It’s always good to have a reminder of the zero waste basics, small habits that can reduce waste and your environmental impact.

Here are our favourite everyday tips:

• bring your reusable cup for takeaway coffee – see list of café that accept them here. If you forget and get a takeaway compostable cup, make sure it discarded in a food bin that will be sent to an industrial composter
• pack a reusable water bottle and cutlery (or just bring some from home) when out and about
• shop zero waste and no waste – go to refill shops (see our list of places in Cork city here) and bring your own container, buy local groceries, loose fruit/veg and don’t waste food
• eat less meat/fish/dairy
• shop secondhand or vintage clothing (see our list of places in Cork here) and household items
• walk or cycle – sign up for the TFI bike scheme if you don’t have a bike

But fighting climate change is not just about individual lifestyle changes, huge systematic changes are needed too. Did you know BP oil first coined and promoted the term ‘carbon footprint’?! Governments and huge multinational companies need to be responsible for their impact. Some actions you can take:

• write to your TDs – find their contact details at Who is my TD?
• get involved with campaign groups who lobby companies/governments
• attend protests
• if you stop shopping somewhere because of their environmental impact – tell them!

By Aisling Kett