4 Ways To Be More Eco-Friendly This Autumn

With summer behind us, the cooler air and dark nights are drawing in. The change in season also brings about many changes in our daily habits too. We pull out our jumpers and coats, turn to warm, hearty comfort foods and make our homes as cozy as possible. 

There can also be the temptation to buy new clothes for our wardrobes and neglect our gardens and homes, putting off jobs until the spring. But with our simple tips, you can make better use of what you already have and solve some household issues before they become major problems.

Here’s how you can be as eco-friendly as possible this Autumn.

1. Clothes

Repair

Before you rush into buying new Autumn/Winter clothing consider what items you have already that could just be repaired. The YouTube Channel Learning A Craft is a great place to learn how to repair clothing and trainers.

But, if you feel like you can’t fix the clothes yourself then Sojo is a fantastic app that connects people with alterers and tailors so that your item can be as good as new again.

Reuse 

If you have items of clothing that are in a poor condition and are of no use to charity shops then you can turn these items into something else, such as cleaning clothes. You can even make bags out of old t-shirts.

Buy second-hand

If there’s an item or two that you really need for your wardrobe then try and shop second-hand. Buying from charity shops, ebay, and via apps like Vinted and Depop drastically reduces your carbon footprint and saves clothes from going to landfill. 

2. Food

Buy seasonal

Modern supermarkets stock out of season fruit and vegetables and while it might seem great that you can get your hands on produce whenever you want it, the carbon footprint of the food outweighs the benefits. Buying seasonal fruit and veg, from local greengrocers and farm shops makes such a big difference and also helps to support your local economy too. This useful guide shows when fruit and veg are in season in the UK.

Batch cooking

Batch cooking is a great way to be eco-friendly. Batch cooking helps with meal preparation, therefore you only need to buy the ingredients in the quantities you require, reducing waste and saving you money. 

Make use of your reusable containers to store and refrigerate/freeze your meals. On those dark Autumnal nights where the last thing you want to do is cook, you can thank yourself for prepping all your meals in advance too!

3. Home

Clean and repair

Fix any minor issues in your house now, before Winter arrives. Check for damaged window frames and draughty doors that are losing you heat. Keep your gutters clear of leaves to prevent clogs and even damp problems. Additionally, clean your windows to allow as much natural light to shine through as possible. 

In some instances, draughts can be difficult to prevent, so stock up on some draught excluders to keep your rooms well insulated. For more tips on how to save energy in your home check out our recent blog post here.

4. Garden

Tidy up

Usually, you might do one last mow of the grass towards the middle of Autumn (depending on how mild the weather is) and you can rake any leaves up off the grass too. If you have a composter you can add the leaves to it. 

Make wildlife homes

You can look after wildlife in the Autumn and Winter by making or buying wildlife homes, which will keep the small garden insects, birds, amphibians & mammals coming to your garden. 

Feed the birds

Different species of birds eat different foods, so make sure to leave a variety of treats in different locations to help attract as many species as possible to your garden. For more information, read our How To Attract Birds To Your Garden blog post.

Conclusion

So, as you can see there are plenty of ways you can be more eco-friendly this Autumn, from the clothes you wear, to how you cook and eat and how you look after your home and garden. We hope you enjoy the benefits these tips can bring to your lifestyle.