Even just the slightest shift in our lifestyle can make waves in sustainability, especially if we all stand together for our common home: our planet. Living out our environment-friendly advocacy shouldn’t be tough, which is why we have the following ideas you can consider.
Change #1: Switch to reef-friendly sunscreen.
Avoid sunscreens with harmful ingredients and choose ones with zinc oxide instead.
Oxybenzone and octinoxate are chemicals commonly found in many sunscreens, but they’re also among the leading culprits in coral bleaching. These chemicals can interfere with the growth of coral and leave entire reef ecosystems vulnerable to collapse. When you swim in the ocean, these chemicals wash off and linger in the water, impacting marine life even at low concentrations.
When you avoid sunscreens with these harmful ingredients and choose reef-friendly physical blocker ingredients like zinc oxide, you take a small but meaningful step in protecting these fragile ecosystems.
Opt for eco-friendly products, such as Little Urchin’s reef-friendly sunscreen.
Products labelled as reef-friendly are formulated without oxybenzone, octinoxate and other harmful chemicals. Little Urchin’s sunscreen, for example, uses natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin and not harmful to marine life.
If you’ve been looking for the reef safe sunscreen Australia has to offer, remember that choosing eco-friendly alternatives doesn’t mean sacrificing effectiveness. They still provide broad-spectrum UV protection to keep you and your family protected under the sun. Plus, these sunscreens come in sustainable packaging, reducing their overall environmental impact.
Change #2: Reduce food waste to lower emissions.
Compost spoiled food to prevent methane emissions in landfills.
Food waste is one of the largest contributors to methane emissions in landfills. When food decomposes in landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that’s potent like carbon dioxide. In this way, composting your spoiled food can keep it from reaching landfills, cutting down on these emissions.
Instead of contributing to environmental damage, composting allows you to create nutrient-rich material that can be used to enrich soil in your garden. This simple habit transforms waste into something beneficial for both the planet and your plants.
Plan meals and buy only what you need to minimise waste.
Many households throw away staples like bread, fruit and vegetables simply because they shop for too much. Planning meals ahead of time lets you shop smarter by purchasing only what you need. Also, sticking to a shopping list can help prevent waste and save you money in the long run. You can also use apps or tools to track expiration dates, so nothing goes unused.
Repurpose leftovers and use scraps to make garden fertilisers.
Aside from using sustainable and natural sunscreen, you can also get creative. Instead of throwing out leftovers, you can get creative by transforming these food items into new meals, like turning roasted vegetables into soups or stews. Food scraps like banana peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells can also be used as garden fertilisers, enriching the soil and promoting plant growth.
Change #3: Use less water in daily activities.
Install water-efficient appliances to conserve resources.
Upgrading to water-efficient appliances, such as low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets, can cut water consumption without compromising performance. Modern dishwashers and washing machines labelled as water-efficient use less water per cycle and help you save heaps of litres annually.
These appliances often come with energy-saving benefits as well, making such technology a smart choice for reducing both water and electricity bills.
Cut shower times in half to save water and reduce carbon emissions.
An average shower usually lasts eight minutes and uses approximately 65 litres of water, but cutting it to four minutes can save up to 13,140 litres of water per person annually. Using less hot water also reduces the energy needed to heat it, which in turn lowers your household’s carbon footprint. With this in mind, setting a timer or playing a short playlist while you shower can help you stick to the habit.
Use rainwater tanks for outdoor tasks like watering plants and washing cars.
If you collect rainwater, you can minimise your reliance on tap water for tasks such as gardening, washing vehicles or cleaning patios. Installing a rainwater tank is a straightforward solution that saves treated water for more essential uses. Some systems even include basic filtration, allowing you to safely water plants or rinse outdoor spaces.
Change #4: Avoid single-use plastics.
Replace plastic items with sustainable options like beeswax wraps and reusable bags.
Switching to reusable items like cloth shopping bags, beeswax wraps and glass containers reduces the need for disposable plastic products. When able, you can also go for products like zinc sunscreen with tubes or containers made using 100% solar power or other sustainable processes.
Collect and recycle soft plastics at designated drop-off points.
Many households overlook items like bread bags, chip packets and cereal liners, which are all recyclable through designated soft plastic programs. Collection points at supermarkets or community centres can turn these materials into useful items like outdoor furniture or fencing.
Change #5: Rethink transportation habits.
Opt for public transport, walking or cycling to reduce your carbon footprint.
Last but not least on the 5 small changes you can make to save the coral reefs, know that public transport, such as buses and trains, emits far less CO2 per passenger than cars. Walking or cycling eliminates emissions entirely while promoting physical health. For many urban dwellers, these options also offer cost-effective solutions to rising fuel prices.
Consider carpooling or switching to electric or fuel-efficient vehicles.
If public transport isn’t feasible, carpooling helps by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and cutting per-person emissions. Switching to a fuel-efficient or electric car is another impactful choice, especially for frequent drivers.
Advances in EV infrastructure and affordability are making this option increasingly accessible. Every shared ride or efficient vehicle choice lessens your transportation footprint.
Key Points to Remember
-
Choose reef-friendly sunscreens for eco-conscious sun protection. Avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate. Instead, opt for products with zinc oxide to protect your skin while respecting coral reefs.
-
Compost food waste to reduce excess methane emissions. Transform spoiled food into nutrient-rich compost to enrich your garden soil while preventing methane gas from landfills.
-
Plan meals to minimise food waste. Smart meal planning and sticking to a shopping list reduce overbuying. This way, you can save both food and money.
-
Repurpose leftovers to maximise their value. Turn leftovers into creative meals or use scraps like banana peels and eggshells as DIY garden fertilisers.
-
Upgrade to water-efficient appliances for resource conservation. Appliances like low-flow showerheads and water-saving dishwashers reduce water consumption without sacrificing performance.
-
Shorten shower times to save water and energy. Reducing an average shower to four minutes saves around 13,140 litres of water per person annually.
-
Use rainwater for outdoor tasks to reduce tap water dependency. Rainwater tanks are an eco-friendly way to water plants, clean patios and wash cars.
-
Replace single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives. Opt for reusable options like beeswax wraps, cloth bags and glass containers to reduce plastic waste.
-
Recycle soft plastics at designated drop-off points. Collect items like bread bags and chip packets for specialised recycling programs that repurpose them into useful products.
-
Choose sustainable transport to lower your carbon footprint. Use public transport, walk or cycle to reduce emissions and promote a healthier lifestyle.
-
Consider carpooling or switching to electric vehicles. Carpooling and using fuel-efficient or electric cars can significantly lower per-person emissions and environmental impact.
At Little Urchin, we have different sunscreen choices that are reef-friendly and also broad spectrum (UVA & UVB) as well. Our team is dedicated to protecting both your skin and Mother Earth.
Disclaimer: Our ingredients are sourced from nature and we apply a process to transform them into our final product.
