12 sustainable things to try this new year

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Try something new every month this year.

The past two years haven’t been easy, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting to try new things or be adventurous. If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to be more sustainable, you’ve come to the right place – we’ve got something you could try every month.

  1. January – See if you can reduce your post-Christmas waste - save your old Christmas cards to make your own for next year or cut them up to use as name tags for Christmas presents in 2022.
  2. February – Children’s Mental Health week is 7 – 13 February. Why not use this opportunity to talk to your child about how they feel about climate change?
  3. March – It’s the start of spring – time to dust off the cobwebs and see if you have any old clothes or toys that you no longer need. You can donate them to charity shops – just double-check what they can and can’t accept first.
  1. April – To celebrate Earth Day on 22 April, why not challenge yourself to spend more time this month in your favourite outdoor spaces? This could be a park, local waterway or a public playground.
  2. May – Take part in Walk to School Week between 16 - 20 May if you can. Alternatively, you can cycle, carpool or take public transport. Reducing the number of cars on the road during a school run could help improve the air quality and reduce carbon emissions. There are also lots you can do to slash your energy use.
  3. June – Keeping plastic and rubbish away from waterways can help protect marine wildlife and keep our oceans healthy. On World Oceans Day (8 June), why not try going litter picking with friends?
Little boy drinking water from reusable bottle water while on a fishing trip
  1. July – Plastic waste is a huge problem because it can take hundreds and hundreds of years to break down - and even then only into smaller bits of plastic. Why not challenge yourself to be a zero-waste hero for a month this Plastic Free July?
  2. August – Keen to make the most out the summer holiday? Try a family adventure using only public transport. You could train-hop to the seaside or countryside, with a homemade packed lunch full of snacks.
  3. September – New school year, (doesn’t have to be) new you. Before buying new school supplies, make sure you make a list of what you really need – go in there with a plan to save money and reduce waste.
A close up of a father and son having breakfast together
  1. October – Did you know that if food waste was a country, it’d be the third biggest greenhouse gas emitter in the world? Help tackle this problem on World Food Day (10th October) by making a weekly meal plan to avoid food waste and help fight climate change from your kitchen.
  2. November – Brrrr. It’s getting colder! To make your jumpers and knitwear last longer, you can try spot washing any stain and storing them folded (if you hang them up, the shoulders will stretch with time).
  3. December – At the end of the year, you may feel exhausted. Be kind to yourself and others and share more – you could try swapping clothes with friends and family, or exchange books and toys with your neighbours.
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