There is something about the start of a new year that feels as fresh as the pots, pans, and organic bamboo bedding you might have got for Christmas. It is the perfect opportunity to set goals towards better care of yourself and our planet. If you’re looking to embrace sustainable living for a healthier year, here are some easy, eco-friendly switches you can start making today. From planet-loving energy-efficient appliances to creating an eco-friendly bedroom, enjoy a scroll of inspirational footsteps toward a healthier and greener world.

For the Kitchen: Energy – efficient gems

With the cost of living getting higher every year, ways to save energy at home are becoming more of a priority. Research suggests you can save over £600 per year from making simple switches in your kitchen alone. What is an energy-efficient appliance exactly? Good question- essentially, any item that uses the least amount of energy per use compared to competing products. You can find an appliance’s energy rating by energy labels that give it a rating from A – G, with A being the most efficient. So when looking for kettles, ovens, and microwaves, always look for a label to help make the most eco-friendly choice. For cooking delicious meals, a slow cooker can be five times cheaper than an electric oven to run. Choosing energy-efficient appliances is a great way to live more sustainably while keeping those bills down- an eco-friendly win-win!

For the bedroom: Sleep like a hero

Pour yourself a green cuppa – and let’s get cosy! The bedroom provides many ways to live sustainably with products that transform bedtime. Choosing natural, organic materials like bamboo for your bedding and mattress is one of the best investments you can make for your sleep. The thermoregulating fabric will keep you warm all winter and breezing through summer nights whilst being anti-bacterial, incredibly durable, and irresistibly smooth. From breathable organic bed sheets to a hybrid bamboo mattress, creating an eco-friendly bedroom will have you sleeping like a hero all year. Sustainable brands like Panda London take pride in being eco-friendly from the forest to the front door, offering free home trials on our award-winning products—another reason to drift off with a smile.

For the bathroom: Splash sustainably

In this chilly weather (for those that live in the UK) a delicious hot shower or warm bubbly bath are one of the best ways to end the day. Though there are ways to indulge sustainably. The latest guidance recommends that we should try and make our showers four minutes or less to save water.

For you: Get the green glow

With an eco-friendly home taken care of, it’s time to think of ways you can feel greener on the inside. January is celebrated as ‘veganuary’ and is the perfect month to pick up some great recipes for a healthy glow and to reduce food waste. Plants have a far lower carbon footprint than meat. The agricultural industry is responsible for 25% of the world’s greenhouse gases. Switching up your snacks for fresh fruit and veg will help reduce that number keeping our world beautiful. They are stocked with nutrients and vitamins that will have you fighting fit for a healthy and vibrant year. From meatless Mondays to fruity Fridays, look for ways to embrace a more vegan-friendly lifestyle at your place.

P.S. Someone asking where you got that gorgeous glow will make every effort worth it.

Moving towards an eco-friendly lifestyle can be overwhelming, though remember every little change helps. Join us on Instagram to set your planet promises for the year ahead. Let’s inspire each other to walk together to a greener future.

Sustainable choices are being encouraged everywhere we turn, from how we eat and travel to where we shop. While this is great and essential to the future of our planet, there is a lot of confusion surrounding sustainability. This can make it difficult to know where to start. Here are some of the key questions you may be asking yourself about being eco-friendly that can help you live a truly greener lifestyle.

1) Are eco-friendly products more expensive?

The cost of eco-friendly products can vary; in some cases, they may be more expensive than traditional products that are not environmentally friendly. However, this is not always the case, as the price of eco-friendly products can also be competitive or even lower than traditional products, depending on factors such as the materials used, the production process, and the brand. It is also worth considering that the long-term benefits of using eco-friendly products, such as reduced environmental impact and improved health and wellness, can offset any initial higher costs.

Eco-friendly products are made with a more ‘long term’ view. They use renewable natural resources, like bamboo, that are far more durable and won’t need replacing and disposal so soon. Disposable lifestyles have a major impact on climate change.

The cost of investing in products that last is a great move towards responsible consumption that can save you money in the long run, while reducing your carbon footprint.

Many eco-friendly brands often offer initiatives that can offset the slightly higher cost point, such as free delivery and loyalty cards for shopping locally. The products tend to be far higher quality and healthier than processed alternatives. For example, filling up on organic fresh fruit and veg will do wonders for your well-being while sleeping on natural bamboo bedding provides an abundance of benefits for bedtime.

And of course, the most important reason to embrace sustainable living is to protect our planet. Switching to eco-friendly products is one of the best investments you can make toward a greener future.

2) Are luxury goods sustainable?

Something many people are surprised to discover is the harmony between luxury and sustainability. The luxury market is often considered to disregard the environment for profit and privilege, though, in fact, it can be quite the opposite.

Luxury brands are in the spotlight more than ever to adhere to sustainable practices and tend to have the resources and connections to implement them. They play a big role in inspiring responsible consumption with much of their production processes and eco-friendly use of materials. Many luxury brands have ambitious goals towards reducing their carbon footprint and limiting the environmental impact of their business.

Luxury products are made using high-quality materials designed to last, moving us away from the disposable lifestyles that add to landfills. Choosing luxury items you will keep, perhaps even for a lifetime, and get plenty of use out of is often a far more sustainable choice than a cheaper, more convenient option.

When choosing what brands to shop with, look for transparency around their production process, the materials used, and the initiatives they implement for green living. Many luxury brands go above and beyond in promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle. When it comes to being sustainable, luxury is not something you have to compromise.

3) Can I really make a difference?

When taking on the global challenge of climate change it’s easy to get disheartened and ask yourself, can I make a difference? It is the daily lifestyle choices we make that contribute most to global warming. From avoiding buying plastic to reducing the journeys, you take by car, every little decision plays a part in fighting climate change. If you are at a loss where to start; here are some easy ways to implement more sustainable choices into your lifestyle.

A greener tomorrow

Becoming more eco-friendly is a journey we can walk on together. Asking questions and staying curious is the best way to dissolve any confusion you have around sustainability. Living an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t have to mean big changes, start small and remember that every choice you make today can help create a greener tomorrow.

Understanding what our stuff is made of can sometimes feel like an endless pursuit of google searches, right? This can be frustrating when we are trying to make eco-friendly lifestyle choices to do our bit for the planet. Switching to bamboo is fast becoming the go-to for doing just that. While all materials come with some form of carbon footprint… opting for those with minimum impact is a step in the right direction. And anyone who has snuggled into bamboo bedding knows… a rather comfy one at that!  Though there are of course a lot of other things to consider when it comes to being eco-friendly, deepening our understanding is a good place to start. Are you new to bamboo and looking to learn a thing or two about the fabrics in your labels? 

Pull up a pue, and have a little read of this.