Simple ways to be more eco-friendly

Want to do your bit for the environment but not sure where to start? We’re here to help with some super easy tips for being greener one day at a time.

  • 25 May 2021

    A young man sits on his living room couch surrounded by houseplants, smiling as he reads information on his phone.

    Want to do your bit for the environment but not sure where to start? We’re here to help with some super easy tips for making a difference in your day to day life. Because when it comes to the environment, the little things all add up.

    Keep cup time!

    If you haven’t already got a keep cup, now’s the time. It’s one of the easiest and best ways you can be more eco-friendly every day. Think of all those take-away coffee cups you’ll save from the landfill every year!

    BYO shopping bags 

    Get in the habit of BYO bags when you go shopping by keeping some in the car so they’re always good to go. Prefer online shopping? Buying online can be super convenient but it often comes with a lot of packaging waste so think twice before you click and pay.

    Shop local first

    As a rule of thumb, try and buy local first before you go further afield. Markets shopping on the weekend is not only a great everyday eco-hack to help reduce carbon miles but it's a good way to save money and catch up with friends too.

    Grow your own produce

    Got a backyard or sunny deck? Try growing your own herbs and veggies - it’s a great way to enjoy fresh, clean produce and help the planet at the same time. Joining a community garden is a great option if you live in a unit or want a more social experience.

    Buy refills and bulk

    Buy larger refills to top up things like hand wash pump-packs or better yet, find bulk food or eco stores that let you bring your own containers to buy by the kilo.

    Do away with paper towels 

    Replace paper towels with reusable cleaning cloths that you can throw in the wash and reuse. 

    Use beeswax wraps instead of plastic

    Instead of using plastic wrap to cover left-overs in the fridge, use sealable containers, or reusable beeswax wraps. 

    Upcycle gifts and wrapping

    Keep and reuse wrapping paper, cards and ribbons from gifts to save on paper waste. Want to get even more creative in the upcycling department? Make your own upcycled gifts like home-made jams and pickles in creatively recycled jars. 

    Walk & cycle short trips

    If a trip is 20 minutes or less by foot or bike, leave the wheels at home to be more eco-friendly and get some bonus steps up too! That’s a win win!

    Swap out light bulbs

    Replace older light bulbs with longer lasting, more energy efficient alternatives like LED. 

    Switch right off

    How often do you turn the TV, washing machine or wif-fi off at the wall? It’s so quick and easy to do but it’s something we often forget. Get in the habit of switching off appliances before you leave in the morning and before going to bed.

    Recycle your soft plastics

    Aside from yellow-bin recycling, you can now take soft-plastic rubbish, like packaging and plastic bags to Coles and Woolies to be recycled. Just look for the big bins at the front of the store. 

    Recycle your eWaste

    Got old laptops, mobiles, CDa or cords lying around in drawers or boxes? You can now take your electronic waste to council eWaste depots for recycling, plus, look for the recycling bins at the front of Officeworks stores.

    Greener finance

    Yes, it’s a thing. Who you choose to bank and invest with can have a big impact on the environment. Social responsibility drives everything we do at UniBank. We don’t invest or lend to the fossil fuel industry, plus all of our loans are Certified Responsible Investments. 

    Join UniBank

    Join the bank for the university sector and find out why we’ve been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, six years running. 

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