Carry a re-useable shopping bag
Some countries give out more plastic bags than paper ones, but the principle holds true either way. If you carry a string or cloth bag you can easily refuse any extra wrappings at the shops, plus there is less for you to bin or recycle when you get home. You can get re-usable bags to suit every taste from organic hemp fabric to funky string in bright colours. These make a great gift idea too!
Laminate your lists
Do you make lists of chores, shopping lists, notes to the family or to do lists at work? Most of us do. Draw up some templates and laminate them (this can be done cheaply by print shops if you don't have access to a laminator), then just use a wipe off pen or pencil to update your lists.
Use a print shrinking program
Sometimes we just have to print things out, but you can reduce the paper needed. There are loads out there now and you may even find your current printer has the facility built in. Basically this prints two pages of text on each page, and for most people this is just as readable as printing full size. Print on the back too, or use the back of junk mail sent through the post. Its often good quality glossy paper and if you are just printing for ease of reading it doesn't matter that there is an advert on the back.
If we all do this, we can save a vast amount of waste and ease our burden on the planet a little bit more.
