We all know that when a new year begins, most people make a thousand promises about how different that year will be and what they will start doing in January. Whether it's joining the gym, changing jobs, or starting a family, one thing is for sure: at midnight several resolutions come to mind for the new year.

 

What about changing your lifestyle completely to make your year more sustainable? After all, it is said 'new year, new life'!

 

On this New Year's Eve, we want you to keep in mind the theme of sustainability and have some sustainable resolutions for the new year. You don't need to completely change your life in January, but you can make some changes in your daily life throughout the months of the year.

 

To make your life easier, here is a guide to some sustainable resolutions that you can apply throughout the year:

 

1. January- Reduce your meat consumption

January is always the month when we are full of motivation to change, so it is the perfect month to apply what may be one of the most difficult sustainable resolutions to change: food.

 

In this case what we suggest is to reduce your meat consumption. Meat production is one of the sectors that emits the most carbon into the environment, making it a very polluting industry. If humans reduce their meat consumption, not only will the environmental footprint reduce, but there will also be significant water savings.

 

To change your eating habits, you can start by not eating meat for two days a week, opting for vegetables, legumes, seeds, and fruits. Progressively you can try to reduce your meat consumption more days a week and maybe even stop eating meat altogether.

 

2. February- Buy local

One of the sustainable resolutions you can implement in the new year is a commitment to buy local.

 

By buying local you are obviously supporting your local economy, but you are also supporting sustainability. For example, most of what is sold in supermarkets, such as fruit and vegetables, is derived from large suppliers and travels several miles to be on sale there.  Therefore, to reduce the carbon footprint derived from this transportation, prefer local markets or local farmers.

 

Moreover, we are sure you will feel a big difference in taste between the products you buy at the supermarket and those that are produced locally on a small scale.

 

We also remember that local consumption can be applied to any sector, from food or even clothing.

 

3. March- Start recycling

Recycling should be a duty of every human being, however if you don't have this habit yet, we suggest that recycling be on the list of sustainable resolutions for this year.

 

How can you do it? It is very simple; at home you can properly separate your garbage. Nowadays there are dustbins with different dividers that will make your life easier when it comes to separating garbage. We also suggest that you correctly dispose of some products, such as batteries or oil, by taking them to the appropriate places to be thrown away. 

 

On the street you should follow the same example, putting your garbage in the recommended container and if you can't find one, keep it until you find one or throw it away when you get home. The important thing is not to throw anything on the ground, not to leave garbage lying around and not to put it in the regular trash (if it is not the case).

 

4. April- Say goodbye to waste

Waste is one of the problems of human beings, but it can be worked on! When we talk about waste, we are talking about food waste, but we are also talking about material waste, such as the amount of garbage we generate unnecessarily, or even unnecessary material consumption.

 

In this sense, we recommend that waste reduction be one of your priorities and that you include it in your sustainable New Year's resolutions.

 

To start reducing your waste you can start by buying what you really need. For example, when it comes to food, we often buy large quantities without needing them and it turns out that we sometimes have to throw them away because they have spoiled or are past their sell-by date. So, make a list of what you really need and buy the right quantities for yourself.

 

On the other hand, you can start changing small habits and stop using single-use items such as plastic bottles, plastic bags, or plastic cutlery, plates, cups, or straws.

 

5. May- Create a sustainable closet

In May the days start to get warmer, so it's time to start wearing fresher clothes, right?

 

It's the perfect time to change your closet and even create a spring/summer capsule wardrobe. As we have already mentioned in this blog, the capsule wardrobe is a strategy where each person keeps only a few essential pieces of clothing that they know they will use. It is also recommended that these pieces match with each other, so that you can create different outfits. The goal here is that you avoid consumption and use what you already have.

 

If you really need something new, always choose to make a conscious consumption by buying from sustainable brands or second-hand stores.

 

In this sense, in this sustainable resolution, you will be committing to reducing your ecological footprint with respect to consumerism and the fashion industry.

 

6. June- Leave your vehicle at home

Transportation is one of the main sources of CO2 emissions, so it is recommended that each individual opt for more sustainable alternatives.

 

June is usually a month where the sun shines and the temperatures are warm, but not overly so, so it is the ideal time to change the way you move around, opting to walk or even bike.

 

If you really need to, you can also opt for public transport instead of your individual vehicle.

 

In this sustainable resolution we challenge you to use your individual vehicle as little as possible, preferring other more environmentally friendly alternatives!

 

7. July- Reduce your energy consumption

Reducing your energy consumption is one of the sustainable resolutions that will not only benefit the planet, but also your wallet!

 

With small gestures and changes in your daily life you can easily reduce your energy consumption.

 

In this sense, we suggest you turn off the lights when not needed, prefer low energy light bulbs (such as LED bulbs), and always unplug electronic devices that are not in use.

 

8. August- Fly less

It is not news to anyone that August is synonymous with vacations and travel for many. As we know, air travel ends up being the main means of transportation chosen, but did you know that air travel is responsible for 3.5% of the impact caused by global warming?

 

In this sense, one of the sustainable resolutions you can adopt is to avoid choosing the airplane as a means of transportation.

 

If you go on vacation, choose a destination accessible by other means, such as the train. We are sure it will be a unique experience!

 

9. September- Reduce your water consumption

 As we know, water is one of the most valuable resources, being a vital resource for the existence of life on Earth.

 

However, water is scarce and as human beings we have an obligation to save this resource as much as possible.

 

Therefore, we suggest you think about reducing your water consumption. To do so, you can change some habits that will make all the difference, such as: preferring the shower to the bathtub, doing the laundry when you have a full load, turning off the taps when you are not using them, and putting a bottle with a weight in the flush cistern.

 

10. October- Do your own vegetable garden

Better than buying is eating what you grow and care for yourself!

 

So, you can put on your list of sustainable resolutions the goal of starting your own vegetable garden at home. And if you think you'll get away with it because you live in an apartment, you are sorely mistaken! There are a thousand and one solutions that allow you to create mini gardens, such as vertical vegetable gardens.

 

If you are a complete beginner and have never planted anything, you can start with herbs, which will fill your meals with flavour.

 

11. November - Donate what you no longer use

Before the end of the year take the opportunity to do an action that is not only sustainable but also solidary.

 

We're sure that you have some clothes at home that are in good condition, but that are no longer used or because you don't like them anymore or because they no longer fit or for any other reason.

 

Instead of these clothes staying in the closet taking up space or being thrown away, donate them to those who need them most. You can donate it to someone you know who is in need, or to a charity store or institution.

 

12. December- Choose sustainable gifts

December is marked by the Christmas season, by the magic, but also by the emblematic opening of presents on Christmas day. This means that December is also marked by consumerism.

 

In order not to contribute to this consumerism, which is often taken to the extreme, we recommend that you make a difference and buy few gifts and opt for sustainable and environmentally friendly gifts.

 

There are hundreds and thousands of sustainable brands, so we are sure you will find what you need.

 

Also, use this month to renew your sustainable resolutions for the coming year and continue the work you've done throughout the year!

 

Team Verney wishes everyone a happy new year!