Today, more and more people are looking to reduce their carbon footprint. This approach allows everyone to measure their personal impact on the environment. As we begin this new year, we present our list of tips to optimize your carbon footprint and relieve the burden on our beloved planet.
I. Carbon footprint, what is it?
The carbon footprint is a key indicator for assessing the environmental impact of an activity, with a particular focus on associated greenhouse gas emissions. This indicator can be applied at various levels, such as that of an individual based on their lifestyle, a household, a company based on its activities, a given territory, or even specific products.
Environmental impact is generally measured in carbon dioxide equivalent, abbreviated as CO2e. This standardization simplifies and standardizes the assessment because it converts all greenhouse gas emissions into a single CO2-based unit. This approach makes it possible to determine how much CO2 would be needed to trap the same amount of solar radiation, thus contributing to global warming.
At the national level, INSEE plays a crucial role in defining the carbon footprint induced by domestic final demand. This measure encompasses greenhouse gas emissions from households, such as the combustion of fuels for transport and the use of fossil fuels for domestic heating. It also includes emissions related to the domestic production of goods and services intended for domestic demand (excluding exports), as well as greenhouse gases emitted by imported products and services.
II. How to measure your carbon footprint
Carbon footprint tools and calculators are often used to estimate these emissions. These tools take into account various factors such as electricity consumption, the type of vehicle used, dietary habits, etc. Once the data is collected, the emissions are converted into carbon dioxide equivalents to obtain a consistent measurement of the total carbon footprint.
III. Our tips for reducing your carbon footprint
#1 Optimize daily transportation
One of the main components of your carbon footprint is transportation. It represents more than 30% of the average French household's carbon footprint. To significantly reduce your carbon footprint, optimize your modes of transportation. Favor walking and cycling whenever possible for your short daily trips. This will allow you to combine an eco-friendly act with physical exercise.
If this is not an option for you, then opt for public transport or carpooling to replace the car or two-wheeler!
According to the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), average CO2 emissions from daily commuting in France are around 2 tonnes of CO2 per person per year. This varies considerably depending on the mode of transport used.
This first step can help you reduce your carbon footprint by almost 20% – not bad, right?
#2 Alternatives for traveling
Another important way to optimize your carbon footprint is to avoid polluting transportation when traveling. To reduce the impact of your travel, choosing sustainable modes of transportation like trains, buses, or carpooling is a good first step.
By planning your trip in advance, you can choose lower-carbon and often more economical alternatives. For everyday commutes, walking, cycling, or public transportation are more responsible options. But it's also essential to rethink short- and medium- haul flights in favor of modes of transportation that emit fewer greenhouse gases per passenger.
Reducing your carbon footprint and emissions doesn't necessarily mean "not traveling" and "staying home." There are alternatives with equally extraordinary trips.
#3 Emails, a pollution we don't suspect
Here's something we don't always suspect: email pollution. Let us share some good habits you can adopt to limit the environmental impact of email communication.
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Clean your inbox regularly: Delete unnecessary emails and unsubscribe from non-essential newsletters ("useless" so the Zèta newsletter is not affected). Fewer emails means less storage and lower energy consumption for servers.
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Avoid large attachments: When possible, share links to files stored online rather than sending large attachments. This reduces bandwidth and energy consumption. Consider solutions like FileVert, an online software that sends files with minimal environmental impact.
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Use eco-friendly hosting services: Choose email and hosting services that are committed to limiting their respective impacts. Discover the different solutions available.
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Avoid unnecessary replies: Before replying to an email, think about whether it's necessary. Avoid unnecessary replies that contribute to inbox clutter.
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Use lightweight signatures: If you use email signatures, make sure they are lightweight in terms of data to avoid unnecessary overhead.
By implementing these tips, you can help reduce the carbon footprint associated with your email usage. Every little bit helps minimize the environmental impact of our digital activities. At Zèta, we also optimize our email activity to limit our carbon footprint.
#4 Some good practices for sustainable food
Choose a diet that takes care of the planet while preserving your well-being!
By choosing local, seasonal and organic foods, you are taking a step towards a more sustainable diet that reduces your carbon footprint.
Food represents on average 22% of the carbon footprint of a French person, according to the government website .
There are many responsible alternatives for your protein. You can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions linked to intensive livestock farming while maintaining a balanced diet.
By supporting sustainable agriculture and choosing products from environmentally friendly farms, you are promoting agricultural practices that preserve our precious natural resources.
These responsible food choices have a direct impact on the environment and allow you to enjoy meals that are always delicious and good for your health.
