What are your tips for being more environmentally friendly? Tell Unilever for a chance to win a £300 voucher!NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Unilever have asked us to find out what Mumsnetters' tips are to make sure that your family is more environmentally friendly.

Here's what Unilever say, "At Unilever, we believe there has never been a better time to create a better future for our children; a world where everyone has enough food to eat and no child goes to bed hungry; where everybody can enjoy life today while protecting the planet for future generations.

"If we all work together to take small actions every day that make a real difference, we can build a world where everyone lives well and lives sustainably.

"We're committed to taking positive action on climate change within our business, but we also want to inspire our consumers to make those small changes that can make all the difference."

So, what positive habits have you got in to which help you be more environmentally friendly which you can pass on to other Mumsnetters? Maybe it's as simple as getting yourself and your DCs into the habit of switching off the lights as you leave the room? Are you a champion for only buying sustainably sourced products or managing down the food miles in your weekly shop? Perhaps you're now using reusable instead of disposable products, everything from batteries to razors to ink cartridges? Or maybe you've ditched the car in favour of cycling? Whatever your tips are, we'd love to hear them!

Everyone who posts their tips on the thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

I keep a large canvas bag behind the kitchen door and place all Recyclable materials in it, then I take it out when it's full to my containers and quickly and easily empty it, I also now recycle batteries and clothes at our local recyling bank.

We recycle everything we possibly can, even if it means waitinh until we can do it. Eg taking batteries to local collection points.

Anything that can be charity shopped/ free cycled done. And selling things on when they have a decent life left in them if they're not used. I also buy lots of things second hand, it saves money, and it means we at least marginally reduce the constant demand of new products.
Eat locally sourced meat and veg, get eggs of neighbours with chickens.
Teach my young DD about recycling early, she understands the basics of what goes on the side to go in the recycle bin and what goes in the waste bin.

Soap Nuts instead of laundry detergent - brilliant for money and environment saving!

Walking whenever possible.

Only switching lights on when really necessary.

Not leaving the TV on stand-by.

Recycle everything we can, and make the children aware to turn off everything they are not using at the switch and keep lights off when not needed.

We try not to use the car for short trips. We try not to buy new things when we can get second hand. We eat mostly vegetables where possible.

Right now I am fighting the urge to turn the heating on!

We try and make crafts out of used packaging, toilet roll holders n such like. It at least keeps us busy for a while and we don't throw them in the bin straight away. A couple of times my son has given them away as gifts which is really sweet

A big part for us is growing as much food as we can, even at two DS loved planting seeds and watching them grow. six months later he is now picking the beans and tomatoes and helping to dig the potatoes learning where his food comes from, getting him out in the fresh air and helping the environment from all those food air miles too.
We very rarely buy new getting most stuff from charity shops or the local jumble sale and then donate back when finished with.
We do all the normal recycling too, composting any food waste and bottles/cans/glass all are recycled by the council.

The usual - switch lights off plus microwave, oven etc. are never left on (I've got a clock on my phone - I don't need them on!). Plus walking to school and using the bus instead of the car where possible. Oh and recycle as much as possible !!

I always have a nylon shopping bag in my pocket or handbag, to avoid using plastic supermarket bags - my pet hate! And before doing a tip run I advertise contents on Facebook buy/sell/swap sites - it's amazing how useful your junk can be to other people instead of being wasted in landfill.

We do the basics but could do more. We are easy walking distance from school, library, GP, doctor's, post office, big Coop, etc, so I'm not always having to drive everywhere.

We try to minimise plastic bag usage. Recycle and compost as much as possible, and collect rainwater for watering the greenhouse. Grow some of our own organic vegetables and have our own hens. We are all vegetarian apart from DD who sometimes eats fish fingers. Have only flown once in the past five years. Switch off lights etc.

Pre-toilet training we used mostly cloth nappies. We buy some secondhand clothes although this is getting harder now both children are fussy about what they wear. Sell or give away old clothes and other items if in a suitable condition.

I support the local Wildlife Trust via a small monthly donation.

Could do more on: using more environmentally friendly cleaning products, using the car less (DH could in theory take public transport to work but it would take twice as long), getting DCs to drink less juice to reduce packaging, getting more involved in local issues.

To recycle as much as possible. Switch the lights off in all rooms if no one there. To fill dirty clothes in washine machine full rather than half load. Also to ensure all waste/products go to correct places such as weee, recycle bin, etc. I hardly see any waste food in my house anythings else?

We do basics... Light switches off, all bulbs energy saving.

Wash at 30 if it's not dirty etc.
Use airer in conversatory or overnight in kitchen to reduce using tumble dryer.
Put items we no longer need on free pages rather than taking them to tip.

We also have 2 meat free nights a week. No leftovers rule. Veg into the rabbit hutch for Her to eat.

Have recently stopped using baby wipes for faces and hands. Have a clean flannel each meal time to throw straight in machine. (Wipes using has really cut down)

We sort all our rubbish and recycle most things including having a food waste bin. I donate to charity and kept everything from ds1 for ds2.

I always keep a canvas bag in the bottom of the buggy. If it's there it means I don't forget to go and pick one up for the shopping when trying to get out with baby and toddler and means I don't accrue extra plastic bags. All the more economical with the 5p charge coming in soon too.

I've taken to walking instead of driving for anything within a mile or 2! Sounds like such a simple step to take but it's is surprisingly difficult. A trip to the supermarket isn't a 10 minute drive now, it's a half hour walk! But I feel it's worth it, i feel healthier, i spend less on deisel and the environment wins! Happy days!

I always reuse carrier bags so am pleased that charges are being introduced in October as this will encourage others to as well.

I have a Rotaire washing line cover, so I can dry laundry outside all year round.

I have two meat-free days per week, recycle everything I can, give freebies away on forums rather than taking stuff to the tip and try to walk/cycle as many places as possible.

Keep tap off when brushing teeth ( sounds simple but breaking habit for us)

We recycle everything that we can: whether that be packaging etc that goes in the recycle bin, or passing on outgrown clothes to friends & family. I hate the idea of anything unnecessary going into landfill through laziness!
We try to turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
I walk for short journeys rather than using the car.
I don't consider us to be particularly "green" but I like to think we do our bit, however small.

We don't have a car and walk and bike everywhere. We go on holiday by train. I have small bins for recycling in most rooms and encourage the kids to use them. I am
a childminder and teach the kids I care for to reuse and recycle. Buy and sell clothes on eBay and charity shops.

Walk everywhere, use public transport and don't have a car. Have a woodburning stove and don't bother with central heating for as long as possible!

We recycle lots - our recycling bin is always full whilst our normal bin never is. We also do the normal turning off lights and electrical appliances when not in use.

I try to use green/natural cleaners where possible rather than chemical ones. They do the job just as well and are better for the environment and safer for children and pets.

We have a waterbutt in the garden for watering the flowers and hope to get another one soon.

We also only have one car and so I walk everywhere locally.

Don't buy anything without asking 'do I need it?', don't throw anything away without thinking 'can I mend it?'

Don't watch adverts, buy second hand if possible, walk as much as possible. Learn to enjoy yourself without buying stuff. Dress for the season, keep active and keep the central heating to a minimum. Eat less meat, buy food locally, avoid processed food. Teach your children to do these things. Vote for parties who are ecologically aware in action not just words.