing agents like bleach, ammonia, alcohol and more.

At MoreEco, they have a great range of eco shops that sell green cleaning products at great prices. There are a great range of green cleaning product ranges such as Ecover, Method and Bio D that are just as effective as the traditional chemical laden products you find on supermarket shelves. And don’t forget multi buy and bulk options to save you even more money.

2. Stop using the refrigerator that is ten years old and get an appliance recommended by the energy saving trust instead. You will drastically cut down your carbon emissions by doing so. Try eco appliances around the home –as well as doing a great clean they will cut your energy bills.

For instance, check out the new Ecolectric PerformAir 1000w Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner for a spotless and healthy carpet. As well as being packaged in recycled and 100% recyclable materials, it has an economical 1000w low energy motor leading to a 50% energy saving, helping to reduce your energy bills but without compromising on performance. It is a great vacuum cleaner! 

3. Every household in Britain produces more than a ton of waste annually, almost 80 per cent of which is buried in landfill sites, polluting ground water and producing gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. You may already recycle the waste you produce, but what about not producing it in the first place? Try and buy in bulk! These retailers sells many products in bulk quantities to save you money and reduce packaging by refilling old containers.

4. Shun at least one non-green product all year. Make it something that you really like, but can live without it but would purchase if it were more eco-friendly. You can always write to the company that manufactures this product and tell them why you now choose not to buy it

5. Not so fantastic plastic! Stop drinking bottled water. Drinking tap water reduces your carbon footprint, landfill rubbish and saves you money. Need water for the gym – buy a reusable bottle!

6. The best resolution to make for the earth is to use the car less or get rid of it altogether. Walk, bike, use public transit or car share. The emissions and money saved will be immense! The World Wildlife Fund advocates going car free one day each week.

Get out of your car and find an alternative way to work one day a week. 1 in every 2 of us drive to work each and every day. Think what would happen if we all left our cars at home just one day a week and walked, rode our bike, or took public transportation instead. We would have cleaner air to breathe, less traffic, and a smaller carbon footprint to boot.

7. Insulate your hot water cylinder. Water heating is the single biggest energy consumer in the average home. Cut your power bill and reduce the energy your household uses by investing in a wrap for your hot water cylinder.

8. Grow your own to beat the credit crunch. Make sure the only crunch you feel is the bite of your home-grown vegetables next year with a great range of grow your own seeds, tools and accompaniments . As well as tasting great, you could save money, get fit, do your bit for the environment and be super-trendy all at once.

9. To make it easy to switch off chargers and electronic equipment when you’re not using them, get a standby buster to switch off all your machines and equipment. It will help you save electricity and money! Check out our range of energy savers here.

10. Don’t make Earth Hour a once a year event – commit to switching off your appliances at the wall and turning out any unnecessary lights. Use energy saving light bulbs in every light 

MoreEco is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more