#5 Vegan consumption, a sustainable solution
Changing our consumption habits is a key step in reducing our carbon footprint on a daily basis. By choosing vegan products, you reduce your environmental impact both on food production and by minimizing the impact of the animal industry, all while supporting a more planet-friendly approach. These alternatives, often made with natural and sustainable ingredients, are perfectly in line with an ecological transition accessible to all.
To help you make this change, La Fourche offers a comprehensive selection of vegan products . Whether you're looking for plant-based alternatives for your everyday meals or gourmet products to vary your pleasures, their selection is full of tasty and environmentally friendly options. Something to satisfy your stomach while respecting the planet!
#6 Home tips to reduce your carbon footprint
At home, too, implement good practices.
The first thing to think about is regulating your heating (or air conditioning depending on the season). Indeed, when possible, limiting your heating is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint. The Ecological Transition Agency estimates that one year of gas heating, for a 100m² house, represents more than 11,700 kilometers traveled by car.
Another example of good practice for limiting carbon footprint would be the use of LEDs to replace traditional light bulbs. These last less time and consume more electricity. However, there is no miracle solution; the LED manufacturing process also remains energy-intensive.
Another simple, lesser-known gesture is to choose a 100% green electricity supplier. Indeed, with the most committed suppliers, like elmy , the entire energy portion of your electricity bill directly finances renewable energies (around 35% of your bill). ADEME's VertVolt label allows you to identify suppliers who really help you reduce your carbon footprint.
#7 Fast fashion, an ecological aberration
To reduce our carbon footprint, it's time to change our approach to fashion. To do this, we must stop fast fashion.
At the very least, opt for sustainable pieces, and if possible, eco-friendly ones, favoring items made with recycled and/or recyclable materials. Fashion that tends towards zero waste is a major alternative for reducing your carbon footprint.
Make an ethical choice by turning to brands committed to sustainability. Here's a list of brands the Zèta team loves.
The goal is to focus on quality, not quantity, by investing in clothes that last longer, rather than cheap items that deteriorate after a few washes. And when you tire of certain pieces, consider recycling instead of throwing them in the trash.
Donate, sell, or recycle your clothes to extend their life and reduce your environmental impact. By adopting these small gestures, you can make a big difference, so think about it!
We're talking about clothing, but it also works with shoes!
By the way, if you're looking for a sustainable and eco-friendly sneaker brand, we're here. With us, you save 60% on CO2 compared to a pair of sneakers produced in Asia under deplorable conditions and with poor-quality materials. Discover the Zèta vegan white sneaker collection.
#8 Sort to breathe better and reduce your carbon footprint
We hesitated to tell you about the price in "Home Tips", but for us, sorting is everywhere and all the time.
How do you know what to sort and how to sort it properly? It's simple: first, once an item has been consumed, you ask yourself what second life you can give it. Clothes can become household linen, reuse food jars at home, etc. Find lots of ideas for creative leisure workshops to reuse everyday objects here .
And for everyday life, identify recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal. Place them in dedicated bins or bags to facilitate the recycling process.
There are other good practices such as installing a compost bin in your garden or using local collection points.
#9 Control the consumption of my digital devices
Today, with the increase of digital devices in every household, the energy footprint is heavily impacted by these products.
To minimize your environmental impact, opt for energy-efficient appliances and choose lower power settings whenever possible. Find a guide to choosing the right appliance for you on the government website.
Here are some good practices to limit the consumption of these devices:
- Turn off your devices completely instead of leaving them on standby, because even in standby mode, they consume energy.
- Manage your screen brightness wisely and adjust energy-saving settings.
- Also limit the multiplication of devices, favoring versatility to reduce the number of devices you use.
By adopting these small actions, you contribute to a more energy-efficient use of your digital devices, thus actively participating in the preservation of the environment and the reduction of your carbon footprint.
#10 Limit single-use products
Opt for reusable alternatives where possible, such as reusable bags, water bottles, and durable containers. The goal is to limit the use of disposable products such as plastic utensils, plates, and straws.
The most sustainable solution is to choose quality products that last longer, rather than opting for cheap and disposable items.
By adopting an eco-responsible approach to single-use products, you contribute to reducing waste and preserving natural resources, while reducing your overall carbon footprint.
#11 Educate and raise awareness on how to reduce your carbon footprint
Finally, the solution to democratizing these best practices is to share your knowledge about sustainability with your loved ones. Encourage eco-responsible practices and support local initiatives that benefit the environment.
We all have our role to play in developing a more responsible economy.
Feel free to share your tips with us in the comments section of this article. This is not an exhaustive list; there are many other areas for improvement to explore!
