Just One Thing: The Power of Small Changes
As small business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, there are so many things to consider it can feel overwhelming.
When we look to the biggest challenges facing our world, it is easy to feel helpless. But collective action starts with individual choices. By focusing on one manageable change, we can each contribute to a larger cultural shift towards a more equitable, prosperous, and environmentally sustainable future.
The cumulative effect of many people making small changes can lead to significant environmental benefits. We can each vote with our wallets, by choosing how we spend our money and with whom.
Making ethical, responsible, and sustainable choices is not about a few of us doing things perfectly, but all of us doing something.
“But it’s just one coffee cup in the bin, what harm could it do?”, said 7 million people.
(*In the UK, around 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used each year, which amounts to roughly 7 million cups per day.)
There is power in incremental change and we each have a role to play.
Here are 10 suggestions:
1. Reducing Single-Use Plastics
Change: Switching from single-use plastic bags to reusable bags. Impact: Reducing plastic waste, which decreases pollution in oceans and landfills, and lowers the demand for plastic production.
2. Energy Consumption
Change: Replacing incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. Impact: LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy and last significantly longer, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering electricity bills.
3. Transportation Habits
Change: Using public transport, biking, or walking instead of driving a car for short trips. Impact: Reducing carbon emissions, decreasing traffic congestion, and promoting healthier lifestyles.
4. Dietary Choices
Change: Having one meat-free day per week. Impact: Reducing the demand for meat, which in turn lowers the environmental impact of meat production, including deforestation, water use, and methane emissions.
5. Water Conservation
Change: Installing a low-flow showerhead. Impact: Significantly reducing water use, which conserves water resources and lowers energy consumption related to water heating.
6. Waste Management
Change: Starting a compost bin for organic waste. Impact: Diverting food waste from landfills, reducing methane emissions, and producing nutrient-rich compost for gardening.
7. Consumer Choices
Change: Choosing products with minimal or eco-friendly packaging. Impact: Reducing waste and encouraging manufacturers to adopt sustainable packaging practices.
8. Energy Sources
Change: Opting for renewable energy options if available. Impact: Supporting the development and use of clean energy sources like wind or solar power, which reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
9. Supporting Sustainable Brands
Change: Buying from companies with strong sustainability practices. Impact: Encouraging businesses to adopt sustainable practices and influencing market trends towards sustainability.
10. Digital Consumption
Change: Unsubscribing from unnecessary email lists. Impact: Reducing the energy consumption associated with data storage and transmission, as well as decluttering personal digital space.
