5 steps to reduce your carbon footprint

reducir huella de carbono

Climate change can be a pretty overwhelming issue.  While high-impact solutions will require decisions on a global scale, many habits are easily reachable and can help you reduce your emissions. 

Are you up for it? This guide will help you know where to start.

1. Calculate your carbon footprint.

The carbon footprint is an environmental indicator that reflects the number of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted directly or indirectly by a person, a service, or a product

Currently, the average for Spain is 6.5 tCO₂ per person/year related to consumption (referred to CO₂ equivalent, more information here).

With The Planet App you can calculate your emissions, so once you know how much you pollute you’ll be able to tackle those aspects of your lifestyle where you “fail”.

2. Analyze which type of transport you use.

How do you move? Transport not only contributes to climate change through its CO₂ emissions but is also related to air quality and noise pollution.

Transport is also one of the most polluting industries, accounting for almost 25% of total European emissions!

  • Try to use the car less. Try walking, cycling, public transport.
  • Are you preparing for your next trip? Aviation is the most polluting method of transport. Look for alternatives: trains, buses, carpooling platforms, …

3. Eat “greener”

Our diet is also closely linked to the number of greenhouse gases we produce. 

In the food sector, many aspects come into play: land use, agricultural activities (fertilizers, machinery, manure…), livestock feeding, food processing, transport, packaging…

Producing 1kg of beef yields 60 kgCO₂, while 1kg of rice produces 4 kgCO₂.

  • Follow a more vegetable-based diet. A study shows that not eating meat just 1 day a week (if you are an omnivore) saves an emission of 0.46 tCO2 per year.
  • Also try to eat seasonal products. This helps to respect the production cycle.

4.Consume less

The way we consume has a great impact on the environment, especially if we fall into a spiral of pure consumerism. The definition of the word itself gives us the key: immoderate tendency to acquire, spend or consume goods, not always necessary. From the technology we use to the clothes we wear. Did you know that to make a pair of jeans, around 33 kgCO₂ are issued? Or that in Spain we generate an average of 20 kilos of electronic waste per person per year?

  • Practice the 5 Rs method: reuse, reduce, repair, reject, and recycle. 
  • Think about it: do I need it? What am I going to use it for?  And be honest. 
  • If you need to buy something: check if you can get it second-hand or if the company that produces it does it sustainably.

5. At home it matters too

At home, we often contribute to CO₂ emissions through misinformation or bad practices. Especially in energy-related issues.  Do an “audit” and check the types of bulbs you have installed, the energy efficiency of your appliances, the temperature of the heating or air conditioning, …

And up to here those aspects of our lifestyle that most influence our carbon footprint, and which we can work on to reduce our environmental impact. We suggest you make The Planet App your sustainability assistant to help you adopt changes like those shown in this post. You will be able to set habits and goals for your home, lifestyle, transportation, and what you eat to easily reduce your carbon footprint.

Are you joining us? #notmyemissions