Get your kids to commit to eco-friendly New Year resolutions

Instead of making New Year resolutions that no one will ever follow through on, why not get your family to commit to these eco-friendly New Year resolutions for 2022 instead?

Teaching your children how to take care of the planet is a gift they can pass on to future generations. Plus, committing to a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle will teach your children to take responsibility for their actions and maintain a healthier planet.

• Kick the plastic drinking bottle habit. Use a stainless steel bottle filled with your tap water, or, if you are unhappy with that, install a filter system. At the very least boil tap water the night before and use that.
• Seriously resolve to use your own shopping bags. Many NGOs these days make them in fabric to raise funds. The trick is always to remember to put the bags back in the boot of your car after you have unpacked.
• Where at all possible, walk or ride a bike. Imagine the petrol, fumes, and noise you will save!
• Always unplug appliances when they are not in use. All those little standby lights are eating up unnecessary electricity.
• Be brave and start a compost heap. This is not the easiest job, but well worth it in the long run. Get help from your local nursery.
• Use less paper, like opening used envelopes to have for shopping lists and plans, etc. Print on both sides of your photocopying paper.
• Join a clean-up team, even if only one day a year. There is huge satisfaction when you leave a dirty, rubbish-filled river bank looking clean and fresh. If the neighbours on the river join up and help, they will be more inspired to help keep it litter-free.