10 Easy Actions to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
By Bayli Moore // April 22, 2025
So many of us are keen to make environmentally conscious choices when it comes to what and how we consume. With the effects of overconsumption and climate change more visible than ever, our decisions as individuals are important to maintain a healthy planet.
At docs24, sustainability is always on our minds. For Earth Day 2025, we’ve compiled 10 easy actions you can take to reduce your impact on the environment. Even practising just one or two of these tips is a great way to start reducing your carbon footprint!
1. Choose to shop at & work with businesses that prioritise sustainable practices.
Manufacturers and retailers can cut corners in their efforts to provide consumers with the cheapest possible products, harming the planet in the process.
To combat this, look for brands that are transparent about the materials they use, the working conditions of their employees, and their processes to reduce waste. Learn more about our environmental approach and how we keep sustainability at the forefront of everything we do.
2. Avoid single-use plastics.
We produce 335 million metric tons of plastic each year, half of which is single-use waste. All this plastic ends up in landfills and the ocean where it will take centuries to break down without ever fully decomposing. Investing in reusable products like water bottles, coffee mugs, and canvas shopping bags can help reduce plastic waste and even save you money in the long run.
3. Buy less, or when necessary, try to find items second-hand.
Everything we buy uses energy to make and transport, and the rising demand for raw materials used to manufacture new items is damaging to the environment.
Buying less overall and choosing to buy second-hand when possible helps minimise the demand for new products and reduces your carbon impact.
4. Reduce food waste.
Nearly one-third of all food produced across the globe is lost or wasted. To reduce food waste, try planning out your meals for the week and buy only what you need. Always follow storage instructions on food labels and use up, cook, or freeze any foods that are approaching their use-by dates.
There are also apps and services available to help reduce food waste, such as Too Good To Go, which links customers to restaurants with excess food sold at a discount, and Oddbox, a produce delivery service that rescues seasonal, local produce at risk of being discarded due to surpluses or visual imperfections.
5. Eat regional and seasonal.
One-third of our carbon footprint is determined by our diet.
Eating seasonal foods from your region means that your food is travelling much shorter distances, reducing its impact on the environment. Check the geographic origin of your supermarket produce by checking the labels, or try visiting your local farmers’ market or farm store for fresh, local produce.
6. Make your home eco-friendly.
While your home may not produce as much waste as corporations, there are plenty of DIY projects you can take on to make your home more eco-friendly. For example, installing a smart thermostat can help reduce energy demand and your monthly bill by using smart technology to heat and cool your home on a set timer system or by recognising usage patterns.
You can also make small changes to reduce your carbon footprint around the house by using eco-friendly cleaning products and biodegradable household products to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals and materials entering the environment.
7. Avoid fast fashion and look for sustainable alternatives.
According to the UN Environment Programme, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the global carbon emissions and is the second-biggest consumer of water. Instead of relying on fast fashion, opt for second-hand, vintage, and sustainably made alternatives and mend or tailor clothes you own to extend their life.
8. Eat less meat and dairy.
Livestock farming is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, accounting for 12-17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. To combat this, eating more plants and less meat and dairy is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint.
When doing your weekly shop, look for meat and dairy produced in low-intensity systems – farming systems where the number of livestock raised in one area is limited and fewer or no chemicals are used on the land.
Seek out products from farms with organic and pasture-fed certifications on their labels.
9. Be a conscious traveller.
Up to 25% of global emissions are from the transportation sector. Walking, biking, carpooling, or using public transportation when possible can greatly reduce your carbon impact. You can also look for Green-Key certified accommodation and travel in the off-season to further reduce your impact.
10. Support your favourite environmental causes.
Environmental change starts with the individual, and your voice can contribute to bigger changes in environmental policy and conservation. By using your own platforms for communication, voting in ways that align with your environmental causes, and supporting conservation organisations by volunteering or donations, you can be an incredible force for positive change.
