Environmental sustainability: from your home to the world

22 de April, 2020

Empty roads, factories at a standstill and thousands of people confined to their homes. With the streets deserted, animals return to the cities and nature breathes again. It seems that 2020 is giving us a little push to finally look at environmental sustainability!

In Portugal, nitrogen dioxide levels have halved and Avenida da Liberdade, the most polluted avenue in the Portuguese capital, has seen its lowest pollution rate in a century. With fossil fuel gases falling, containment measures and a reduction in economic activity have contributed to a clear reduction in air pollution.

So, at a time when the positive consequences of the state of emergency are making us reflect on the real impact our behavior has on the environment, we should take advantage of this and extend our concerns to the exponential increase in domestic consumption, which contrasts with the reduction in pollution we are seeing outdoors.

On World Earth Day, we bring you some tips so that you can be our planet’s greatest ally, in what is an opportunity to change some of our less environmentally friendly habits:

1. Every drop counts!
   Did you know that for every minute we run the tap, we waste between 6 and 12 liters of water? Think of the planet and, while you’re at it, your bank account. Remember to turn off the tap when you’re soaping your hands, brushing your teeth, washing your hair or shaving. In short, whenever you don’t need to use water. Make sure the tap is turned off tightly, we don’t want anything dripping! Need to water the plants or wash the car? Why not use rainwater? The truth is, you don’t need drinking water for these tasks! On the other hand, we’re sure you’re not the biggest fan of cold showers. Use the water that flows when you heat it up for the shower to wash the floor or some food. The environment will thank you!
2. Don’t waste the planet’s energy, it needs to keep spinning!
   Energy consumption has a big impact on our ecological footprint. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on your electricity consumption. Make sure you turn off the lights in all the empty spaces in your home. During the day, take advantage of the natural light, open the curtains and keep the lamps off. It’s also important to turn off any equipment you’re not using. Is your cell phone dead? Unplug the charger! Not making toast today? Then why have the toaster plugged in? Be strict!
3. Watch out for packaging!
   Being at home means more waste is produced, so now, more than ever, it’s very important that you recycle! Separate your household waste and put it in the correct recycling bins. Try to reuse product packaging for new foods and, if you have children at home, keep them entertained with projects and crafts! Also, whenever possible, reduce plastics. Give preference to bulk products or packaging made from other materials that are less dangerous for the environment. Reuse bags and bring them from home! And don’t forget that, at a time when trips to the supermarket should be avoided, there is a danger of buying food you don’t need. To find out how you can reduce food waste, we’ve prepared an article on the subject, where we give you some foolproof tips!

Ready to embrace environmental sustainability? Small gestures can contribute to a greener, less polluted world. With determination, we can all improve our behavior and have a positive impact on our planet.

Embrace sustainability and protect the environment, from your home to the world. Today is World Earth Day, let’s celebrate it every day?