20 ways to live a greener life

20 ways to live a greener life

How to live, cook and shop in more environmentally friendly way.

6. Re-use aluminium foil

Recycling 1kg of aluminium can save up to 8kg of bauxite, the mineral used to make it, as well as 4kg of chemicals and 14 kilowatt hours of electricity.

7. Choose fish wisely

For the best sustainable choice in seafood, look for the Marine Stewardship Council's 'fish tick' label on packaging - for example, New Zealand hoki, South African hake and south west handline caught mackerel. The Marine Conservation Society offer excellent advice about which fish to buy, which to avoid, as do Fish online.

8. Cut down on pesticide intake

In recent Government-backed tests, a third of all the foods tested were found to contain traces of pesticides, and about 1 per cent of foods contained levels above legal limits. You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by washing fruit and vegetables before you eat them and regularly choosing organic food. For more information, visit Pesticide Residues Committee.

9. Eat less meat

Global meat production has risen by 500 per cent since the 1950s, and most of the meat consumed in the UK is from intensively-reared animals. For every kilo of beef produced, around 10kg of grain is needed to feed the animal. The manure produced is a major polluter of rivers and groundwater, and contributes to global warming. On top of this, precious rainforests are being cleared to provide land on which to grow soya for feed.

10. Buy A-rated appliances

If you're upgrading appliances, A-rated fridges, freezers etc are the most energy-efficient because they use less electricity. Old fridges contain CFCs, which contribute to the hole in the ozone layer. It's illegal to dump fridges; contact your local authority for advice on how to dispose of them properly.